Who is perpetuating racism?

If a direct ancestor came from Russia some 200 years ago, does that mean a person now is a Russian-American? If ancestors came from Spain, are descendants all Spanish-American? If they came from Africa, are all descendants African-American?

It seems so, and it does not matter if it was 10 years ago or 100 years ago, people still have the label of their ancestors.

Well, guess what? One of my ancestors came from Ireland 200 years ago. I am not an Irish-American. I am an American.

If a black person’s ancestor came over from Africa 200 years ago, he is not an African-American. He is an American.

What if ancestors came from Persia? They have black people there. Guess he will have to find out where he came from to find his label.

I do not belong to the white, black, yellow or red race; I belong to the human race.

I did not put my race on my Census form and will not put it on any form that asks for it.

People who live in America have a nationality — American. A black person has a nationality, it is American. A Hispanic has a nationality, it is American.

Why is it that people have to have a label?

Lyn Tabor, Lewiston