By Emma Cummins

Staff Writer

We have all heard the stereotype, if you’re a white Christian you may have the tendency to be judgmental.

The reason would most likely be attributed to the last 100 years, in which certain communities had the most narrow minded judgements about situations and healthy progress.

It is not to say that these hostilities are completely ungrounded, as racism has persisted and has been felt by many. We should never try to shove these past injustices under the rug, but to be so quick in attaching blame to further generations seems to have a negative effect.

There have been issues of white Christians discriminating against those different from themselves and my point is by no means meant to take away from their pain. Stereotypes seem to persist for all races. But we must try and differentiate the past from the present when dealing with issues such as race. Though some have made decisions that offend, they should not represent a community as a whole.

One example of this misconception is a recent incident with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in which a newly published list delineated all types of “microaggressions.” One of them being simply sitting in a room full of white people.

The implication that somehow being the only person in a room who isn’t white must be offensive, is incorrect. How can any type of people believe that they will be aiding progress if they have already assigned stereotypes to a white person, such as myself, giving them no chance to demonstrate their individual beliefs?

Unfortunately, this action is simply shooed away because the white people of this generation simply have to have the same mindset as the white people 100 years before them.

Much of public opinion is derived from the fallacy that if you have grown up around people who look like you, you must be ignorant to all types of racism, progress, diversity or anything close to clear judgement.

Is it implausible that a white person cannot feel discriminated against merely because of the past that they had no control over? Many seem to think that reverse racism is so far-fetched they refuse to even discuss it. But would they not be making the same error that they accuse white people of?

This kind of thinking has the opposite effect of progress. If we wish to see true equality, past injustices must not be transferred to current generations. For some to claim that “White people can’t see racism,” or that a white Christian cannot be tolerant is merely perpetuating the racist and hurtful sentiments that the instigators are wishing to end.

American culture is changing, Coppell has an incredible amount of diversity. I have friends who fall under this misconception but also friends who understand that I am my own person. Seeing them everyday and discussing issues, it seems as though we may be reversing a trend, one of intolerance.

Copious amounts of diversity does not necessarily mean that the community has to be free from discrimination. This generation has come a long way, but it must draw the line between creating equality and simply reversing an unhealthy trend.

If you truly wish for there to be equality, look at each person as an individual not a smaller part of a larger community that has to be a certain way. Give people a chance to not follow the stereotype because if we choose to make even more derision between minorities and majorities, then there will be only hostility. Shielding our eyes in order to make up for egregious crimes in the past can only lead to more of the same problem.