Racism is not new, it has been around for thousands of years. Even in the book full of love and peace; it carries several instances of racist people. Around 1140 B.C. a lovely new widow and her mother-in-law come to Jerusalem to start their lives over and to be accepted by the people of God. Unfortunately the widow, Ruth, was not one the “chosen” people. She was a Moabitess, considered heathen to the Jewish people. Ruth, wanting to glean in the fields so she and her mother-in-law could eat was shunned by the Jewish women. She was not able to gain enough food because she was different, not like the other women, not accepted because of her race. (Ruth 2:1-6). Sound familiar? The years have come and gone, social customs have evolved, but mankind has maintained racism to this day.
What is racism? “A belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” (Stein 1184). With the numerous races populating the world and the number of people involved in inter-racial relationships it is a wonder that racist behavior and the dislike people have for others that are different from themselves constantly surfaces. Clear cut lines in race are still being drawn despite the current mixtures that are happening within our society. For example, in New York City the NYPD stopped 80% of blacks and Latinos and 85% of them were frisked by the officers. When whites were stopped only 8% of them were frisked. (Quigley 2011). Not only are Americans affected, but all around the world – racism constantly rears its ugly head. A global example of racism can be found in South Africa, specifically Capetown, Mitchell’s Plain, and...
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... I. Collins, 1791. Print.
Stein, Jess M. The Random House Dictionary. New York: Ballantine, 1978. Print.
"Examples of Subtle Racism and the Problems It Poses." About.com Race Relations. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Fourteen Examples of Systemic Racism in the US Criminal Justice System | Common Dreams." Common Dreams. N.p., n.d. Web.
Alvarez, Alvin. San Francisco State University News." Ignoring Racism Makes Distress Worse, Study Finds. N.p., 5 Apr. 2010. Web.
Graff, Gilda. Journal of Psychohistory: Everything Has Changed, but Nothin' Has Changed: Shame, Racism, and a Dream Deferred (2011): n. page. Print
Saletan, William. "Misjudgment and Overreaction Killed Trayvon Martin. Now They're Driving Our Response to the Verdict." Slate Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web.
Fastenberg, Dan. "NY Bakery Fined $25,000 For Telling Applicant No Hire Because She's Black." AOL Jobs. N.p., 2011. Web.
Despite the passing of the Civil Rights Act and Affirmative Action, racism evolved from the blatant discrimination of the 1960s like segregation, to the slightly more passive racism of the 1990s such as unfair arrests/jail time (Taylor). Curtis’ writes three decades after the aforementioned progress and yet, looking back on the 90s, there is an alarming amount of similarities between the two.
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.
Mendoza-Denton, Rodolfo Ph.D. “Racism Against Whites: The Overlooked Phenomenon.” Are We Born Racist. Psychology Today. 10 Nov. 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
[4]. Valbrun, Marjorie. "Rewriting the Script Won’t Change the Facts in the Trayvon Martin Case." Slate.com. April 2, 2012. Accessed April 12, 2012. http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/04/02/trayvon_martin_zimmerman_s_black_friend_and_hispanic_defenses_won_t_work_.html.
...system that has existed in the United States or anywhere else in the world” (Alexander 234). W.E.B. Dubois argued that “The burden belongs to the nation, and the hands of none of us are clean if we bend not our energies to righting these great wrongs” (Alexander 217). Our nation must address this burden and correct that racial injustices created by our so-called criminal justice system. The criminal justice system cannot continue to hide behind the front of being a colorblind system - racial inequality and injustice must be challenged.
GRAFF, GILDA. "Everything Has Changed, But Nothin' Has Changed': Shame, Racism, And A Dream Deferred." Journal Of Psychohistory 38.4 (2011): 346-358. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
In the United States, racial discrimination has a lengthy history, dating back to the biblical period. Racial discrimination is a term used to characterize disruptive or discriminatory behaviors afflicted on a person because of his or her ethnic background. In other words, every t...
Edelman, B. C. (2006). Racial prejudice, Jury Empathy,and sentencing in death penalty cases. New York , New York: LFB Scholary publishing LLC.
There are three types of racism. The most visible type is personally mediated racism where say a black man is being beaten due to the color of his skin. The effects on his health are obvious to see, the physical aspect is apparent. When people over a period of time have been subjected to, racial prejudice and discrimination begin to doubt their own worth and abilities they become victims of internalized racism. Constant, numerous instances in their respective environments have all abst...
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.
Rather racism is due to not wanting a lesser to be equal, due to a war, or due to wanting to eliminate a race. Racism is racism and will always be around. There will always be a group that people hate and will be racist, prejudice, or have intolerance towards. Francis Biddle may have found a reason behind racism. “In tense times such as these, a strange psychology grips us. We are oppressed and fearful and apprehensive. If we can’t get at the immediate cause of our difficulties we are likely to vent our clammed-up energy on a scapegoat” (Girdner 105). Whether that is the real reason behind racism; one thing for sure is…. Racism will always be around. Racism is seen throughout history and will continue to be seen in future history as long as there are humans who know how to hate or are capable of hate.
Racism is the mistreatment of a group of people on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, place of origin, or ancestry. The term racism may also denote a blind and unreasoning hatred, envy, or prejudice (Dimensions of Racism). Racism has had a strong effect on society. Despite the many efforts made to alleviate racism, what is the future of African Americans' Racism's long history, important leaders, current status, and future outlook will be the main factors in determining how to combat racism. Racism is still present in many societies, although many people are doing their best to put an end to racism and its somewhat tragic ordeals.
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.
Pascoe, Elaine. Racial Prejudice: Why Can't We Overcome?. 2nd ed. New York: Franklin Watts, 1997. 21+ 33+ 79-80+ 99+ 116.
Racism is one of the most revolting things within the vicinity of humanity. Many times it haunts our past, degrading our future. However, a good fraction o...