I grew up in poverty in the segregated South. My family and I lived with daily racism. There were legal laws in place that told black people what to do, where to go and where to live, to name a few. Individual and systemic racism were common practices and originated from belief systems. We went to segregated schools, drank from water fountains marked colored, and could only go to the zoo on Thursdays. These are only a few examples of a separate lifestyle we lived and it caused harm. Segregation was developed by white Americans as a way of putting social, political and economic distance between the races. When the civil rights workers challenged these laws, many white citizens and politicians rebelled because of their beliefs. Southern white politicians refused to pursue civil rights. Because black people were different in appearance, many white people believed they were justified in their unjust treatments. They believed they were justified in denying their fellow citizens dignity. Some white people used religion and the Bible to hold onto these beliefs. Other white people were silent and failed to support pleas for justice. These belief systems started during slavery and for some people, it continues today. There are other white people who were never racists and others who changed their unfounded beliefs. These people are now fighting for equal justice and equality for all.
I believe that poverty is made by man and racism is a learned behavior. This belief is based on my early life. I also believe that if you can change the heart of people, you can change the culture. While growing up, my parents taught us to have faith in God and not to have a poverty mentality. A poverty mentality limits your success and a poverty mindset is a belief system that you cannot rise above your current situation. Both attitudes lead to fear or refusal to invest in you. They taught us to have goals and a plan. The road out of poverty was paved with struggles but we believed we would achieve and we did. I am now devoted to empowering others to being ant-racist and overcoming the cycle of poverty.
What people do is motivated by what they believe, and what they believe comes from what they do and experience. We all have a belief of how things are. This is our way of thinking. A belief system may be formed by things that other people say to us, things we read, hear or other external influences we may be exposed to. Beliefs may include closely held values that rarely change. A belief may be described as a habit of thought. It may be described as how we think things are based on perceptions. It is thought so often that the subconscious mind takes over and it becomes a part of everyday existence. For many people, a belief is something they refuse to give up. When a belief causes pain or harm to other people, it is problematic. Philosophers say that early exposure to culture shapes important values. Exposure to the beliefs of others and the amount and type of formal education influences belief development.
It is difficult, but not impossible, to change a belief. One shared belief is the values and virtues of hard work. I believe in work, however, there are some circumstances where hard work is not the key to advancement. My parents worked in the cotton fields from sunup until sundown, and worked as day laborers. My father was not able to obtain meaningful employment in spite of being a veteran and making a high score on his Civil Service Examination. Today, many people work multiple jobs and long hours in minimal wage jobs. Often, these jobs don’t offer benefits or pay living wages. They have little to show for their hard work. When there are equal work opportunities, then everyone can have the chance to succeed.
Parenting practices and family cultures can help influence beliefs. When we hear information, the brain tags it as being important and the information may become part of our belief system. Some people are attracted to beliefs that are not true. They make what they hear or exposed to, fit their own narratives. Some of these beliefs can be harmful to others. There are some people who may not care and refuse to give up their core beliefs. They continue to group themselves with like- minded people. There are many others who are concerned for all people and working to change the narrative.
Like most black people in America, I grew up in two cultures. My maternal grandparents passed away when I was young. Their parents were introduced to America as slaves. Their language and songs were kept alive through generations. My grandparents lived in the South their entire lives, spoke the same language and sang the same songs. My mother was the oldest of ten children. She passed what she learned from her parents to us. Her siblings passed what they learned to their children. We learned more than one dialect of the English language. According to Geneva Smitherman, author of an article in the book, Black Psychology, this use of non-standard English was a valid, legitimate and alternate dialect. During those times, white America rejected our way of speaking and used it as a tool of racial oppression to justify black exclusion from the social, political and economic rewards of American life. As a result, many black people lost this art form in an effort to fit in with society. The belief is that other cultures are not valued. There are many different cultures of people in the United States and we should learn to embrace cultural differences.
Based on studies, people of various races and cultures may view the world differently. The majority race wants an acknowledgement of their point of view and a follow-up with appropriate actions. We exist in an environment that is hostile and complicated. All people need to see themselves reflected realistically in the world. All points of view must be acknowledged to transition to a more cooperative relationship.
Black and other people of color have a more difficult environment to live in and the internal stress is greater. Our presence has been a constant source of conflict. The mark of oppression is low self- esteem and self-content. As a result, some people may learn to adapt to negative environments. We want to live equally and not have the doors of opportunity closed because of our skin color or culture. Individualists may identify progress by how far he/she or other individual groups of people progress in a system rather than how the system treats the group. We can all progress when all citizens have justice and equality.
I believe that if a belief system causes harm to others, it should be evaluated. If it is truly evaluated, it can be changed. We should pause and divert our energies into removing oppressions that are stumbling blocks to success and peace for all people.
References
Jones, Reginald. 1999. Black Psychology. Cobb and Henry Publishers. Berkeley, California.
Smitherman, Geneva. 1999. “Talkin and Testifyin: Black English and the Black Experience.” Black Psychology. Cobb and Henry Publishers. Berkeley, California.