Aspects of Racism

Racism has always been the same. It never changed. The term racism firstly exposes racial differences, then hate, discrimination and prejudice, lack of knowledge, hurt, tears and negative stereotype. This is an essay about racism in the US. Therefore I will explain what one of the biggest challenges in the world – racism – is and figure out when it occurred in the United States by traveling back in time of the American history.

Racism, it is defined as the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races (Oxford Dictionary, n.d.). In layman’s term, it is an idea wherein one group treats another in a negative way leading to the outcasting of one form to another. One of the major basis of racism is the physical appearance of a person that trends to be a discrimination in the society. Not only the physical aspects are being judged but also the culture, tradition and practices are been after for. In racism, it is always viewed as the barrier between the black and white in terms of who is being more civilized. The perception of the majority is that if you are black, you are in a low level but if you are white then you are of higher rank than that of the other (Fredrickson, 1934). Racism in the U.S. Foreign Policy is evident; supposedly it aims to serve and create a bridge between different races of international community for democratic, secure, and thriving world. The concept of racism is said to originate during the past 500 – 1000 years. It started when the Non-Westerners were dominated by the Western powers that had bigger impact on history; an example would be the slavery started by the Westerners in which Africans were enslaved. The root cause was the racist belief that Black Africans were less fully humans than the white Europeans and their descendants. Racism has existed throughout human history up to this date. It was able to influence wars, slavery, and the division and formation of different nations.

Racism has often played a central role in conflicts between groups of people. Racism is the intentional or unintentional use of power to isolate, separate and exploit others as defined in the Webster dictionary. People generally respond to others differently based on what they know, which may include superficial characteristics often associated with race. This paper will express my opinion of how racism will effect America. I will base information from Webster’s definition of Racism, reading assigned for the course, and some of my own ideas on ways to overcome this obstacle as a nation.

Racism is something that almost everyone has witnessed. Racism is a word that many people do not fully understand or have their own perceptions of. The oxford dictionary defines racism as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. Racism is often misunderstood as someone’s genetic characteristics. The distinction made between races has nothing to do with genetic characteristics. Instead, race was created socially, primarily by how people perceive ideas and faces that they are not quite used to.

Racism is a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that is used to justify the superior treatment of one racial or ethnic group, and the inferior treatment of another racial or ethnic group. (Kendall p.183). Racism in American society still exists in many forms. The goal of this research is to demonstrate how racism still occurs, as well as the different circumstances under which they can happen. Racism will continue to be an issue in America, as it is continuously brushed beneath the surface of civilization.

Black youths arrested for drug possession are 48 times more likely to wind up in prison than white youths arrested for the same crime under the same circumstances. Many people are unaware how constant racism has been throughout the years. It is important to understand the problems of racism because it is relevant to society. Racism in America is very real and Americans need to know it.

Prejudice is a destructive social problem. Theories of prejudice distinguish between old-fashioned and modern forms. The former is an open rejection of minority group members; the latter is subtle and covert, with a veneer of out-group acceptance. Prejudice is commonly defined as an unfair negative attitude toward a social group or a person perceived to be a member of that group. Racism is related to concepts such as prejudice, but it is a more encompassing term. In White Racism, authors Feagin, Vera and Batur explain, “Racism is more than a matter of individual prejudice and scattered episodes of discrimination” (p. ix); it involves a widely accepted racist philosophy and it involves power to deny other racial groups the dignity or opportunities that are available to one’s own group through a socially organized set of ideas and attitudes.

Racism has been around since the dawn of human existence, coming in many forms and effecting all types of people. In the twenty-first century, racism still plays a part in ever society on the plant. But instead of overt racism people find different ways to disadvantage certain groups. The current American culture views overt racism as unfair, rude, and wrong, but that does not stop people from using unconscious racism. Unconscious racism is when the offender disadvantages another based on race without being out right racist to the person. From not giving a job to a person based on the color of their skin to calling out the president for not being born in the country, racism effects people at all status levels. Starting when the first settlers arrived to internment camps to modern day unconscious racism, racism has token many forms and changes according to the time. The key factors that help unconscious racism thrive in our society are the changes to the policy that determine what is a racist act, the formations of stereotype through the concentration of ethnic groups population, and the negative effects of Affirmative action all played a part.

Racism In America Racism (n): the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other race (Wordnet search, 1), a controversial topic in today’s society, a subject that many people try to sweep under the rug, but yet a detrimental problem that has been present in America since the colonial era. Will this dilemma come to a halt? Can all Americans see each other as equals despite their skin color and nationality; and what role has it played in past generations versus today’s generations and how will it affect our future? Has this on going way of thinking gotten better or worse? These are questions raised when many think about the subject; especially members of American ethnic groups and backgrounds, because most have dealt with racial discrimination in their life time.

Racism and segregation among different races took place since the beginning of time, “Accordion Crimes” by E. Annie Proulx explores a similar situation of new immigrants coming to America seeking for a better life also known as the American dream but soon realize what its all about. The story spreads over about 100 years. The life that immigrants were living was very difficult. Racism and discrimination was part of every day life, it can be pretty similar to what Muslims have to go through since the catastrophe of September 11, 2001 that changed the world for ever. When new coming Italians arrived to United-States, they were all seen as part of some mafia, generalization was punishing those that had nothing to do with it like the Muslims today. What can be done to stop hatred between races? The easy answer is education, but that’s not the only solution.