We’re in the midst of a tipping point in America.  Hatred, blame, and intolerance seem to be swirling through the air and effecting everyone they target.  Whether you’re a perpetrator or a victim, a participator or a bystander, this atmosphere seems to be taking a toll on every day life.  I don’t usually go into politics or my personal feelings on my blog, but I just had to vent about the state of this world we’re living in.

I recently read an essay by the extremely intelligent and well-versed author and TEDx speaker Elan Carson.  While I felt that I’m pretty in-tune with the state of racism in our country, she quickly made me realize how wrong I was.  My views are unwillingly and unknowingly much too influenced by the media.  Unfortunately, that is how most American’s views are formed, as incomplete and leaning the information may be.  You see, I was under the impression that many racial slurs that used to be thrown around casually had died down in use.  The reality, however, as Carson points out from personal experience, is that this is not true–the media just doesn’t inform on this intolerance.  I, for one, am shocked that people still use overly offensive and derogatory language toward others, yet it is never openly talked about.  America is painted as a place where racism is dead, yet it still thrives more than anyone is willing to admit. So many stereotypes and negative views are placed on all types of people as a tool to continue an oppressive system.  This is further enraging when you look at the systematic racism that’s alive in Western culture today and the use of victim shaming and blaming, which Carson also speaks of throughout her essay.

While many people are easily angered and aroused by the use of hate speech or racist remarks, one could argue that this is the desired effect that the user is seeking.  This, in turn, leads to a society where this hate is used to oppress personal power.  As a woman who faces intolerance, Carson is taking a different approach to this situation: she has vowed to ignore the use of hate speech toward her all together.  I believe many can learn from this approach, since empowering by emotion and anger is just a way to perpetuate hate.  As she states, ignoring those using hateful names and those who hold hateful views “eliminates the authority that they had hoped to achieve” (Carson) by doing so.

Please, please–take a minute of your time to read Elan’s essay HERE.  She further explains (much better than I ever could) the need for a cultural change that surrounds our nation’s take on race and, at the core, humanity’s view of itself.  Taking a moment to educate yourself on the state of people through the eyes of someone who sees hatred and systematic oppression clearly might change your views – or at least open your eyes and your heart to others.  In our world, this is needed more than ever.

“I’m confident that as we continue to grow and evolve as a society, the more we’ll realize that hate speech fundamentally lacks any merit, educational clout, and integrity deserving of a reaction.”

For more information on Elan Carson, check out her website here.