The color of skin is not a reason for difference, but instead it is a chance to celebrate diversity. I have seen racism in action throughout my life. My friends have been hurt by it...physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a child, prejudice was never an option to me...hating someone that was different than I, simply was wrong. As an individual, I was encouraged to learn about the differences in myself and others, and then to celebrate them. I was shown to discover a desire within myself, to expanded my knowledge, and further to celebrate diversity. I was dared to do more than just know, I was challenged to help stop hate and spread ideas of university and acceptance to a diverse audience. I challenge other individuals to do the same. However, the choice lies within the individual, but the repercussions of such choices are widespread.
             Racism and racist slurs are words that mean a lot of things to many different people. To some, these words are the description of a way of life; to others, they are repulsive terms that represent closed-mindedness. To me, there is only one race, and that race is human. Yet racism and being racist are descriptions of a reality that can not be denied. People of color live daily with the effects of both institutional and individual racism. Injustice can be experienced personally, through jokes, graffiti, abuse and violence from other people. Discrimination can also be experienced through society's laws and social policies, such as being denied access to education, jobs, housing, and other services. Although some individuals believe that race is the primary component of human abilities and capacities, many have denounced such ridiculous ideas.
             Society influences racism in many ways. There are several types of racism. Aside from skin color, people with blonde hair are victims to discrimination, culture is victim, clothing, speech, and all forms of difference are subject to racism. Society not only ...