By: Hodges Horton (Whetstone Contributor)

Subliminal racism. You do it every day.
When you socialize in the College Center; when you pick your roommates for next semester; when you pick your seats on the first day of classes.
Have you ever asked yourself why you chose the friends you have?
Everyone might agree that you chose your friends through similar interests, similar personalities, activities or social groups.
But have you ever asked yourself if you choose your friends because of their race?
We force ourselves to believe that we are not racist or prejudice to people outside of your own race.
What we fail to realize is that our everyday actions point directly to the contrary.
Being racist or prejudiced is not just voicing your opinion in the comfort of your own home or publicly.
It also reflects your personal thoughts and your subliminal actions.
Are all of your roommates black or white?
“I do not feel I am prejudice or racist,” said senior C.J. Bacote. “I live off campus and I am the only roommate of five who is black. I am not more comfortable around my own race or another, I just chose my friends off of their interest and personality.”
People often believe you surround yourself with people who reflect the person you truly are.
If our society teaches us to respect each other for not how they look, but for who they are, why does racism and constant stereotyping still exist?
Whose fault is it?
Is it the white girl who looks in disgust and clinches her purse after a black guy walks into an elevator?
Or is it the black guy who walks into the elevator with his pants sagging below his waist reciting the lyrics of gangbanging rappers we idolize?
We are all guilty.
Are you surprised after hearing an African American use correct grammar when speaking in the classroom or in public?
Or say they sound white when they do?
“I have friends of all races- black, white, Hispanic,” said Michael Brandenburg. “I play football and, here at Wesley College, the team is mostly black. I don’t purposely surround myself with African Americans. It just so happens that the majority of my peers are black. I do not act black or white because of whom I hang out with. There is no such thing. A race does not act or speak a specific way.”
Do you surround yourself with white or black students in the cafeteria?
Why is it that after walking into Wesley’s dining hall, one would think that segregation still exists? At times we subconsciously believe if we surround ourselves with people who look like us, we will be more accepted or respected.
It’s almost embarrassing to see that at Wesley College.
Are you attracted to someone outside your race but fear views from your family or peers?
Forcing yourself to believe you will not be accepted by society once you date someone outside your race makes you as guilty as the person discriminating against you.
It is 2012 and the fear of acceptance in our society has forced us to forget our morals and lose our dignity.
Do you believe you did not receive a promotion because of your race before you question your own ability?
How many times must I hear a student complain about a teacher being racist, solely because of their grade on an exam or a recent course?
After hearing those words thousands of times, I am forced to believe that society developed a fear of racism to the point where we hide behind it and use it to conceal our own prejudices or racist thoughts.
Diversity has affected Wesley College positively, but I can still feel the power of racial judgments lingering throughout our campus.