The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

I have witnessed prejudice many times. There was one occasion when I witnessed a Caucasian woman not wanting to sit next to a Hispanic woman on the tour bus. There were many people on the bus and there were just enough seats available for everyone. The Caucasian lady was standing up on the bus and the Hispanic lady told her that she could sit with her, but the Caucasian woman told her that she was okay. The Caucasian woman stood for almost an hour and we could tell she was tired of standing so someone suggested that she should go sit down but she refused to do so. Come to find out, the Caucasian woman told many people at the front of the tour bus that she did not like Hispanic people. The reasons she gave for not liking Hispanics was because they were immigrants coming into our country to take over, they should not have the same rights that we have, and they smelled.

This incident of prejudice diminishes equity by the Caucasian woman judging the Hispanic woman because of her race. She is not treating the Hispanic woman and other Hispanics fairly because of her beliefs that they are in the United States to take over. She thinks that they should not have the same opportunities that we have because they are immigrants.

This incident brings back memories of when my husband, friends, and I were waiting for the elevator to come down. A Caucasian couple was waiting also. When the elevator came down they did not want to get on with us even though they saw that there was more than enough room. They wanted to wait until another elevator came down because they did not want to get on with us because we were African-Americans. This incident had me upset for a long time.

In order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity I think that the Caucasian woman will need to change her attitude about Hispanics. She needs to gain an understanding that all Hispanics, and other races, should be treated fairly regardless their race and despite what she thinks about them. She should have sat next to the Hispanic woman on the bus, conversed with her, and learned something about her and her culture.