Fear is the biggest promoter of racism. Fear is necessary in order to pick a ‘scapegoat’ when times are hard. Who gets the blame in an economy that is struggling, when unemployment is high, jobs are scarce, and there is a shortage of homes available? Without a shadow of doubt, fear is the number one factor that creates ignorance. And once ignorance is involved then people get hurt…or even die.

The fact is that fear plays its part in racist attitudes and attacks - both verbal and physical. And fear thrives in a climate of depression, of economic downturn, of austerity, of lack of homes and of high unemployment, as explained above. Bring those toxic ingredients together, and this poisonous cocktail is not unlike a toxic bomb, waiting to explode.

Fear breeds misunderstanding of different people, different races. And, it is this misunderstanding that then breeds hatred. This type of hatred is founded on lies, mistruths and mistrust of ‘others’, simply because of skin color or nationality. Again, the lack of communication between people of different colors, is stark. This breeds animosity, misunderstanding and hostility - which then leads to hatred.  

It also breeds ignorance, and this is the cancer that has to be overcome, if any country in the world is to move forward. The soccer European Championship, which was held in Poland this year, 2012, was nothing short of a public relations disaster for the hosts, Poland. In that country, racism is rife and people of color, especially, were warned that if they traveled to Poland to watch the soccer, then they could be coming home in coffins. This is the power that prejudice and racism has, even within Europe.

When one looks back through history, certain people played on that fear and ignorance of the local population. They fueled the anger, the resentment and hostility by spouting nothing but hateful lies and innuendos about others, with no foundation whatsoever. As a result of this, people, men, women, and even children, where hung from trees, as if they where nothing. This is the result of racism, American style, and yet racism and racist attitudes are not confined to America alone. Racist attitudes can be found in every part of the globe, from the United Kingdom, to Australia and even in Africa.

Racism has played its part in the destruction of whole generations of families who knew nothing but fear. They feared the lynching, the whips, the dogs and guns, and the hunting, of themselves. Black Americans beings chased to their deaths is a stain upon which America will never fully recover from.

However, if one looks at America alone, then the country is at war with itself. There is a civil war being fought right now between its own citizens. In the 21st century the mistruths and mistrusts continue, unabated. On both sides of the coin, white and black Americans are full of mistrust about each other, which breeds animosity and hatred.

Segregated America is as strong as it has ever been during the 1920s upwards. Now, we are in the 21st century, and who can really say that things have changed? There may be a black President in office, but has that really made a difference to the man and woman on the street, both black and white?

Has hatred been halved, or even quartered? No. Unfortunately, racism is as strong as it has ever been, with large, segregated parts of the country living in their own, ‘turf’, or patch. And it is this urge to seek out others of our own skin color, where people feel safest - where they feel they ‘belong’, that will see America remain ‘segregated’ for a long time yet.  But why should this be the case? When one witnesses the looks of suspicion and even hatred, simply because one happens to be black or white, is beyond all reasonable explanation.

There are many people  - both black and white - who will feel that black people have every reason to hate. And that could be understandable, given the history of the pogrom of black people, by whites. Yet there are countless many black people who hate simply because they want to hate. This has nothing to do with what had gone on before, the history, and so forth, but they hate, because they can.

Racism is abhorrent from both sides. It is promoted and passed on by fear of another, though ignorance. Ignorance breeds misunderstanding, on both sides, and hatred.  And so this never-ending cycle of ignorance, misunderstanding and hatred continues on unabated. Until people actually sit down and talk to each other - again, communication is the key here - then this will continue on. Effective communication breaks down pre-conceived lies and barriers, that stop people from actually becoming friends. 

It is fear that stops the communication process dead. It is fear that makes people turn to the gun or knife. And, it is this same fear that could well see the destruction of the races, simply because of ignorance and hatred. It was once said, that there is nothing to fear, but fear itself…so why then fear others?