The Uproar of Racism

             It is common knowledge that slavery is over; however, racism has permanently filled the void. Growing up as an African American female slavery and racism in the 21^st century, let alone 2012 seemed to have its place. In the past but how horribly mistaken that thought is, racism and slavery are both alive, and well today the only aspect that has changed from past to the present is that Civil Rights Laws have been hard fought and won to prevent, prosecute, or vindicate persons targeted by such driving forces. Upon entrance into a room questions always arise. Are they judging me right now? There are two others here not of my color…does that give them an advantage? What if they never even look my way because I don’t “look” the part-- too ethnic? Often thoughts run rampant of being of another race. If my race were different would society treat me better or worse? My goal is to show teens and adults of all ethnic backgrounds that slavery is still alive and well, just in different forms. Slavery encases the mind in racism, the heart in hatred, and the mouth with the ignorant and hurtful words that spew forth. Just because it is the 21^st Century and people are not being shipped and traded by large boats or hung from hundred-year-old oak trees (as often) ,it does not mean that thought processes in America have changed that much.