Living in a society where color has been a major issue for centuries (and remains one today), it’s hard not to sometimes have negative thoughts about people based on the shade of their skin. Such thoughts are often seen as harmless and are even turned into jokes, but they are the essence of racism.

Prejudice manifests first as a thought. Racism isn’t gone. I know people still have racist thoughts because they sneak into my mind sometimes and I have to drive them out. Anyone can have a racist thought that makes an assumption about someone based on skin color, but to completely avoid being racist, we need to vigorously oppose all racist thoughts that arise within us.

It’s not enough to say, “I don’t mistreat people because of their color,” or “I have a friend of a different color.” To completely overcome racism and be “unracist“, we must see people of all skin colors as fully our equal and keep the idea of a color-hierarchy away from our mind. We must not allow thoughts that say otherwise to be accepted in our brain.

Rules and laws can somewhat regulate and limit racist behavior, but they can’t free the human mind and heart from color assumptions. If we truly desire a culture of freedom and mutual respect, we must begin within us. To think less of someone because their skin reflects a different shade of light than your skin does is ridiculous.

If thoughts
That evaluate
People by color
Aren't resisted 
And removed 
From the mind,
They will grow
And eventually show
In attitude and action.