Racism and Sexism: Two American Cancers

About the Book

This book is comprised of fourteen essays that I wrote as my views on life in America. As an African-American male, I have a need to explore life in this country. I’ve done so by focusing on two of America’s most prevalent and damaging cancers, “Racism & Sexism.” From “Five Interesting Definitions” through “Why Men Cheat,” there is a constant theme, described in various ways. It is obvious that this society is suffering from an illness I call racism, but equally as damaging is the country’s continuous pathology of sexism. America has lost an immeasurable amount of progress because of these two cancers. On the racial level, we may have already built bases on the moon, if only Blacks and other minorities were allowed to develop to their highest potential. We would probably have cured cancer and other incurable diseases if only we had allowed our female citizens to live up to their potential. When we think that a person can be a victim of both cancers, we destroy her potential twice. It is time to perform surgery on the racist and sexist tumors that are destroying the very guts of this nation. In this book, I am offering an opportunity to open some dialogue along these lines. I think we can do better as a society. I’m offering my personal opinions regarding the illnesses. Hopefully, this document will provide an opportunity for you to visit your feelings on these subjects. These essays start with “Five Interesting Definitions,” an exploration into how racism is born. I follow with a look at the conservative approach to life; how difficult it is for one to be a White racist in America; taking a walk down memory lane in “Memories;” looking at some of the dynamics of two inter-racial relationships; visiting the world of politics and race and concluding with a look at sexism in “Why Men Cheat.”

About the Author

Lowell Q. Witten is the fourth of seven children born to John and Flora Estelle Gammon-Witten. He graduated from Garnet High, in Charleston, W.Va. in 1955, before serving six years in the U.S. Air Force. Lowell attended Monterey Peninsula College, in Monterey, California. He received a B.S. degree from California State University, Los Angeles and a Masters Degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento. In 2005, Lowell retired as a School Counselor from the Sacramento City Unified School District. He is divorced and the proud father of Robert Witten.