“People only see what they are prepared to see” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is the concept of perception? What is racism? How do the two relate? These are questions that will be answered in the words that are to follow. Perception deals with the processing of information attained by one’s senses. Racism is defined as the prejudice against persons of another race. There are many philosophical principles that offer explanations for the phenomena of racism as it relates to perception. This will explore the philosophical theory of Friedrich Nietzsche.
Now, when it comes to perception, it can be gained from a physical occurrence or from a psychological state. For example, what is the perception of snakes? Some may have dubbed snakes as a dangerous entity because of a personal attack experience; whereas others have created a psychological phobia from previously obtained second-hand knowledge. In addition, are there not many species of snakes that pose no imminent threat to people? But, once a certain perception has been attached to anything directly or indirectly, the afore mentioned will be judged on that perceived characteristic alone. This fact leads to the topic of racism.
Racism has been an issue that everyone tip-toes around, but yet it is one of the most prevalent topics in everyday life as well as in the foundation of the United States. Whether it was Hitler and the Jewish people, early American settlers and the Native Americans, or the ever so popular black vs white, racism has stemmed from humans’ perception of one another. These perceived notions were adopted as concrete character traits, and thus created resentment for the opposing group. This constant accumulation of resentment can be nothing but fueled by natural human conflict. Different races are nothing short of species of snakes that have been judged from the actions of one or a few of the respective race. Let us also take into consideration that the striking of a snake (which led to the stamp of being dangerous) and the “scalping” performed by a Native American (which led to the stamp of ‘savage’) were both done in the spirit of protection for one’s own kind. Is that wrong or admirable? The answer lies in the battle and distinction of the concepts of Good vs Evil and the Will to Power.
Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher, dealt heavily in the concept of the Will to power. This is defined as man’s natural driving forces being ambition and striving to reach the highest possible position in life. This, Will to Power, is the axis on which earth revolves. People do not oppose one another to attain equal pieces of the prize. No, this game is about the retaining of the best possible position. With that being said, Nietzsche’s concept of Good versus Evil becomes an issue. He speaks much of the resentment that was mentioned earlier. He states that resentment is a reactive force that views itself as ‘Good’ while fighting ‘Evil’. Despite the fact that the actions of the reactive force (Good) may be bad and utterly detrimental to the opposition, it was for a good cause. How does this relate to the perception of racism in human nature?
Adolf Hitler (one of history’s most notorious racist) was viewed as a walking terror to the Jewish people while revered as a hero to many. Hitler, being well-read in history, was very much so aware of the perception that the Jewish were a strong people, known for conquering new territories as they settled in new places. This, of course, would naturally cause a hatred (resentment) for them as a people. In an attempt to be proactive and protect his people, Hitler masterminded the holocaust. Logical?.......Hardly. But, his actions were viewed as a force of Good doing Bad in order to fight Evil. Now, without delving too much into a history lesson about the first people in America, who did or did not discover the land, let us briefly adhere to the fact that the African-American people have a Moorish trait. The Moor, with roots in Africa, were believed to be the biggest, strongest, most intelligent race of people. The offspring of the Moor were the original slaves brought to the United States because of these perceived character traits. So when it comes to man’s Will to Power, who better to make a slave out of than a physically superior group? Whether or not any of the current generation has experienced the pain and suffering of original types of slavery is an obvious no. But, is the perception of the forceful ability of whites to more or less control those of color any less viable? Whites then were only trying to start a workable civilization which they felt was best for the Good of their own kind. Does the presence of Bad actions or decisions make them Evil?
In conclusion, we have found that the perception of racism is surrounded by just as much fallacy as the idea of perception itself. Racism is something that has been etched into the psychological growth of every human being by the elders of that particular race in an attempt to be the Good force warning their offspring of the Evil that awaits them. Friedrich Nietzsche was correct in that man is driven by the need for the best possible position and outcome, and willing to do bad things to be good; not only for self, but those similar to that self. How do we overcome such deeply rooted belief systems? Is it possible to create or have the ability to live in a world without racism in our lifespan?
William Shakespeare said it best when he stated that “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”
