Biases and prejudices

I don’t know about you folks but I have my share and for some reason I believe we all do! Many times we are guilty without being aware that we are guilty.

I know of a man who was a graduate of Ohio State University. Jesse Owens, the great sprinter and broad jump champion of the 1936 Olympics was an Ohio State athlete also. My friend and Jesse became acquainted. My friend really liked Jesse. Never the less I heard my friend describe him as being one of the whitest men he ever met. He thought he was complimenting Jesse. Do you think that Jesse would have taken this remark as a compliment? I think not! What my friend was trying to say was that Jesse was one of the finest men he ever met.

Before we become too harsh on the remarks of my friend, let us take a peek at ourselves. Have we ever made remarks such as, now there is one Black, Indian, Mexican or White person who knows how to work, etc. Instead of honoring them are we actually saying that most of these people are lazy, ignorant or whatever? We certainly maybe unintentionally inferring that! Or perhaps, just perhaps, that Catholics, Methodists, Baptist, Mormons, Jews, and Muslims believe this or that. Do we make the mistake of lumping people in one group as all believing and acting alike? Say "yes" please because we oft times do.

It behooves me and I imagine one or two of you folks to be more careful about what we think and say concerning others.

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