Many of us today have noticed racism in our day to day walks. Others of us have just let that slip by unnoticed. Racism still exist in many shapes and forms in today’s culture. Whether it be one person doing something stupid to prove something to themselves, or a group of people putting someone down for the color of their skin, racism is alive, and running rampant.

Different forms of racism exist around the globe. Many of us have heard stories, or have even seen first hand what racism can do to a person. Racism can scar the oppressed for life, while the oppressor  may live the rest of their life without an afterthought of what they just inflicted on someone else. Racism tops the news on every channel, but what about the little things that go unnoticed because no one thinks it is a big deal?

Top news the other night, a boy takes over the intercom at a local store. Asks all of the “black people” to leave the store. We know this as a heinous crime, but what about the African American people that he just hurt? Witnesses were called, and their feelings were heard out in the reports, but what about what they had to go home to that night? People don’t think before they do things, and often end up in much more trouble than they expected. That boy was apprehended, and questioned. He is facing some charges, but what about who it really affected? Someone needs to stand up for those oppressed and stop this nonsense once and for all.

Still, there is more to the story. That offense went down in the records, but what about the people who have no one to speak up for them? An employee for a local store is doing his job and stacking crates. For the lack of his name, we shall call him Joe. Joe was just doing his job, when a rather rude man came up to him and said, “Hey! Poncho, where are the trash bags?!” Joe, being the better person, showed the angry man where to find what he was looking for. He got no thanks. People like Joe are the stronger ones, the ones who have to face racism all the time, and have no one to stand up for them. Different forms of racism affect everyone differently, but we need to take a stand for what is right.

So what will it be? Let one form of racism go, and focus on the other one? Racism needs to be stopped, in all its forms.