Racism is not a topic that appears in everyday conversations. Although most people try to ignore its existence, it is clear that it has touched the lives of many people and has now become an essential part of our history. As a college student who has lived in the Valley her entire life, I have been told of the hardships that African Americans had to endure in gaining their freedom, becoming eligible to vote, being subjected to segregation, but I never I never thought that the people who I shared my culture and walked the streets of the Valley and San Antonio were having a similar experience. Over the years, it became clear that African Americans were not the only ones who were mistreated. At that time, from El Paso to Brownsville, all along the highways, we saw restaurants dotted with signs: "No Mexicans Allowed" and we couldn't go to restaurants, swimming pools and theaters; you had to go to places while they were in “little Mexico,” small towns separate and apart from the cities; these were the Mexican neighborhoods of the cities. We couldn't go to a hairdresser, or go to the cinema; there wasn't much we could do. (Orozco 30) During this trivial period, “La Raza” – a group of people primarily made up of Hispanics who expressed racial pride – outnumbered whites and were still forced to accept the poor living conditions they were faced with. submitted. “Most La Raza owned no property and worked as cotton pickers and were excluded from the better-paying jobs in foundries, machine shops, creameries, cotton oil mills, and small factories” (Orozco 20) . The constant devaluation of races would eventually lead to a divided society, one that would soon become segregated. Restaurants, schools, hairdressers...... middle of paper ...... contain people who consider themselves the "perfect" race and although there are still incidents involving racial discrimination, we have yet accomplished much as a society, as we are now closer to full racial equality and ethnic acceptance. The pain and suffering of our ancestors caused by racism was not in vain as we now enjoy our position in a world where prejudice ceases to exist. The endless battle between the oppressed and the oppressors has finally ended, leaving the oppressed victorious. The chains of racism were finally broken and as Martin Luther King Jr. said: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” » Works Cited “Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes.” The official website for the MLK Day of Service. Np, and Web. March 19. 2014. .