An energetic me was having an exceptional day. Everything was right with the world and nothing could go wrong. I was untouchable and none of my problems mattered.

Shopping at Walmart, I gave people a bright smile as I passed but didn’t get any in return. Did another tragic event occur that I didn’t hear about? Was it because the weather was frigid and gloomy? The lack of cordiality turned to ice and my smile cracked with uncertainty. Was it my hijab that made me unworthy of a simple act of benevolence? I grew flustered as people continued to shun me. I wanted to apologize for my existence. Cheeks flushed, I shrank in an attempt to be invisible. Thousands of thoughts rushed through me like an furious water rapid. It was no longer a wonderful day.

Our species has been around for 200,000 million years and our history is filled with the prejudice we have against one another based off how we look, dress, act, or speak. Why don’t we spread amiability and decency when we can? Instead of people some see labels, stereotypes and impressions and it dominates our lives.

I’m not saying we should adore and obsess over everyone that crosses our path but would it hurt if we taught ourselves to see people instead of profiles? It’s effortless and goes a long way. We can make others feel safe and show mutual support through miniscule acts of kindness.

Almost all of the negative events that occur these days are led by one thing: the idea that some people are superior to others.

It is a elusive cancer lying under our skin.

Racist bullying, sexism at school, and many other issues that happen all around us daily are being disregarded. People are not fighting the negativity that hangs menacingly over our society. Depression continues to govern lives. Suicide rates continue to rise slowly while people sit by idly.

This monstrosity has motivated acid attacks against Muslims in London. It has driven people to commit homicides and murders.  Every incident of genocide starting from the Holocaust to the Rohingya Crisis was and is motivated by it. A lack of equality and government representation between the sexes in many countries continues to be normal. Donald Trump’s recent offensive and racist remark regarding certain countries is what represents the U.S.  Mass shootings increase, hate speech and sexual abuse is common news, and each year gets worse. It can be life ruining. It needs to end.

It is contaminating our community and continues to grow.

However, fire cannot be fought with fire. The way to combat supremacy and profiling is through compassion. The next time you see someone don’t act based off the label that society has assigned to them. Give people the chance to experience equality. It will take time but empires are not built overnight. Make minorities feel protected by the goodness you display. When you see someone with a label grinning at you, don’t sneer. Smile.