麵對歧視，小兒子十三歲時的文章：My Actions…His Words

My Actions…His Words

From his organization of the Montgomery bus boycott to his famous “I have a Dream” speech to his assassination, Martin Luther King has impacted the lives of many people: the poor, the mistreated, and African-Americans. But his impact on this country and the world does not stop there, for he has also had an affect on people of all nationalities and on racism as a whole. His words are treasured, and his actions are valued, for he is truly one of the greatest ambassadors for the abolition of racism and the concept of unity.
His ideas and actions are especially precious to me because, while I am not African-American, I am Chinese-American, and I face racism. I don’t let this get in my way, though. I do not use violence when others make fun of me for my race. I, like Martin Luther King, believe in peaceful ways of settling differences. When people single me out because I’m a Chinese-American, I talk to them and ask them why they have prejudice against me. I believe prejudice is something that accumulates through one’s life depending on what they see, hear, and are accustomed to. In most people, there is no reason for one to feel racism, and therefore, racism is something that can be conquered.
Sometimes, I wonder what life would be like if Martin Luther King was not born. Segregation would still be in effect, and not only would blacks be segregated, but Asian and Hispanics would probably also be segregated. It is painful for me to imagine such a situation because even with King’s actions, conquering racism is hard. If Martin Luther King had not been born, conquering racism would probably be impossible. I would have to go to a different school, use different restrooms, and live in different neighborhoods. And each school, restroom, and neighborhood would be a lot worse than what I have become accustomed to and have taken for granted.
Due to my experiences, I have thoughts very much alike those that Martin Luther King had. I believe racism is evil, the best way to deal with situations is nonviolently, and people of all different races should be unified. Even though I share many ideas with him, I am not even close to as great as Martin Luther King. His words and actions have affected many people, including me, all across the world. If only there was more people like him, racism would be abolished, all people would become unified, and his “Dream” would finally come true.