Feeling unwanted can be the most heartbreaking sensation to experience, but being told that you don’t belong because of something as simple as race is infinitely more crushing. In the US, this is still very common; and not just against one race. There are many towns, even states that are considered oriented towards one race. This is especially horrid because people try to say that racism is a thing of the past, when the truth is nearly the opposite. For example, if a white-black mixed couple were to display affection in public, chances are that they would either be shunned or given dirty looks and/or snarky remarks. Also, another big factor that keeps racism going is the fact that it is considered okay for certain races to say words or phrases that other races cannot, especially in things like the media. Racism is still a big problem in the US; and as long as people continue to blame their race for their behavior, racism will only grow, which will prevent the country from advancing to greater things, like breakthroughs in science, for example.
Race-oriented Cities
Even though many people probably wouldn’t care to admit it, most cities are judged based on what race dominates them. For example, if one were to plan a vacation to California, they would be most likely to stay in a “safe” city. This basically means that they would stay away from cities with bad reputations, like Watts or Compton, but in reality those cities received those reputations because of the actions of previous residents. However, most cities like these are taking efforts to relieve themselves of said reputations. According to a study done by Brown University in 2010, the most diverse city in the country is Vallejo-Fairfield, CA; where about 41% of the ...
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...appers for example. Instead of simply using words like brother or comrade, they choose to use the “N” word. Why? Is it because they are trying to separate themselves from other races? Or maybe because they’re still holding on to the past? Unfortunately, the use of such degrading slang is so embedded in society, most people use it without being fully aware. Also, the use of derogatory slang is far from limited to the Black community; most Hispanic or Pacific Islanders are allowed to use the “N” word as well without fear of being racist. So, if artists use the “N” word in their music, or everyday speech, it would be acceptable by society as long as they aren’t white.
Works Cited
www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/07/most-least-diverse-cities-brown-university-study_n_1865715.html#slide=1490229
www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-n-word-and-how-to-use-it/Content?oid=895154
Naylor implies that derogatory terms have a twist and are a disguise of acknowledgement to her race. Although it was initially created to humiliate and dehumanize African Americans, ‘the n-word’ develops into a word that admires men of that race.
Although the United States have come a long way from slavery, we still have a long way to go where people can begin to feel no prejudices, which will probably never happen. Unfortunately, racism still exist and is still a major issue in culture and politics, it has taken a back seat to intellect and
As stated before, racism is not something that people thought of in the last ten years, it is an ongoing theme that has been flowing through the story of the United States. Starting from the enslavement of black Africans, and moving along to the days of when African Americans were separated from white Americans even though they lived in the same country and walked the same streets. Racism is seen all over the world. Hitler killed close to six million Jews during World War II due to the fact that he claimed that Germans were superior. He said that Jews polluted Europe and began “cleaning” it up. “Racism serves both to discriminate against ethnic minorities and to maintain advantages and benefits for White Americans.” This is what Mark Feinberg, PhD, stated about this issue and most people would agree.
When it comes to the use of the “N-word”, “nigger”, most of us will readily agree that it is derived from negativity. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of is this word appropriate and should it be a part of our vocabulary today. Many feel like this word is okay to use but there are some that disagree.
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.
A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...
The word “nigger” has two main variances today, and they were both expressed beautifully by Tupac. The word carries with it a privilege also, a privilege that only certain people are allowed to use this word. And it is what African descendants call each other as a way of connecting in a brotherhood type of fashion. In areas such as “Bomton” - otherwise known as “black compton” - “brothas” can casually see each other at the convenience store and address the other as “my nigga” or “niggah” however they prefer. Now imagine the same scenario but with two Caucasian males saying the exact same. It’s weird right? That is because the word is still highly debated to the present. It is unclear whether the word should be banned from everybody’s mouth or if it should all be left to identify
In the world today, racism and discrimination is one of the major issues being faced with. Racism has existed throughout the world for centuries and has been the primary reasons for wars, conflicts, and other human calamities all over the planet. It has been a part of America since the European colonization of North America beginning in the 17th century. Many people are not aware of how much racism still exist in our schools, workforces, and anywhere else that social lives are occurring. It started from slavery in America to caste partiality in India, down to the Holocaust in Europe during World War II.
Dating back to the beginning of times people have always been looked at different depending on the color of their skin or what your religion, race, or beliefs may be. It is in our human nature to not like people for certain things that they are. Many will argue that in this day in age we are no longer at a race war but how can you be so sure when you actually open your eyes and see reality. Rapper Kanye West once said “racism is still alive, they just be concealing it” and these words are everything but false. You must ask yourself the real question about racism and it is how could you ever cure such a thing in people’s minds? People are free to think and believe what ever they would like and old habits such as racism will never change in people.
Racism is a major issue that has affected the United States since its discovery. Racism is the hatred by a person of one race pointed at a person of another race. The United States has grown up to improve as a whole but this process is a long way away from completion. Some citizens still believe that African-Americans are inferior to Caucasians and that they should be slaves. In the 1950s, whites and blacks were segregated to a point that they could not go to the same schools or even use the same bathrooms.
As Kennedy explains “used by black people amongst themselves [the N word ] is a racial term with undertones and good will--reflecting a tragicomic sensibility that is aware of black history” but how could such a contradiction exist (Kennedy 5)? How could the most “noxious” of words also also be used to show comradery and brotherhood for those who have been in the struggle. “He is my nig” or “That guy is my nigga”, phrases like these are uttered by black men to each other to express their most public form of masculine endearment towards one another. Note that it is uttered between black men, to black men, and from black men; Black bodies participate and engage with the “N-word” much more differently than any other non-black person would. The word must come from colored mouths to have a “positive” significance, if I, a Mexican woman, or for instance Nate, in Bernard’s class, say it--we change the meaning entirely. As quoted by Randall Kennedy, Jarvis Deberry states, “[the n-word is ‘beautiful in its multiplicity of functions. I am not aware…of any other word capable of expressing so many contradictory emotions” and I cannot help but to agree that the “N-word” is more messy and complex then we would anticipate it to
Blacks considered the N-word to be one of if not the the absolute worst and most offensive word throughout history. Why should that suddenly change because the last two letters are changed to an a? The meaning and history of the word is something of which many members of the younger generation are completely oblivious. Why should this dehumanizing, demeaning word be used freely in songs and everyday speech? In the words of Martin Luther King Jr: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” If all men are created equal, then why should blacks be discriminated against in everyday language and in popular songs?
When looking back at our country during the civil rights movement, many people are appalled at how people of color were being mistreated and hated for so long. In our society, today, people like to pride themselves in not being racist and being accepting of all different races and cultures. Although people like to think that they are not racist and that our society is entering a “post-racial” phase, the truth is that we are all somewhat subconsciously racist and to think that we will ever become a post-racial society is unrealistic. People may not believe that white privilege is a real issue but the truth is that it is real and it is happening in our country more than ever. Sadly, race still plays a huge and important role on how you are treated and looked at in this country, there are still people in our society who treat others differently simply because of how they look and because of the color of their skin.
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.
Racism and prejudice has been present in almost every civilization and society throughout history. Even though the world has progressed greatly in the last couple of decades, both socially and technologically, racism, hatred and prejudice still exists today, deeply embedded in old-fashioned, narrow-minded traditions and values.