The Ideologies of Racism and Nativism

1560 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: History of racism in the united states

The ideologies of racism and nativism and the structural causes of politics and laws create and sustain the social injustices associated with immigration.
An ideology is a type of belief system based on societal values and norms.
Ideologies are shared by a group of people and are passed down through generations.
The attitudes of racism and nativism, as harsh and unfair as they may be, have existed in this country for hundreds of years. Nativists years ago feared loosing cultural, political, economic, and social control of America to immigrants just as the American people do today. The American people have adopted an anti-immigrant position that has not only stopped and prevented immigrants from achieving profoundly in this country, but has given U.S. immigration a grim and doubtful future (Van Dijk 45).
This anti-immigrant perspective is present and widespread in our country today.
The nativist mindset lives in the minds of many Americans and manages to show itself in the harsh actions of our people, as seen by a group of students at the University of Texas in Austin. The Young Conservatives of Texas, a group of conservative students at the university, decided to organize a game of “Catch an Illegal Immigrant” scheduled for Wednesday, November 20, 2013. The game would allow UT students to catch any student with an “illegal immigrant” sign on for the reward of a $25 gift card. The point of the game, as explained by the group, was to “spark a campus wide discussion about the issue of illegal immigration, and how it affects our everyday lives”. Although the Young Conservatives have decided to call off the event in light of the backlash they have received, the message has definitely been received: illegal immigrants should not b...

... middle of paper ...

...arcotte, Amanda. “Arizona Law Affects More People Than Undocumented Immigrants.” Slate.com. n.d. The Slate Group. Web. 6 December 2013.
Merriam Webster. “Genocide.” Merriam Webster. 2013. Merriam Webster. Web. 6 December 2013.
Peralta, Eyder. “University Of Texas Students Cancel 'Catch An Illegal Immigrant Game.’” NPR. Web. 20 November 2013.
Van Dijk, Tuen A. “Ideologies, Racism, Discourse: Debates on Immigration and Ethnic Issues.”
White House, The. The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013. .
Wong, Jessica. “Racism In America Hasn’t Disappeared.” The Herald Sun. 29 October 2013. The Herald Sun. Web. 6 December 2013.

Show More
Related

  • The Watsons Go to Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis

    2133 Words  | 5 Pages

    Taylor, Keeanga-Yamahtta. "Civil Rights and Civil Wrongs: Racism in America Today."International Socialist Review Online November-December.32 (2003): n. pag.ISReview.org. International Socialist Organization. Web. 07 Dec. 2013. .

    Read More

  • Nativism In Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama

    1522 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since its inception, there has always been a subsection of the American people that think that sharing a country with people different than them is unacceptable. Whether it was the 5 tribes of Native Americans relocated in the Trail of Tears, or the prejudice against irish immigrants during the turn of the century, white anglo-saxon protestants have always tried to ‘stick together’ and keep others unlike them out. With the end of the civil war and an end to slavery, this nativism present within the American people manifested itself once more. While the journey taken by African-American citizens was long and unnecessarily arduous, the backlash against them has waxed and waned as time passes. During the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan was at it’s peak,

    Read More

  • Japanese Internment Dbq Essay

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the 1900’s, it was common for people to immigrate to America. They saw it as a land of freedom and opportunity. Some thought that this was a great way for the US’ economy to boom, but some thought otherwise. With the shortage of jobs, many believed that the immigrants were stealing their precious jobs. Because of the competition over jobs, immigrants became the new public enemy to many.

    Read More

  • History of Latino/a Immigration to the U.S.

    1472 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ves of immigrant groups such as the Indians, Chinese, and Germans have proved that prior policies have been based on anti-immigrant rhetoric at that time. Therefore, reforming the immigration policies today should not be based on racism, or nativism. In addition, it is important to dispel the misconceptions of the Latino/a immigrations today because it is a mistake to formulate polices based on preconceptions of racialized groups.

    Read More

  • Undocumented Immigrants in the US and Healthcare for them

    1718 Words  | 4 Pages

    The United States has a history in which success is associated with greater negativity toward certain groups. Anti-immigration sentiment and extreme immigration policy may come from the desire to blame outsiders for poor economic conditions. Immigrant and minority attitudes as well as policy regulations are tied to economic competition. Current public opinion polls show mixed attitudes over immigrants and immigration policy because of the ability of citizens to distinguish between documented and undocumented citizens.

    Read More

  • English Should Be the Official Language of the United States

    1713 Words  | 4 Pages

    Perea, Juan. Immigrants Out! The New Nativism and the Anti-Immigrant Impulse in the United States. New York or London: New York University Press, 1997. Print.

    Read More

  • Latin American Immigration and the U.S. Immagration Policy

    2102 Words  | 5 Pages

    Immigration has always been a contentious issue in the United States. Benjamin Franklin thought that the influx in German immigration would flush out the predominately British culture in America at the time. (5) Furthermore, a continual wave of foreign cultures began pouring into the American metropolitan areas at the turn of the 20th century. The migration of Italians, Poles, and Jews across the Atlantic Ocean began a mass assimilation of cultural ideology and customs into the United States, yet many people thought that these migrants could not adapt. Today, the American society has become a melting pot of foreign influence; however, many cynics remain skeptical about the incorporation of Latin American people and their influences. Accordingly, these same critics are just as naïve as their previous counterparts, who refused to accept the many gifts and contributions these immigrants have to offer. We must ask ourselves: How long will it take to peacefully incorporate Spanish immigrants into American society? America was built on the movement of these cultures, and the current population of this country must set aside its non-democratic premonitions, and embrace the historical and positive aspect of Latin American immigration.

    Read More

  • Industrialization and Immigration

    2270 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... middle of paper ... ... With the startling growth of immigration, in what seemed like overnight, immigrants were met with hostility as they were the target of religious differences as well as labor unrest, the promoted sentiment was termed, nativism. As the continuation of industrialization and urbanization sparked an increasing demand for a larger and cheaper labor force; an influx in immigrants from all over Europe, migrated in pursuit of higher wages.

    Read More

  • Chicanismo in Burciaga´s Drink Cultura

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anti-defamation League. “Arizona: The Key Players in the Anti-immigrant Movement.” Adi.org. 2013. Web. 19 Oct 2013.

    Read More

  • Is Racism in the Heart? by Tommie Shelby

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shelby, T. (2002) “Is Racism in the Heart?” In G. L. Bowie, M. W. Michaels, and R. C. Solomon (Eds.), Twenty Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy (479-483). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

    Read More

  • Discrimination Against Latin and Hispanic Immigrants

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    What would it be like to wake up everyday knowing you would get bullied, mistreated, and/or abused just because of where you were born? Discrimination still exists! “Discrimination remains and there is an increase in hate crimes against Hispanics, Latinos and Mexican-Americans, as one of the perceived symbols of that discrimination, the U.S.-Mexico Border Fence, nears completion. Instead of pulling together in these difficult times, we may see a greater polarization of attitudes” (Gibson). But why are hate crimes increasing towards Latin and Hispanic aliens and what types of discrimination are occurring against them? Understanding violence towards the Hispanic and Latin alien is divided into three main classes; the difference between legal and illegal aliens, the attacks and effects, and the point of view of different people towards aliens.

    Read More

  • Immigration Persuasive Essay

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    Immigration has been a controversial topic for over the past centuries. However, along with the election of a new president. the public has also created a fight to overcome the challenges the government has thrown to those undocumented immigrants. Immigration can be described as a person relocating to a new place and settling in a form of advancement. While there are benefits to having immigration, people do not always view the positive side for both parties. Native people often view immigration as a threat to their country by arguing about the lack of jobs and some illegal immigrants take advantage of receiving help from the government. However, according to the Cato Journal, immigrants both legal and illegal contribute to the growth of the economy and the creation of jobs.Regardless of being a native born citizen, any person living in the U.S mus...

    Read More

  • Immigrants and the American Dream

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Illegal Immigration and Amnesty Polls." Federation for American Immigration Reform. FAIR. Web. 11 Mar 2014. .

    Read More

  • The Selma-Montgomery March

    2478 Words  | 5 Pages

    Reed, Roy. “He Says ‘No Wave of Racism Can Stop Us Now.’” New York Times. 26 Mar. 1965: 1+

    Read More

  • Racism in America - Past and Present

    2883 Words  | 6 Pages

    Tishler, William P. and Stanley K. Schultz. "Racist Culture." Review 5 2007 n. pag. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

    Read More

More about The Ideologies of Racism and Nativism

Open Document