Understanding Our History—and Our Choices—In Simple Terms
America is a country built on big ideas—freedom, equality, opportunity. But if we look closely at our history, we see that it’s also a country shaped by contradiction. On one hand, the United States has a long history of racism: systems and attitudes that have kept people apart, or put some people above others, simply because of the color of their skin. On the other hand, America is also a place where people have always stood up against these wrongs, fighting for fairness and justice for everyone, no matter their background.
Let’s break this down clearly.
Racism: A Part of Our Past and Present
When people talk about racism in America, they often think of things like slavery, segregation, and big, obvious acts of prejudice. These are all real and painful parts of our history. But racism isn’t just about dramatic events in the past—it’s also about the smaller things that add up over time: who gets opportunities, who faces barriers, and how we see each other.
From the earliest days, laws and customs in America were set up to give certain groups—mainly white people—more advantages than others. For example, African Americans were enslaved for centuries. Even after slavery ended, there were rules (like Jim Crow laws) that tried to keep Black people separated and denied them basic rights, like voting or going to school with white children. Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and many other groups faced their own forms of discrimination, too.
But here’s something important: racism didn’t just come from “bad people.” Often, it’s about what society accepts as normal. We’re taught certain things by the world around us, often without even knowing it. If you grow up hearing the same messages, seeing the same stories, and noticing who gets ahead and who doesn’t, it can shape what you believe is “just the way things are.” That’s how racism can become part of a country’s character—passed down, accepted, and rarely questioned.
Antiracism: The Other Side of Our Story
Now, here’s the good news: America’s story isn’t just about racism. Every step of the way, there have been people who refused to accept it. The fight against racism—what we can call “antiracism”—has always been there, too.
Antiracism is about facing the truth, and then doing something about it. It’s the belief that everyone deserves respect and equal treatment. Throughout history, people have challenged unfair systems and demanded change. Think about the abolitionists who fought to end slavery. The Civil Rights Movement, with heroes like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and countless others, pushed the country to live up to its highest ideals. Today, people all across America continue this work, speaking out against injustice and working for better schools, fairer laws, and safer communities.
Antiracism isn’t just for a few special people—it’s something anyone can choose. It means refusing to let old ways of thinking go unchallenged. It means seeing each other’s humanity, and being willing to act when something isn’t right.
The Mirror Test: What Do We See?
So, what does this have to do with each one of us? Here’s where the mirror comes in.
We all have a picture of ourselves—how we think, what we value, what kind of country we want to live in. But are we willing to really look? To be honest about our flaws as well as our strengths? Sometimes, it’s easier to ignore the tough parts. Maybe we think, “That was a long time ago,” or “That doesn’t happen here,” or “I’m not part of the problem.” But real progress starts with honesty.
Looking in the mirror, both as individuals and as a nation, means asking hard questions. Am I treating everyone fairly? Are there things I’m not seeing, or not willing to see? What about my family, my community, my country? Are we living up to our ideals, or do we have work to do?
Conditioned to Accept, Free to Choose
It’s true: we’re all shaped by the world we grow up in. We may have learned to accept certain ways of thinking without even knowing it. But here’s the hopeful part—we can choose something different. Our history is not our destiny. Just as racism has been passed down, so has the spirit of antiracism. Every generation gets to decide what kind of future it will build.
Change isn’t always easy. It can feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, it means admitting we were wrong or that we need to start over. But it’s also freeing. When we choose to be honest about the problems we face, we open the door to actually solving them.
The Courage to Be Honest
Being antiracist takes more than just good intentions. It takes courage—the kind it takes to look in the mirror and not look away. It means listening to stories that might challenge us, speaking up when we see injustice, and supporting policies that make things fairer for everyone.
But courage doesn’t mean never being afraid; it means acting even when it’s hard. It means not settling for easy answers, and not hiding from the truth.
Moving Forward Together
If there’s one thing history teaches us, it’s that change is possible. The fight against racism in America isn’t finished, but it’s also not hopeless. Every time someone chooses to be honest—with themselves and with others—about the way things are, and then decides to do something about it, our country moves a little closer to its best self.
So, let’s keep looking in the mirror, even when it’s uncomfortable. Let’s be willing to face the truth about where we’ve been, so we can decide where we want to go. The story of America is still being written—and every one of us has a part to play.
· Remember, racism may be a part of our past, but it doesn’t have to define our future.
· Antiracism is about action, honesty, and hope.
· We all have the power to choose the kind of person—and the kind of country—we want to be.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 