Reflective Journal: Examining Personal Experiences and Racism Impact

This reflective journal delves into the author's personal experiences with racism, starting with an exploration of identity and the prevalence of racism in their environment. The journal recounts specific incidents of discrimination, such as a dining experience marked by blatant ignorance and prejudice,...Read More

Running head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ON RACISM
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ON RACISM
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author's Note:

1REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ON RACISM
Entry 1 identity and racism
I am a traditional yellow and resident of United States where the topic of racism still gets
importance for many reasons. In my society, I witness the poverty on the basis of racism that
surrounds me. Very few people care about making our society better abiding such discriminating
factors preventing the overall growth of the human civilization this is the reason why gaining
knowledge about the racial identity is important. I feel that proper identification of then human
beings is important as this helps to understand the strength and weaknesses of behavior of
themselves. However, in recent times, the racial aspect gets emerged in the personal identity
factor. Racism is significant in my own life though I do not belong to a racially backward
community in the perspective of the regulations of the United States. Racism has affected me
personally as throughout my experience in this country I have witnesses various types as well as
forms of racism, harassment, racial profiling, discrimination, intimidation as well as injustice that
has grown rage, hatred, resentment and anger in me.
My comfort level regarding the discussion about racism is completely negative. This is
due to the fact that I am tired and fed up with the people deliberately ignoring the truth that
racism is nothing but an intention to keep people discriminated from all the benefits like others
so that they can be deprived from all the advantages of the society. The term fair or acceptable
level of racism bothers me to think that how my society can grow without getting support from
half of the human resource. Neither institutionalized nor personally mediated racism can be
supported as these can effectively hamper my rights. For meeting the university requirement,
the study on the subject of racism is important. In this class I would like to point out the
disadvantage of racism by sharing my own point of view and experience which will definitely
change the outlook of my peers regarding this social enigma.

2REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ON RACISM
Entry 2. Experience of racism:
I have experienced many events that has affected me personally and most of them had
originated from the racist mentality. A few weeks ago, I went out dining with one of my friends
who is racially backward in a small restaurant. In this event, I faced the most common form of
racism that is the ignorance. No sooner had we I entered the hall we became the center of
attraction. Every one in the room was focusing on us and commenting about me and my friend. I
could not react immediately as I was feeling low and disrespected for such an outlook of the
people. I was only watching the eyes of the people widening at us as if they were trying to drive
my friend out. After few minutes I overheard a gentleman saying that these creatures are now
trying to capture this restaurant also. My friend could not bear this comment and burst into tears.
We immediately left the place.
I felt like my friend was the only colored person on this earth to enter such a public place.
As there were no other colored person like him, the other customers could so easily pinch him
that hit my nerve. After this incident whenever I thought about this incident I thought I could
have reacted differently on that situation. I should have opposed all such comments on their
faces. I should have asked them whether they do not know the equal rights of the country. The
discrimination present in the mentality is to be erased from the thought process of the people. I
should have made them understand that it is my right to enjoy same advantage that they are
enjoying. In case I were a person from different race, I would definitely face such defame from
these people. I think the origin and racial background are the main problem for the society that
has made us more vulnerable to sustain with respect in this civil society.

3REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ON RACISM
Entry 3. Recommendations about racism
However, I must state that the changes in the thinking process are gradually taking place.
My knowledge, beliefs and attitude have changed with the progress of time. I can now realize
that my outlook in the previous responses was completely different. Previously I used to think
that the proper identification of the racial identity is needed so that we can retain our
individuality, our culture, ethnicity, art and language by identifying ourselves differently from
the others. I used to maintain the attitude that our race is our religion which we must protect
otherwise I will not be able to survive in this global era where each day a culture is dying.
However, the thinking process have changed a lot. This is due to the fact with time I have
experienced many incidents, learnt about any incidents and started to understand the importance
of maintaining racial identity in the life of the human beings. The more I have mixed with
people and come across different culture and race, I have realized that race and culture is not the
same thing. If I want to protect my culture I can do it without differentiating myself from the
others no I have to disrespect the culture or origin of the others to glorify my own race. I wish I
did not experience any type of discrimination with my friends or any neighbor due to their
different race. I wish I were not a part of the society that ignore other people due to their culture
and origin. Whenever, I heard any racial comments or claim among the people I think myself
responsible that I could not create awareness among the people of my generation not to follow
the path of discrimination. In order to prevent all these, I can tell UCSD professor to
incorporate DEI requirements and promote DEI goals so that the generation can effectively
eliminate the racial problems from its roots.