My parents taught me not to judge people by theirskin. As time progressed I noticed that the beliefs of my friend's father stuck in myfriend's head. Racism grew like a cancer in my friend. At first my friend would tellracist jokes. I figured he didn't mean any harm with these jokes so I let them passwithout question. Over time I noticed that he believed these jokes and took themseriously. It got to the point where I would just ignore him, but there were timeswhen he couldn't be ignored. I tried to talk to my friend, but it was like talking to abrick wall. The beliefs of his father were tattooed on the inside of his brain. I didn'tknow what to do. I had no idea that the worst was yet to come. My friend startedbecoming extremely vocal in public. There was a time I was talking to one of myfriends, who happened to be black, after my high school's football game and my racistfriend pulled me aside and said, "Hey Ced, why are you talking to him?" That mightsound like an innocent question, but if you knew my friend, you knew what he meant. This was the beginning of the end. I was really getting aggravated withmy friend but on the other hand I was getting worried for him. I was worried that hewould say the wrong thing at the wrong time and end up getting seriously hurt.Another time, we were walking down the street and a black kid, no less than ten yearsold walked by, and my friend said, " I bet that nigger stole that jacket!" My mouthdropped. I couldn't believe his latest ignorant remark. I asked my friend if he everneeded a liver transplant and that black kid was the only possible donor, what wouldhe do? He replied, "I would probably die!" This was the straw that broke the camel'sback because a friendship of sixteen years ended at that moment. Parents are the biggest influence in a child's life. Children look to their parents for support andguidance. Without the proper support and guidance, children are headed on a road to nowhere.Racism is n...
