A future free from racism is a utopian rapture that has been emancipated from the bigotry and stagnation that is the present. It is a vast kingdom where equality nourishes the land and love is imprinted in the hearts and minds of all. He is colourful, warm and magnanimous. This kingdom is far from the divided and turbulent country we call our home, for it is a place where all are protected. It is a place where true freedom exists. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Racism, by definition, is the belief that members of racial groups possess specific characteristics and abilities that can be distinguished as inferior or superior to other racial groups (Oxford Dictionary). This belief manifests itself in prejudice, discrimination and hatred. Generally, when you hear the word 'racism', a myriad of thoughts and images crowd your mind. As a South African, what initially comes to mind is apartheid, and from there comes to mind those grainy images photocopied from textbooks and poor quality video clips from documentaries you watched in class. There is of course a 'Net Blankes' bench, the former South African flag, Hendrik Verwoerd, the word 'Bantu', protest action, Hector Peterson, the Sharpeville massacre and a young Nelson Mandela, to name but a few. And, as one of the 7.6 billion people on this earth, when you hear the word "racism", you may think of: the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide, the slave trade and the Aboriginal genocide in Australia, just to name a few. Currently, racism is widespread throughout the world, and reports of police brutality against African Americans and racist slurs uttered by South Africans have dominated all forms of media, among other atrocities. However, this is nothing new as, since the beginning of time, the subordination and degradation of human beings have thrived in the pursuit of domination. What hinders racism is its genuine ability to take on many forms imprinted in history, active in the present and foreseen in the future. But despite the many forms that racism takes, I believe there is one symptom that needs to be addressed. For years we have grappled with the effects white privilege has had on things like access to tertiary institutions for people of color, the debasement of names and derogatory comments, and the legacy of segregation on our economic development. We have marched, we have protested and it is safe to say that progress has been made. However, we are far from finished because there is another component that we tend to forget. Very often the underbelly of racism, in all it is a subtle pervasiveness, still exists and continues to ferment in the places we least expect. Our schools, our homes, our circles of friends and ourselves. Apartheid – in its legislation – ended, but its deeply rooted effects remained and flourished. The shackled psyche remains and flows through our conversations, our interactions, and our decisions. It's why when we hear broken English and thick accents among communities of color, we think "not smart," "slow." It's why when we see a darker-skinned man, we clutch our bags tighter and avoid eye contact. It's why you feel inadequate and isolated in a room where you are the only person of color. It's why you stare at an interracial couple a little longer and harder than you should. It's why when you hear the word "racist," you only think of white faces. It's why when you hear the word "criminal," you only think of black faces. It's the reason.