Chronosynclastic Infundibulum

It was a semi-religious gathering. I found myself there when they said it was free food (trust me, the food was really good! One of the best I home cooked food I have had here). It was at the home of one of the members of the community. The crowd was a really pleasing and intellectual one. I will definitely go to their next gathering, and not for the food, but for the company. It is really inspiring to be in the company of them. Anywayz, coming back to what I was trying to say, I saw a kid there. He was probably 14 years old or so, an african american. From the way he spoke it was obvious that he wasnt from a financially sound family. I spoke to him for a while and I found myself forming a stereotyped opinion about him, and wondering what he was doing here. Quickly I questioned myself as to what makes me qualified to be here. There is nothing special about me. Sure I have been luckier than him to have had a good education, but that’s just circumstance. Nothing inherent about me that qualifies me. It felt really good to see the way the host and rest of the group treated him, spent time with him, listened to him and tried their best to make him feel at home. They were so much more accepting and welcoming than I was.
It was then that I realized how deep rooted prejudices are, and how much of an effort it is to get it out of yourself. I used to consider myself liberal and broad minded. I find myself questioning that right now. I wonder how long a journey I have to travel before I can clese myself completely.
It is easy to blame my upbringing and my experiences, and justify my instincts, but I cant lie to myself! I know its wrong, and I have to correct it. I have read so much about equality, diversity and embracing it, I thought I had figured it all out… but now I realize how far away I am from truely imbibing it.
The journey continues, the quest is on…