You may be hearing all about racist shootings like the 2022 Buffalo Supermarket Shooting. It all happened because the shooter, Payton Gendron was taught the wrong history of what America really is. He was taught that African Americans were the bad guys and how he was doing the right thing, shooting up a supermarket, killing 10 innocent people and leaving 3 wounded. His type of mindset shows how many are motivated by hate, but not just any hate, racial. According to Fox News, “According to prosecutors, ‘Gendron’s motive for the mass shooting was to prevent Black people from replacing White people and eliminating the White race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks.’ He could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted of the federal charges. He is also facing murder, domestic terrorism and other charges in the state of New York.” Out of 13 of the victims, 11 were African American. Payton Gendron is a clear example as to what racist people can do with the hate they have against a certain race.
The problem with America is how many students aren’t being taught the correct history. In many states, teaching the “correct history” gets many teachers fired, and their license may be removed, leaving them with nothing. Why is America like this? Some teachers in many different states have been teaching their students the wrong history and so do high school history textbooks. The correct history is teaching students how cruel racist white people can be to many races that were considered inferior to them. White people were never the heroes back in the day, yet whatever they say to people. People will believe them because they didn’t have the mind of their own to think how racist that could be. People back in the day didn’t at least think to themselves, “Am I doing something racist? Or am I a racist? Why are they preventing many from teaching many what America really was/is. This gives people the idea to think what they are doing to colored people is good and it would make their ancestors proud. How can someone think like that? Yet, this is America, the “land of freedom”.
I know I can’t stop racism by just saying stop teaching false history. Our goal can be fulfilled, but for now, all I can do is give advice and write passionately about the future America can have without hate, violence, or racism at all.
I’ve been studying the racist history and the experience that many African Americans have been through. Back in the day, white people were cold to slaves. Many have been brutally beaten, lynched, and murdered. Many of these slave owners or murders have not been charged of any crime because at the time, many thought it was right to do that to a disobedient slave. I’ve always felt sadness for all the lives that were taken during the slave era of history.
In conclusion, racism needs to be stopped. I will continue to fight for my argument until I see change in our society and country.
Madison Alvizar – Lane Tech College Prep High School – DMSF Class of 2026
Image Credit: Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash