Humans have seen how the abuse of power can lead to a neglect for the most basic human right: life. The images of millions slaughtered at death camps founded by Hitler?s regime unified us together to fight off evil and preserve that which matters most. These images soon made Americans turn the magnifying glass upon themselves so that they may relieve and eventually end their own racist thoughts.

To tip the scales of racism, affirmative action and other social programs were installed to give minorities an equal chance. This great triumph for minority identity soon re-installed a sense of pride in one?s nationality. However, as the programs remained in existence, the scales of injustice slowly tipped then crashed in the opposite direction, spawning reverse racism upon the majority. At Sacramento State, it?s a common occurrence to hear the battle cry, “I?m African American and proud,” “I?m Asian American and proud,” “I?m Chicano American and proud.” However, the words “I?m white and proud” would be charged as racist remarks.

So should one be white and ashamed?

This university supports minority scholarships, minority organizations, minority events, and minority pride. Great, but it also introduces a high-level of white shame. I challenge you to either give whites their identity or be color blind, banning together with what put us here today, American Pride. For though we should all keep our own beautiful culture, color is not what binds this nation together. I don?t consider myself to be a hyphenated American, for one day this body will be gone and I charge you to not remember me for my color, but for the person I am.

God gave me pigment but I chose who I wanted to be. Imagine your first day of school. What would your reaction be if a group of well-known and respected men were in the Library Quad saying “Rush our fraternity. We?re white and proud.” Though we already have race-bound fraternities and sororities, how would you first react? Would you automatically envision a swastika or burning cross? Would you jokingly refer to them as the Kappa Kappa Kappa?s? Admittedly, my first reaction would be fear, but, until we are able to look at those men and not see fear, this campus will never be able to claim racial equality. For hate makes us blind, and we fear what we do not understand, and we hate what we fear. Until we can look at one another and see past the pigment, we will always hate and fear one another.

Joshua Wood is an Undeclared student. He can be reached at [email protected].