Racism and classism are two words that raise eyebrows all across America. We would like to believe that neither one of these words is applicable to us or our thinking but if you clutch your pocketbook a little tighter when an African-American walks past or if you cross to the other side of the street so that you won’t be in close proximity with that homeless person then you just might be guilty.
Unfortunately, a lot of us tend to shy away from those people or those cultures that we do not understand. Folks will hide behind “code words” to describe situations that are less than favorable in their communities. We all realize that there are differences among us, but must we label folks and cast them aside just because they do not fit into our race or our social class?
A lot of times it is not the homeless or the lesser than individual that is creating the problems within our community; it can also be that other person who goes to work every day and lives in a nice home. Societal ills are not confined to the lesser than population; menaces to society can also be found running our businesses, leading our government and living in our neighborhoods.
There are 3 timely lessons here: Don’t be so quick to judge, be quicker to give people a chance and above all, be willing to help others for you never know when you might find yourself in need of assistance from someone.
Barbara M. Foushee
Carrboro, NC
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