Social Work Reflection: Racism 
Nakisa Pirooz
SLWK-200
September 26, 2013
Reflection Paper 1
“I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity,” is a famous quote in “Long Walk to Freedom,” by Nelson Mandela. Young African Americans arrested for drug possession are forty-eight times more likely to end up in prison than Caucasians are. Racism applies to other races as well from all across the global and yet you barley see it on the news. Is it not important enough? Because of this, many are unaware that racism exists today. Social work class has exposed me to a variety of ethical issues I was baffled to know still existed. To fully identify how real racism is, as people, we should analyze ourselves and the global happenings around us. In fact, I will reflect on my own cultural identity of the Middle East and the affect racism has had on my life. Racism has evolved in many forms. In the first couple weeks class started, one member, Deandre, during our group discussion made a very valid, substantial point on how far racism has come. He explained his personal views and experience on how he had to change his entire wardrobe to fit in with society’s expectations of dressing ‘white’. When it comes to judgment based on race, whites don’t have to worry about the color of their skin. From the recent article we read, “White Privilege” by Peggy McIntosh, whites have a, “Hidden systems of advantages”. Racism has simply evolved into hidden racism. It can be seen every day by the media. You notice only white super-heroes in movies or white people on the new missing but where did diversity go? How can you treat someone less based solely on the color of their skin? What happened to testing on intelligence or integrity? Not only are African Americans in society’s negative spot-light, the public perception of the Middle East and the religion of Islam has lost
SLWK-200
September 26, 2013
Reflection Paper 1
“I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity,” is a famous quote in “Long Walk to Freedom,” by Nelson Mandela. Young African Americans arrested for drug possession are forty-eight times more likely to end up in prison than Caucasians are. Racism applies to other races as well from all across the global and yet you barley see it on the news. Is it not important enough? Because of this, many are unaware that racism exists today. Social work class has exposed me to a variety of ethical issues I was baffled to know still existed. To fully identify how real racism is, as people, we should analyze ourselves and the global happenings around us. In fact, I will reflect on my own cultural identity of the Middle East and the affect racism has had on my life. Racism has evolved in many forms. In the first couple weeks class started, one member, Deandre, during our group discussion made a very valid, substantial point on how far racism has come. He explained his personal views and experience on how he had to change his entire wardrobe to fit in with society’s expectations of dressing ‘white’. When it comes to judgment based on race, whites don’t have to worry about the color of their skin. From the recent article we read, “White Privilege” by Peggy McIntosh, whites have a, “Hidden systems of advantages”. Racism has simply evolved into hidden racism. It can be seen every day by the media. You notice only white super-heroes in movies or white people on the new missing but where did diversity go? How can you treat someone less based solely on the color of their skin? What happened to testing on intelligence or integrity? Not only are African Americans in society’s negative spot-light, the public perception of the Middle East and the religion of Islam has lost