Race and Community Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Race and Community - Personal Statement Example Racism in the United States of America, in my opinion, is not something that should surprise anybody. It is not because of any kind of ignorance of the government, it is because of the wide variety of people who inhabit this side of the world. When collection of this kind of variety is brought into a conflict, they are bound to form schemas and mental shortcuts that end up depicting in racial attitude towards certain race and community. Racism against many communities such as the African Americans was first evident in the political and law making bodies previously before the human rights associations intervened. It is now condemned on all levels; however, still practiced on many. Over the years, events have occurred, that have helped fuel the fury of racism in the minds and hearts of people all around the world. The situation is not different in the United States which boasts a sound political and culturally balanced system; a country that welcomes everybody. Since the acts of terrorism have been successful in creating a sense of terror in everybody around the world, the acts portraying racism against certain classes have aggravated. I, being a Muslim, can relate to the feeling of differentiation along the social and ethnic lines. Proud to be an American, I have also faced various racial interactions over my life. I have lived in this country for more than 10 years now; migrated here when I was 10 years old. Therefore, I have been fully exposed to the difference in attitudes of fellow American before and after the 9/11. The traumatic turn of events have altered the mind sets of the common American towards certain races and classes and sadly, my race is one of them. Even after being in a foreign country, I have been following the rules and guidance that Islam has prescribed about the wearing 'Hijab'. For those who don't know the exact interpretation, it has its tangible and intangible aspects. The tangible aspects are covering the parts of the body including the hair, that make a women look beautiful in the eyes of others. The intangible part extends to the fact that with the covering should accompany the morality, modesty and privacy. Post the 9/11 events, I did not face many problems; did not feel eyes following me wherever I went, be it a restaurant or my educational institution. I can call myself a modern Muslim girl, who under the limits prescribed by the 'hijab', wore western clothes such as jeans and t-shirts which were considered taboo by many in my society. However, my community had always been very supportive of it. Many Muslim residing in my vicinity did follow hijab, a considerable number did not. As the Indians and Sikhs are also be longing from the same geographical location South Asia, without the hijab, we all looked the same. We congregated, celebrated our differences with great fervor. The Hindus celebrated the Eid with us; the Diwali was equally celebrated by all. This behavior was not confined to members of our community. We had almost Black Americans, Hispanics; all integrating and celebrating different occasions relating to the various back grounds that we were related too.9/11 changes the scenario of the world; the way people thought about others changed, the way people interacted changed, everything changed. This might sound a little clich but my friends outside the circle of Islam posed questioning looks at me about my dressing, their behavior towards me