As society continues to evolve with diverse cultures and trends, the issue of racism remains prevalent in America. Many people, particularly African Americans and other minorities, are victims of discrimination. After years of racial oppression, African Americans still receive unjust treatment in many socio-economic and political areas of American society. Thus, the issue of race is culturally entrenched in American society, which leads to many challenges. Although there are different ideals about racism, I strongly contend that racism occurs when a person is denied certain inalienable rights on the basis of their race. Preconceived notions and stereotypes about an individual leads to racist acts. Ultimately, when social or political systems unjustly discriminate against an individual because of the color their skin, they are perpetuating the issue of racism.
Historically, many African Americans were placed at the bottom of the socio-economic hierarchy. Due to slavery and segregation, many black people were denied rights in America. They were discriminated against in education, employment and the political process. Their voices were silenced, and they struggled to gain an equal place in America. Now, decades after the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans are still treated unfairly. According to Goyette & Scheller (2014), many African Americans still live in poorer conditions than whites, and 88 percent of the country’s wealth is held by white Americans compared to 2.7 percent held by blacks. The study also showed that African Americans and Hispanics attend poorly funded schools and 80 percent of Latinos still attend segregated schools along with 74 percent of blacks (Goyette & Scheller, 2014).
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"History of Racism in America".
Thus, this statistical information reveals the racial disparity among blacks and whites. Many minorities are still positioned at the lower end of the economic ladder, which contributes to their poor conditions. With inadequate education, they continue to fall behind in employment and other major socio-economic areas. Thus, the data shows the impact of racism and discrimination on the social and economic lives of African Americans. Racism poses many problems that lead to the unequal treatment of particular races. Racist practices divide individuals based on color, which is unfair and unethical. Thus, the prevalence of racism in today’s society reflects the racial tension that plagued the country decades before.
Racism has caused a lot of havoc in American society. Legalized racial acts such as the Jim Crow laws and other segregated laws divided races in America. The ideal of white superiority and black inferiority stood as justification for unjust racial practices against African Americans. Many African Americans, particularly in the South, were forced to use separate facilities and denied certain rights that were granted to whites. Thus, these unjust laws became the fabric of American society. It initiated the present racial bias and discrimination that unfairly alienates minorities from the social system.
Kristof (2014) points to the recent controversy surrounding police brutality and African Americans that show the discriminatory practices that still exist in American society. Racial profiling is another racist practice that unfairly targets and discriminates against African Americans based on racial stereotypes. Thus, Keene (2011) defines stereotyping as “the application of an individual’s own thoughts, beliefs and expectations onto other individuals without first obtaining factual knowledge about the individual” (p. 2). Recent incidents involving young black males such as Trayvon Martin and Mike and law enforcement officers illustrate the harsh effects of racial profiling and racism.
Thus, racism plays a major role in the social environment because it affects the ways different races interact. This leads to laws and practices that are racially motivated and inflict harsh, unequal treatment on certain groups. Ultimately, racism is a negative stigma that plagues the lives of many individuals, especially minorities. The inferiority complex that was designed to justify racism during the Civil Rights era continues to be the underlying root for many racist acts in America. Racially motivated acts stem from stereotypes and racial bias. Also, hate crimes and violence between races are another example of the devastating effects of racism.
Furthermore, some children grow up in households where they are taught that certain races are inferior to them. Thus, they begin to exhibit racist behavior as adults. This pattern is traditionalized among races in America and only perpetuates the cycle of racism. Some racial stereotypes of African Americans include uneducated, lazy and violent. These negative stereotypes lead to racial profiling, discrimination and other harmful effects. Thus, this shows the impact of racism in society. Ultimately, racism is a social condition that adversely affects the lives of certain race groups.
Keene (2011) defines prejudice as “an emotional reaction to another individual or group of individuals based on preconceived ideas about the individual or group” (p. 1). Thus, prejudice behavior stems from negative stereotypes that unfairly characterize certain races. Although prejudice and racism have similar motives in which certain individuals are viewed as inferior or unequal. But racism involves a systematic approach in which individuals are denied certain rights and privileges and treated unfairly because of their race. Thus, the main difference between prejudice and racism is the actions that people take once they perceive a group as racially inferior. Essentially, racism has a major impact on the socio-economic climate, and it continues to play a significant role in the social interactions between races in America.
- Goyette, B. &Scheller, A. (2014). 15 charts that prove we’re far from post-racial. HuffingtonPost, Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
- Keene, S. (2011). Social Biases: Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination. Journal of Law Enforcement, 1(3), 1-4. Retrieved from http://www.jghs.info.
- Kristof, N. (2014). Is everyone a little bit racist? The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com.
