Category: Racism in America

Racism is a big problem in our environment. Racism is the belief that one race is better than another. I choose racism because it is the biggest challenge we face. It occurs mainly in schools and our environment, in the environment of dealing with foreigners. During apartheid, racism used to be a big problem because you got killed for being black. This is racism. Check. Racism is not a good thing, this problem occurs mainly in schools. Most people think that racism ended in 1994, but it didn’t end because it exists in people’s blood. In one of the articles, a student said: ‘If you study in another vocational school, you will not feel welcome because they treat you like a particular race in that school.’ Being together can really make you uncomfortable, especially in school, because they always remind you that you are black. The teacher is even a little harsh on you because you are of a different race. If you are black at a white school, white students will insult you, and if you are another race, blacks will also insult you. This in itself is racism. There is a race that people don’t notice or pay attention to, such as ‘Your English is good. This is racism because it means that you should not speak neighborhood English based on that specific person. He used to be in an interracial school and he was a mixed race. I went through difficulties that year because I only studied for one year.

Being with another race will make you feel uncomfortable, even if there are people of your race, but if the environment is full of many races, you will feel uncomfortable. As blacks, we will be discriminated against by mixed races because we are black. This situation allows us to see that racism still exists in our country. The teachers don’t care about us because we are different from them. The most painful part is that when we are grouped, blacks and people of color will be grouped when doing group work. Even if we do more than them, they will always get higher scores than us. That is racism and being discriminated against by another race. In the era of apartheid, blacks were most often killed because they were blacks. Most places do not allow black people to be there. If they find you are black, they will murder you.

Racism is an old problem, especially for blacks. The movement ‘The fate of blacks is also a destiny’ was founded because many blacks were killed because of blacks not only in this country but throughout the world. It will take some time to end racism because it is on our minds. During the blockade, there were many cases of black people being killed by white police officers around the world. Most people do not die much, but because they are black and do not die. In this country, a man was caught and murdered because he smoked at home. He was killed by a policeman of another race.

The United States has the largest number of blacks killed by white police because they are killers. It is rare to hear that white policemen kill white people, but they kill black people, or black policemen kill black people, but they will kill white people. Since we live in a different place from another race, the number of deaths has decreased. If we live in a place of a different race, the death toll will increase. The government always says ‘racism must end, and racism is often committed by the police under the government. Not all police officers are like this. Most of them are determined to protect the environment because this is their job. People must end this innocent black matter because that is the main racism that kills black people in the world. in conclusion. We should feel comfortable and safe for another game because no one likes to be treated unfairly or badly. Racism must end! ! How will we avoid racism in the environment? research plan. To know how to prevent or end racism, the police must always have a solution, because they must ensure that everyone in our environment is safe. This is his responsibility. Policies can help use this information to stop or prevent racism. Going to the police station is the only way for me to get all the information I need, ask questions, and find a solution on how to end racism. problem.

1. How will we face this racist situation in our environment?
2. What actions will be taken to ensure that all black people are always protected?
3. How will we deal with the killing of people of other races in our community?
4. What are the steps to help students who are bullied by schools of other races?
5. What is your opinion on the policy of this country?
6. How will we stop this racism problem?
7. How will we ensure that the number of people killed by other races is reduced?
8. How will we reduce the number of deaths caused by racism?
9. Why is racism still a big problem in our environment?
10. What is the final decision that can guide us to end racism in our environment, and what will it do?

All the information I get from them will help me in the investigation. In order to conduct this investigation, I need to write down all the information and solutions they provide to me and make a tape recorder as evidence. This will help a lot. We will all benefit from all the solutions and information they will provide me, even though they will work on how to stop racism. I will benefit from finding solutions for my research because they are responsible for keeping the environment safe at all times. As a police officer in this country, you are responsible for ensuring everyone’s safety and security, unless that person is guilty. reflection. first part. In this task, I have to choose one of three themes or themes.

Racism is the topic I know best and the easiest topic to find information on how to end it. I was asked to explain and find information about the subject of my choice. First of all, I had to complete this project by reading and understanding these three articles. Two articles were given, and I had to choose one that was more similar to these two articles. I like these articles because they focus on the racism issues we face all over the world, not only in South Africa but all over the world. The most common thing I found in these three articles is that racism is not based in one place, but occurs all over the world, especially in schools full of children of different races. In this investigation, I found that racism still exists in our hearts as human beings, and unless we take action, it will take some time to end. If we struggle with this issue, it will definitely come and go, although it will take some time, because this is a problem we face all over the world.

Most people still hold the old mentality of treating another race unfairly or badly. I thought it was over a long time ago, but it is not over yet. If I conduct such research again, I will have to use another source to access other information. This will broaden my knowledge. To conduct such research, you need many sources and different information, and combine them to find solutions so that people can deal with such problems. the second part. u2022 It is difficult for me to ask interview questions.

In this survey, it is very difficult to produce interview questions, and I am really busy and tired. u2022 My view of racism has not changed at all, because nothing has changed. The people who rule our country have failed enough in the fight against racism. u2022 In this investigation, nothing surprised me. I knew everything about racism cases. This is not good, because racism has even become something that needs to accept so easily.

In this research, I learned that we must be with people of different races without any problems. We must also bring out the mentality of hatred between different races. We should enjoy each other’s company.

My favorite part is the last part. I have to express my feelings and thoughts about this research on racism.

Not long ago when I was in primary school, there was a young Asian boy sitting by himself. He was not annoying or causing harm to anyone, although surrounding him were a crowd of white boys who were stretching the sides of their face to make their eyes thinner as well as making sounds such as “ching chong” in which they were offensively imitating the Asian boy’s language. On the other side of the playground, I saw a young white girl and an Indian girl playing happily together, because they were taught to judge others based on their personality and kindness and not their race. This indicates that stereotypes and racism such as this are learned (most likely from parents or people with large influence) and are not intuitive.

In the world we live in today, everyone is human, so why is there racism in 2020? Racism occurs all around the globe. It is when someone discriminates against others due to their skin color, religious belief, or nationality. Racism has a substantial impact on today’s society and is well demonstrated in the iconic film ‘Remember the Titans’ which was based on a true story. This film was set in 1971 which was a period of time where racial integration was just beginning, and the tension between whites and blacks was high. In ‘Remember the Titans’ both football teams (blacks and whites) were unpleased when they were informed that they were to be conjoined into one team. They were adamant that they would never manage to cooperate with each other due to the fact that their skin color was contrasted and racial controversy was extremely common.

Although racism can be intended for anyone, ‘Remember the Titans’ is aimed towards the hostility between blacks and whites. At the beginning of the film, the two team captains, Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell highly disliked each other, although they were forced to learn to cooperate and respect each other in order to fulfill both their desires’ of winning the championship. The young men learned to “trust the soul of a man rather than the look of him’. This was a powerful and inspirational message stated by Coach Yoast which changed the way the men perceived each other. This movie sends inspiration to the viewers and expresses today’s society. For example, the protests going on around the world support ‘Black Lives Matter’ because a man of black color was murdered on the street by an authority in the USA. If it was to be a white man in the same position, he would most likely still be alive today. This indicates that racism has not changed much since 1971, when ‘Remember the Titans’ was based.

Not only did the two teams of young men have controversy, but the young daughters of each of the coaches were also not content with each other. At the beginning of the film, young Sheryl Yoast and Nikki Boone disliked each other. “Are all white girls that crazy?” The two girls were influenced to believe that they are unalike due to their skin color. As Nikki asks her mum if all white girls are crazy, it indicates to the viewers that the girls were raised to despise the opposite race and not befriend them based on their decency. This is purely not the young girls’ fault, as they are young and gullible, but society and their parents have a large impact on their thoughts and beliefs, which is much like society today.

Certain stereotypes such as all Asians have Coronavirus or all Muslims are terrorists are racist, conventional thoughts passed through generations. These are some common assumptions that are said all around the world. They are deceiving and only said because of past incidents which have occurred to a minority of these cultures and religions.

Racism has been around for thousands of years, but in this day and age, I believe that everyone should learn to come together and understand each other, no matter their belief, culture, religion, or skin color. ‘Remember the Titans’ displays a good image of what racism was like in the 1970s and how people felt to be discriminated against although it is much like the present society. Like Martin Luther King Jr said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.

In today biased world, there is always a place for many issues making people have different opinions on a problem such as racial issue. Affirmative action has been implemented in various societies for redressing discrimination that has faced minority groups, and this policy has been a contentious issue especially it is about the equal rights of minorities. Affirmative action was designed to address racism, but the question here is whether affirmative action is an effective way of dealing with racism and how much it can eliminate racism voice in society. I believe affirmative action is not the best effective way of addressing racism because it does not effect racism itself in an individual’s mind and the movement may cause reverse discrimination to another race.

By definition, racism is a prejudice that causes members of a race to view themselves as better to other races. However, affirmative action only works to protect the fundamental human rights of minority groups, particularly about employment and education opportunities. However, racism is an ideology in people’s mind, and affirmative action only serves to give the affected groups opportunities. The movement does not solve the problem that is deeply rooted in people’s minds about racism. Giving an upper hand to African Americans or even Asian Americans as they seek jobs or admissions in colleges and universities does not ensure that they are not discriminated against while at such institutions. Educational institutions and workplaces have a good number of cases, and this indicates that the actual problem, which the view of a race being better or superior to the other, is not solved through affirmative action. The result of this is a “redesigned” racial caste system, “We have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it” (Alexander 232). The problem with such as system, especially in the contemporary world, is that it is mostly invisible making it hard for it to be identified at the first time. A critical look into this system is the increases incarceration rates, particularly of the minority races. A significant portion of the population in American prisons are black, the racial caste systems which many of the actions remain hidden.

Individuals who fight for equality, especially within the racial context would argue that it is in fact an amicable means of addressing racism. It is satiric that affirmative action was meant to create equal opportunities for minority groups while it has also contributed to inequality. In light of such action, colleges and universities in America were required to have a specific percentage of their admissions allocated to minority groups including minority races. This was viewed as a meaning of enhancing the disadvantaged students from poor backgrounds to have a higher chance to go to college since the system that existed support them significantly reduced these requirements. The requirements for African Americans to join these institutions was therefore lowered since that they came from very deprived backgrounds. On the other hand, the same need for Asian students including American Born Chinese had their qualifications raised. According to the article “Harvard sued for alleged discrimination against Asian American applicants” by the author Arwa Mahdawi, “the report found that Asian Americans would comprise 43% of admissions if only academic qualifications were considered and 26% when extracurricular activities and personal ratings were considered. Yet at the time the research was conducted, Asian Americans made up 19% of the share of admitted students” (Mahdawi, Arwa. ‘Harvard sued for alleged discrimination against Asian American applicants.’). By all means, this move is against the values of affirmative action but is still part of the action, which is very ironical. All minority groups, whether blacks, Asians or Hispanics deserve an equal chance to get into college. Having one group with lower requirements than other only functions in the same manner that racism does. This leaves Asian students at a disadvantage which requires them to put more efforts than other students, this is against what affirmative action is meant for.

Affirmative action not only destroy the process of ending racism, but it also fuels racism in itself. Giving Asian students higher requirements regarding scores encourages the stereotypical assumptions of Asians being smart. This stereotype, primarily tied to racism in America has people believing that Asian students are naturally good at technical subjects such as mathematics, engineering, and sciences. While the thought itself may not be a demeaning one, it remains to be a stereotype that promotes racism. Affirmative action, in this case, appears as a means that works against itself. That explains why it has been challenged severally in court, in fact, the controversy of affirmative action has been the subject of several legal proceedings against it.

Within the last two decades, a lot of resources and efforts have been directed by the movements towards this course. Mobilizing their resources of affirmative actions have seen the fight against racism lose some of its primary focus. Most of these actions believe that preserving things like the diversity in the best colleges in the country can only be done through affirmative action. While it might play a role in it, the bigger picture remains that affirmative actions do little to limit racism in its entirety. The public has been led to think that affirmative action is the number one strategy towards battling race relations in the country. This belief is not true at all, which is clear from the fact that American prisons continue to fill up with brown and black men on a daily basis.

Affirmative action focuses on only two aspects of the lives of minority groups: economic and educational matters. It fails to address racism as a pre-judgemental practice that judges the victims without consideration of evidence in light of their interests, abilities, personalities and so on. Improving the economic standard of a person is a commendable thing, so is developing their educational lives by giving them the opportunity to attend schools of their liking. However, these two contributions in their lives do not take into account other aspects of their lives such as the social, cultural, psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical harm that amount from racial-based prejudice. Affirmative actions are therefore very insufficient in fighting this.

On the other hand, affirmative action has had its share of progress in aiding the fight against racism. It has helped to create awareness on a problem that has been in America for centuries. By initiating affirmative action-based injunctions, the public has acknowledged that there indeed is a problem (racism) and it needs to be tackled. That includes individuals who might not even have known that they are racist, have never committed any racial act against another, but the idea existed in their minds. As it has been mentioned, racism starts in mind, and that is how it manifests itself in actions, words and even intentions. Through this line of work, a significant number of people has become aware of racism and its negativity and possibly also ceased from it as a result. That amounts to a considerable share in the efforts towards opposing racism.

The high number of students from minority races in America is almost exclusively as a result of affirmative action at these institutions. Having a rule that a certain amount of such students must be admitted in colleges and universities every year has made it possible for bright and talented students to make it into the institutions of their choice and dreams as well. Without this policy, the student population in universities like the St. Cloud University in Minnesota would never have any Somalis, students whom the university delights in as it embraces diversity, “St Cloud State University spent 15 years to become a beacon of diversity and tolerance” (Kolowich 398). Affirmative action has paved the way for a generation of disadvantaged students to get the unique opportunity to study even in the best colleges in the country.

Based on what affirmative action has achieved so far, it has proven to be incapable of handling the real issues of racism in America. To eliminate racism voice in the society require all of its characteristics, including the perceptional and thought-based prospects of it must be addressed. Relating to only a portion of the problem does not do any kind, and this is what makes the adverse outcomes of affirmative action outweigh its benefits.

The United States of America is described as the land of the free, this is because the country promises its citizens a fair chance to pursue their dreams and goals without discrimination. This is the picture painted to those outside the country but those that reside in the country know that we have a long way to go before we can live up to that standard. Although, America was built upon this foundation history shows otherwise. This is proven with the massacres of Native Americans and the enslavement of African Americans. From the very beginning, America only had intentions for success for their European decadence. Throughout American history, there are stories of people accomplishing great feats. America has proven to produce many great inventors and philosophers from Thomas Jefferson to Elon Musk but, many America’s great historical figures are predominately white. Due to America’s racist history, it has placed white Americans at the top of the ethnic ladder.

While whites sat at the top, they grew hatred towards their counterpart, which they believed to be the black man. I’d like to argue that blacks were the predominant race being mistreated in America during and after slavery. White Americans refused to see people of different colors on the same level as them, so they were discriminated against and treated as if they were not human. These traumatic experiences had left a mental scar on both African Americans and white Americans and this result makes it harder to eradicate racism in America.

Racism can harm a person’s health and can affect a person’s emotional stability, cognitive thinking, and physical ability (cortex). When thinking of the victims of racism; it has some correlation to discrimination which is the byproduct of stereotyping and prejudiced behavior. A trait that Europeans were known to embrace in their conquest for expansion before coming to the new land. Many minority groups were discriminated against in America, but no one has endured prolonged traumatic experiences compared to African Americans. Racism harms one’s mental health and is described as a power difference to where one ethnicity group can impact and negatively affect the lives of another. Blacks were freed from the shackles of slavery but were never freed from the shackles of racism; after 300 years of slavery followed 200 years of discrimination. America has victimized blacks, beaten them down, and placed them into the lowest bracket. Discrimination against African Americans dates to the first colonist who took African slaves from a Spanish ship to Point Comfort in 1619. Using of manual labor from Native Americans, then switching over to African Americans. This switch happened because the Europeans had a hard time controlling Native Americans since they were native to the land and knew the terrain (Bainbridge). America has relied on the use of slave labor from African Americans for over 300 years and although slavery ended, the suffering did not. Although African Americans broke their physical shackles over 100 years ago; the mental scars are still weighing down the potential of African Americans. Slavery left more than emotional turmoil scars; it left a major impact on African Americans mental health. The only race that arguably has experienced hardships far as African Americans may have been the Native Americans.

The Native Americans were set on this land and were known to have migrated from Asia and may have been the first North American immigration group. These people had a spiritual connection to the land they inhabited and respected the wildlife. As the Europeans arrived at the land the first adventurer being Christopher Columbus, they immediately started their demands. The Natives cooperated, but eventually were overtaken by the European colonist and eventually were forced to work under them for a period.

Since Arriving in America in 1619 African Americans have been the victims of racism. Starting with slavery, and eventually carrying on still in the mind of many Americans. Although, the incentives for slavery was to reduce labor cost (Bainbridge); there were many negative effects and psychological problems that arose because of this. From slavery came the fascist belief that blacks were inferior to whites and this forced whites into believing this ideology. An ideology that back in times dehumanize blacks when slavery was legal as if blacks were inferior. This gave birth to the psychological problems embedded in the minds of racist Americans in this country. This mindset was inherited and makes racist whites believe that their behavior is appropriate; therefore, making it seem there is nothing wrong with the mentality of undermining another race.

Data has shown that 75% of Asians and whites in the U.S have a subtle bias towards blacks. This means that 75% of Whites and Asian Americans show a preference to whites over blacks (Cortex). Subtle bias is an automatic uncontrolled triggered response that appears to be common in the United States. This harms African Americans and limits African Americans’ potential in the real world due to this impacting jobs and other important decisions. This does not level the playing field considering that the combined ratio of Whites and Asians amass 74% of the population as shown in America’s 2010 census report.

With subtle bias being a factor in affecting Black Americans there are also subtle consequences in addition to the physical consequences. Studies show that African Americans are more susceptible to frontal lobe dysfunction. The frontal lobe is the front part of the brain that controls decision making and regulate emotions. The prefrontal cortex is used to correct irrational fears that the amygdala portrays on your mind. The Amygdala projects irrational fears to the frontal cortex along with the rest of the limbic system (Alie). This system plays a big part when you are on the receiving end of racism. The prefrontal cortex is the conscious mind that tries to rationalize the irrational thoughts of the limbic system, but when the prefrontal cortex allows the limbic system to win it causes behavior such as impulsivity, aggressiveness, and irrational fear to form in the mind (the prefrontal cortex and limbic system is a check and balance system that tries to rationalize fear). This self-defense mechanism in the brain is not fully developed until the age of 25 (Cortex) therefore, we must teach this age group to understand one another. The racist mentality is not something that you are born into, but instead something that is learned. One way to reduce racism in growing adults would be exposing them to multiple races. Growing up with different ethnic groups show that not one race is above another, we are all human, and face struggles.

A stereotype threat study is a study to see how a specific group performs when they are aware of their stereotype. For example, a stereotype test was given to African Americans to test their intellect. They were given a normal intellect test, but one group had to label their ethnicity as opposed to the other group who did not have to label their ethnicity. The results showed that those who did not note their ethnicity scored just as high as the white participants who took the test (Cortex). Stereotype threat also has real-world consequences; another study showed that African Americans who were aware of the stereotype of having higher blood pressure showed to have a higher blood pressure than the African Americans who were not alerted of the stereotype. The study not only showed the difference in higher blood pressure but also an increase in hypertension than the grouped blacks who did not know about the stereotype.

While under the stereotype threat participants had their brains examined and x-rayed. The results showed an increase in brain activity with emotional and social processing as well as a decrease in cognitive efficiency in the brain (Cortex). To conclude, more activity in emotional response results in a decrease in our brains’ ability to process logic and reasoning. This can result in impulsive actions that could be easily avoided. Also, constantly being a victim of racism results in stress levels being raised. “Individuals” decisions or lifestyles can reduce the ill effects of some stressors, but racial discrimination is a chronic stressor that people have no control over (University of Southern California).” Even being in the vicinity of someone who is racially biased raises the stress levels in the brain and leaves a negative impact on the affected person. Experiencing racial biased over a long period results in chronic stress. Chronic stress is linked to hypertension, depression, and magnifies premedical conditions. This also results in the loss of neurons in the hippocampus (Cortex). This is a part of the brain that is associated with memory and is also a part of the limbic system. “Researchers have long known that racism is linked to health problems, but now results from a small study using RNA tests show that racism appears to increase chronic inflammation among African Americans (University of Southern California).”

Apart from mental illness African Americans fall victim to the physical technicalities of this world. The United States is not the only country to discriminate against blacks. “According to the UK government’s race disparity audit, relative to Whites and Asians, Black defendants at crown court were most likely to be remanded in custody. Between 2017 and 2018, Blacks in Britain were approximately 10 times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police than white people were, and three times more likely than Asians. Black Caribbean pupils were permanently excluded at nearly three times the rate of white British pupils, while black people are more likely to be unemployed and homeless than all other racial minority groups (Olayinka Sule).” With black people being targeted by the authorities it makes trying to live a normal life harder; this shows that blacks are often treated as second class citizens even outside of the United States.

Racial discrimination is a different type of chronic stressor than poverty. Unfortunately, with the psychological effects that come from being the victims of racism, there are extreme cases of this impacting the daily life of an African American. People navigate poverty on a day-to-day basis and are aware that it is happening. They might even be able to address financial stressors through job changes, changes in earnings, and financial management. With discrimination, you do not always realize that it is happening. There are examples of abuse in power that limited the success of African Americans even after being considered equal. An example would be the physical impact of racism also known as systematic racism. Systematic racism is described as institutional racism it is a form of racism expressed in the practice of social and political institutions. It is reflected in disparities regarding wealth, income, criminal justice system, employment, housing, health care, political power, and education, among other factors. Systematic racism is another synonym for racism, the abuse of power to impact the lives of another minority group. There are many examples of blatant systematic racism being put into practice in America. Examples include such laws as Jim crow, voting rights, etc. Those laws are not in effect anymore but, it can be argued that this is still in effect due to implicit bias.

The impact that racism has on African Americans explains why 46% of black children are born into poverty. This could be the result of systematic racism due to redlining to separate African Americans and Whites. This did not just affect who could not use the restroom or drink from separate water fountains; this was the foundation to keep African Americans from having the same opportunities as whites. Bankers refused to loan African Americans money because they live in an area deemed to be a poor or financial risk. Blacks were forced into low-income neighborhoods which halted most to receive loans and quality education. Some African Americans were able to raise their families in suburban communities and sought out higher education examples of implicit biases still prohibit equality. Also having a unique name could be a life-determining factor in a black person’s life. White Americans have double the chances of getting a job as opposed to an African American with the same level of intelligence and identical resumes (actdottv). It also correlates with the unemployment rate in African Americans twice as high as White Americans.

You can see examples of systematic racism currently in every area of life from incarceration rates, wealth, education, and political offices. “In the US, black people are more likely to be arrested for drug offenses even though they are not more likely to use or sell drugs, and as a result make up a disproportionate amount of the prison population. They also have a higher chance of getting shot by the police than White or Hispanic people (Olayinka Sule).”

It is being used to show the poverty rates in America. For this research question, I picked 3 of the most common ethnic groups in America. The data analysis shows that African Americans sit at the highest number in terms of poverty. Although my data shows that African Americans are leading in terms of poverty rates this is not true; 25% of Native Americans fall below the poverty line, but since Native Americans make up about 1.6% of the American population, I have excluded them from the research table.

As the data shows the poverty rate is decreasing in America with African Americans first in the highest rate of poverty. I have chosen to show the poverty rates of America because this chart shows that African Americans may be leading in poverty rates, but they are not far behind other ethnic groups. If African Americans had their handicap removed, they would be on the same level as whites in terms of the number of people who fall under the poverty line.

The figure was not made to discriminate or say one race is above another but, rather point out that if blacks were given the same circumstances, they would more than likely to average out the same poverty rate as whites. I would like the figure to simulate that we are all brought into this world as equals, no one is naturally deserving of a higher status. Many African Americans are striving to maximize their full potential, the only thing stopping them are the people who are controlling the rules. Our choices are not the only thing that affects our health, the people around also impact your life.

Racism takes many forms and has an impact on one’s life than most people would like to admit. The worse part about racism is not the effects of it but, the fact that it lives in many people. In a world where people try to separate and decriminalize one another is a world that would not survive. I would like to believe that unity amongst all races in the world will result in a prosperous world. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” is a quote from Abraham Lincoln who I believe also came to the same conclusion as I did. Separation only brings out the worse in people, and if all are not equal there will always be a fight for a struggle of power.

In conclusion, the strength one must have to endure all the obstacles African Americans had to face is unparalleled. This country was made for a black person to succeed but, there are many African Americans who have found success in this country. Although this country has gone through many changes in its history, the shackles still weighing down African American potential are still there. The mental damage and physical handicaps are being loosened with time, but the only way to see permanent change is to look for change within ourselves. Racial biases and stereotyping are still common in some parts of the country we must start with ourselves before we can start to look for change anywhere else. The evidence is profoundly clear racism does harm African Americans, and we cannot hope to achieve racial equity without acknowledging that this underlying factor causes an untold number of premature deaths among black Americans.

The main argument about the assigned paper is how white men and women used their power to sexually abuse black slaves. A big issue about this topic is how the authors define sex crimes in this time period. Bourke (2007) stated that “the standard conceptualization of rape as a tool of patriarchal oppression as well as the traditional un-feminist notion of women as too weak, emotionally and physically, to commit serious crimes, let alone sexual abuse, and the idea that men cannot be raped” (as cited in Allain, 2013, p.28). Although this may be true, it is still debatable whether white women would have sexual relations with black slaves for the mere pleasure of it and to not feel lonely, or for them to simply want a feeling of power over somebody because women have hardly any power over anything in society. The thought of feminine figures being inferior to men throughout history up until this point in time might have provoked the wives of planters, who felt sexually oppressed and frustrated, to force slaves into sleeping with them. They accomplished this by blackmailing them with accusations of attempted rape or murder, which would have resulted in serious consequences for the victim.

It was very common for these relationships to result in an unwanted pregnancy, which would lead to inhumane acts against the youth. The practice of infanticide was common after the birth of a mixed infant. There was a case about a Jamaican slave named Sabina Park who was accused of killing her young child and underwent trial for said actions. Park claimed that she “had worked hard enough for ‘Backra’ already and that she would not be plagued to raise the child… to work for white people” (as cited in Allain, 2014, p.1). This woman had admitted to killing her 4-month-old baby and was hanged because of this. This would end up being one of many cases involving the murder of a toddler. The act of infanticide would be used as a means to avoid scandal by the white family.

According to Civil War abolitionist commander, Captain Richard J. Hinton, “I have never found a bright-looking colored man, whose confidences I have won… who has not told me of instances where he has been compelled, either by his mistress, or by white women of the same class, to have connection with them” (as cited in Allain, 2013, p.29). This is an example of the perception that black slaves were really used as a means of employment of power rather than as real sexual partners for oppressed wives.

Other people who would take advantage of male slaves were the planter’s daughters. Harriet A. Jacobs’s 1861 indirect autobiography ‘Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl’ speaks of a planter’s daughter that chose the ‘most brutalized’ slave to have sex with. Jacobs (1861) stated: “I have myself seen the master of such a household whose head was bowed down in shame; for it was known in the neighborhood that his daughter had selected one of the meanest slaves on his plantation to be the father of his first grandchild. She did not make her advances to her equals, nor even to her father’s more intelligent servants. She selected the most brutalized, over whom her authority could be exercised with less fear of exposure” (as cited in Allain, 2013, p.30). The outcome of situations like the one Jacobs talks about are exactly those that lead to infanticide, or simply the poor child being sold into slavery. For these women, ordering the slaves to have sex with them was also a method of rebelling against society’s both literal and moral rules involving sexual interactions with a slave.

Men did in fact have established relationships with such people. One of these was Thomas Jefferson, who had an extensive intimate connection with one of his slaves. Her name was Sally Hemings, the black woman who was publicly known to be sexually involved with Jefferson. James T. Callender claimed that the founding father “for many years past has kept, as his concubine, one of his own slaves. Her name was Sally. The name of her eldest son is Tom. His features are said to bear a striking although fable resemblance to those of the president himself. The boy is ten or twelve years of age. His mother went to France in the same vessel with Mr. Jefferson and his two daughters. The delicacy of this arrangement must strike every person of common sensibility. What a sublime pattern for an American ambassador to place before the eyes of two young ladies!” (Callender, 1802). In favor of this argument, Sally supposedly “negotiated with Jefferson to return to enslavement at Monticello in exchange for ‘extraordinary privilages’ for herself and freedom for her unborn children” (Monticello, 2012, p.1). This eventually led to Thomas fathering at least six of Heming’s children, and “four survived to adulthood and are mentioned in Jefferson’s plantation records: Beverly, Harriet, Madison, and Eston Hermings” (Monticello, 2012, p.1). In the end, this is still one of the biggest interracial scandals to have ever been made known to the public in this time period, and it would have never left anything of a good reputation for the man in such a case. Considering Jefferson was a wealthy and powerful figure, it is no surprise that something of this magnitude occurred.

Charles Ball’s autobiography (1837) describes meeting “the daughter of a wealthy planter, in one of the lower counties of Georgia” (as cited in Allain, 2013, p.27) who had conceived a slave’s child. He also detailed that “the girl was kept in her father’s house, until the birth of her child, which she was not permitted to nurse; it being taken from her” (as cited in Allain, 2013, p.27). Yet another encounter that supports my argument on how women would simply use black male slaves to express a form of dominance and power over somebody that had none whatsoever.

As I stated before, the inhumane abuse that was done against both black men and women throughout history has given us a sense of how this relatively old practice of discrimination had laid the foundation for what we see as modern-day racism in the United States of America. This is a very serious problem in our society because our nation is a country of immigrants and we have people from all over the world living and working amongst us. Due to this, every time any type of conflict between races causes a huge outrage that usually results in either extensive collateral damage to businesses or injured protesters. Since the government we have is based on freedom and unity as a population, the strong segregation of races does not allow us to fulfill this ideology of a free country.

After these men and women sexually abused their slaves, they only created problems for themselves and the white race as a whole due to the interactions between these individuals on an intimate level. As a result, slaves would either be executed for infanticide or for simply sleeping with the planter’s daughters. Another unfair thing that I’m re-stating is the oppression these women felt and the sexual frustration of not being able to accomplish their vital needs accordingly. This is another controversial topic in today’s society because now women, in general, are going against the idea of male possession and feeling of superiority over the female figure. Equal pay for both genders in any job is yet another useless and confusing form of discrimination against women. If we seek a stable and prosperous nation, we must set aside discrimination and racism as a whole for then to be able to become the free nation that our founding fathers thought of back when they were writing the documents that allowed for what we have today.

Since forever in America has consistently been the significance of discrimination. At the point when America considers racism, we, as a nation, consider slavery and that discrimination is never again an issue in America. In any case, this isn’t the situation. Discrimination is as yet an issue in the present society since the finish of slavery America has been effective in turning into a fair nation between ethnicities. The change of racism in America has drastically, improved considering our history from the past. ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today’ (Luther King, ‘I Have A Dream’, 1968). America has evolved from that dark situation from our past.

But racism goes on in today’s society through different ethnic groups such as the Hispanic/Arab community. They believe every person that has brown skin is automatically an immigrant and commence to insult them with racial slurs. Has America changed why are we judging people by the color of their skin if their legal or not when Martin Luther King stated to not judge a person by their skin color but their character? This problem is not fair for these individuals since we all have equal rights. In the present time, America has seen a lot of changes from having its first African American president and from the African American People being counted as 3/5 of a person.

Back in the days, the African American people remained slaves to the white people. This action wasn’t a justifiable foundation to treat them like animals and to auction them. Now in the 21st century, we as a nation are more accepting of different ethnicities and religions. Once again we the people of America are making a huge mistake again today. When President Trump was asked about the Muslim people he responded “There’s a sickness. They’re sick people. There’s a sickness going on. There’s a group of people that is very sick”(Jenna Johnson, ‘Trump’s comments about Islam and Muslims’, 2019). Meanwhile, During the 21st century, we as a people should progress through these situations we already saw the mistakes in the past. We should make the best effort to be neutral and not judge people for their religion, color, and ethnicities but by their actions. How can we progress when we’re still doing the same mistakes as the past, still judging people by their religion and skin color. It’s like we really haven’t really figured out that by doing this will just be affecting our unity as a nation.

Discrimination between every Hispanic is troubling since they think that every brown person they see is an undocumented Mexican. This nation was built by immigrants in the past it isn’t right for every citizen to think that every Hispanic is an immigrant, I feel we need to leave all the discrimination in the past and make this world the best it can be. Today the people of color have so much more right then in the past we should be grateful that we could sit anywhere on the bus thanks to activist Rosa Parks she fought for our civil rights to stop racial segregation. This civil rights movement allowed people of color to go to the same schools as white people.

America began to change during this movement giving everyone a fair chance at anything they wanted to do. We have learned as a nation to not follow the mistakes of the past in situations, it seems like we still need a reminder for everything that’s happening today such as police discrimination, the president calling out Muslim people and the undocumented people of America. In the final analysis, today’s 21st century is a better time to be in. Many more people have an opportunity to follow their dreams and go to the school of their choice. Where lucky to live in an era where people have already fought for our rights and we get the chance to live freely and express our amendments as equal members of society. Most people in the past didn’t have these chances we have today we don’t have racial segregated schools, transportation and racial segregated bathrooms. I feel America has changed in many positive ways thanks to our activist such as Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King we would have had many chances of options as we do today if it wasn’t for them. They fought for equal rights for everyone now look where we stand as one nation that everyone counts as an equal person and also a nation that does not have slavery which is amazing we should forget about those ruthless times and be strong as one nation and we should never count anyone out as an outsider.

America has changed and it will continue to change there’s still many flaws in our country it will just take one person to speak up so we could address the problem and fix it but it’s wonder full each time we change america it become better for the nation we are still fighting some racism but the majority of it has disappeared from now on we should think about what will be the next thing that will change In America.

“Political correctness is ruining America. Racism is dead. All lives matter. Racism is over exaggerated by liberals. People just blame white supremacy for everything. Too many black people are playing the race card. Affirmative Action is unconstitutional and represents racism against white people. Talking about race makes you racist” are just a few of the statements an increasingly loud minority, dedicated to telling anyone and everyone that racism no longer exists in America. likes to use.

They have these phrases locked and loaded and ready to use anytime someone even insinuates something may be racist. They like to reason that “we had a black president, so black people aren’t being oppressed” and that “there are black people in high positions” or that because “I’ve never been a slave” racism is no longer a problem in America. Racism is often defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. Many people believe that racism is only expressed by individual prejudice and that because we don’t often see such obvious displays of hate towards minorities, it must not be as prevalent as it used to be. Despite this belief though, racism continues to persist in a quieter but more sinister and insidious form.

Racism is systemic to our government. It exists “in the advantages and disadvantages imprinted in cultural artifacts, ideological discourse, and institutional realities that work together with individual biases”. The fact of the matter is that despite what you may hear, racism is alive and well in America. Nothing will improve or change until we acknowledge its existence, our biases, and our privileges and make a concerted effort to minimize inequalities in our daily lives.

Often we hear uninformed bigot spouting nonsensical statements like “Racism, in all advanced societies, and certainly in North America, is now as rare and unrigorous as the flat-earth society” but the fact of the matter is that racism is as much of a problem as it’s ever been. Black people and other minorities have historically been discriminated again in various areas of our society. They’ve struggled to “own property, serve on juries, and obtain the same jobs and privileges afforded to whites and the impacts of such are generational, and are still observable today”. We see these problems with income and college admissions disparity, housing discrimination, rates of incarceration, and rates of violent crime.

While there are several current issues with the education system in North America, one of the more popular issues to social justice activists is racism, and the influence it has on education. As a result of colonialism, a form of oppression known as structured racism limits the ability of minority students to thrive in the education system. As mentioned by Daniel (2019), many children are traumatized and minimized by their experiences in the colonialist education system that does not care about them and makes minimal effort to help them succeed. These negative experiences for minority children in education lead to a reinforcement of very discriminative and outdated colonialist views which currently plague the education system.

It is important to analyze racism and colonialism in the education system through critical race theory, which is described by Solorzano and Yosso (2000) to be a framework that deals with the discourses surrounding race and racism in society. This theory attempts to analyze how educational structures influence and subordinate minority or ethnic groups by challenging dominant ideologies and pedagogies surrounding race. This theory can assist in establishing solutions to racial injustices in the education system that have been created due to colonialism.

The major problem of structured racism in education stems from colonialism, which Peterson (1971) mentions is the cultural dominance over another people or country. Over the past several decades, decolonization has ended many of the formal structures of colonialism. However, many aspects of colonialism are still relevant today. This includes the idea that racial minorities are still inferior to the white settlers who colonized their land all those decades ago. In the year 2019, these ideas of colonialism are clearly observable. As mentioned by Daniel (2019), micro-aggressions such as hyper-surveillance, more frequent learning disability testing, and more frequent discipline all play into stereotypes which were established by colonialist views. Over the past several decades, educators in North America have been taught to do their job in accordance with colonialist beliefs, and because of this, a structured racism is created. This structured racism limits the ability of minority students to succeed, with many children falling in line with the colonialist belief that they are inferior and incapable of succeeding in education. Additionally, this is enhanced due to a lack of diversity in their teachers and cultural representation in the education system. As an example, Professor D’souza (2019) mentions that racialized children will not feel as accepted or as likely to succeed if they do not see themselves in their teachers. This is especially concerning, considering that many children will go their whole educational career without having a racialized teacher.

In terms of establishing solutions to structured racism in the education system, there is no eliminating racism, instead there is a more practical method of exposing racism known as racial realism (Bunyasi, 2018). This concept states that although progress is low in terms of attaining racial equality, the situation is much better than even a few decades ago when the civil rights act was not even in existence. Although activist groups lead by youth protest have had an impact on achieving social justice such as the BlackLivesMatter movement, they ultimately do not move the needle as much as a systemic and structural change would (Dixson, 2018). Instead, what must be demanded are major foundational changes in the education system such as curriculum and diversity in educators. These changes can eliminate some of the problems in structured racism like a child feeling that they cannot succeed or pursue a certain goal because they do not see any people that look like them in places of power. By hiring a more diverse group of educators, there are more diverse ways in which teachers can be pedagogical figures to their students other than strictly being an instructor.

Additionally, curriculum changes must be demanded, as the same issue arises for children when all the examples in their textbooks or lessons relate to white, straight, Christian, heterosexual boys and girls. These figures that cater to the colonialist society in which these children live do nothing to help them find their place in society. By establishing that only white children can be the relevant examples in education, the education system is essentially abandoning or at least disregarding minority children. This is mentioned by Daniel (2019), where black children who could not succeed in the education system were taken out of schooling by their parents and became homeschooled. The issues of bullying and anti-black racism were very influential in that situation and demonstrate foundational flaws in education. Critical race theory would challenge the dominance of white privilege in society and education, determining that ultimately, the system is what fails these children who do not fit into the social construct of a normal child/person.

In terms of a solution that teachers can implement in classrooms to reduce the influence of structured racism, a structured open dialogue about race and racism is an interesting idea put forth by Rector-Aranda (2016). In this situation, teachers can allow for students to voice concerns and opinions on race, but at the same time ensure that each voice is respected, and all students are empathetic. By allowing racialized children to express their concerns and experiences with racism from either the education system, teachers, students, etc., it creates an environment of empathy and understanding. This all relates back to the idea of racial realism, in which confronting the issue of racism leads to empowerment of racialized bodies and the gradual improvement of racism due to exposure of injustices. This exposure to racial injustice in a student’s educational career can allow for teachers, principals, parents, etc. to empathize and establish methods for enacting change.

The issue of structured racism in the education system has massive implications for educational settings. As previously mentioned, racialized/minority children are currently being oppressed in school due to colonialist views that have been passed on from multiple generations of teachers/educators. The foundational flaws in the education system have created an environment in which racialized children feel as though they cannot succeed, and they have no business achieving goals that people do not think they can attain. A lack of racialized teachers as well as a white dominant curriculum have a significant impact in establishing this environment. By making fundamental changes such as curriculum, faculty, policy, etc., these social injustices can significantly reduce the impact of racism in the education system. As previously mentioned, racism will never be fully eliminated, and will always be present in some capacity. However, ridding the education system of seriously outdated and discriminatory colonialist views and beliefs can establish school as a place where all students can succeed and achieve an equal education. If a less watered-down curriculum and more diverse faculty were put in place, the children in future generations will be the test subjects for how strong the correlation is between these reforms and the impact of structured racism. It is very likely that the results would show that over time, racism and social injustices related to racism would improve.

In conclusion, the current education system adopts very outdated and discriminatory views of colonialism, which in this context relates to white dominance/privilege in society and education. Critical race theory attempts to challenge the dominant pedagogies of race in education and exposes social injustices that occur in the education system. The issue of structured racism in education can result in the minimization and degradation of racialized children, to the extent that the colonialist views are validated and passed on to future generations. In order to create solutions to the issue of structured racism in education, significant foundational aspects of the education system must be reformed. This includes faculty as well as curriculum, as these are two aspects of education that have the most impact on a child’s educational career. The end goal of these foundational reforms is to create a diversity in a child’s education that allows them to receive more than just the white-dominant watered-down version of education that previous generations have received. By establishing racialized teachers and curriculum as new pedagogies in education, racialized children can feel empowered and more confident in their abilities to achieve goals that may not have been viewed as attainable in the previous system. This has serious implications for education, as these racialized children can potentially be the next leaders of the world, and by limiting and minimizing their abilities to succeed in their educational career, a serious social injustice is being done.

References

1. Daniel, K. (2019, September 30). Why Black-Canadian families are choosing to homeschool their kids. Retrieved October 22, 2019, from https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/school-age/why-black-canadian-families-are-choosing-to-homeschool-their-kids/.
2. Dixson, A. D., & Dixson, A. D. (2018). “What’s going on?”: A critical race theory perspective on black lives matter and activism in education. Urban Education, 53(2), 231-247. doi:10.1177/0042085917747115
3. D’Souza, C. (2019, September). Lecture 3. St. Catharines.
4. Patti McGill Peterson, ‘Colonialism and Education: The Case of the Afro-American,’ Comparative Education Review 15, no. 2 (Jun., 1971): 146-157. https://doi.org/10.1086/445527
5. Rector-Aranda, A. (2016). School Norms and Reforms, Critical Race Theory, and the Fairytale of Equitable Education. Critical Questions in Education, 7(1), 1–16. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.brocku.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=112363352&site=eds-live&scope=site
6. Solorzano, D., & Yosso, T. (2000). Toward a critical race theory of Chicana and Chicano education. Charting new terrains of Chicana (o)/Latina (o) education, 35-65.
7. Tehama Lopez Bunyasi. (2018). Structural Racism and the Will to Act. Radical Teacher, (1), 33. https://doi.org/10.5195/rt.2018.358

Racism has been in existence since the 20th century and since its creation, has been at the center of human interaction (Smedley 2017). What is racism? Racism, also called racialism, any action, practice, or belief that reflects the racial worldview—the ideology that humans may be divided into separate and exclusive biological entities called “races”; that there is a causal link between inherited physical traits and traits of personality, intellect, morality, and other cultural and behavioral features; and that some races are innately superior to others (Smedley 2017). According to Smedley, those who openly professed or practiced racism held that members of low-status races should be limited to low-status jobs and that members of the dominant race should have exclusive access to political power, economic resources, high-status jobs, and unrestricted civil rights. Arif Dirlik states that “racism is globalized in the manner of infectious disease as it derives renewed energy from the mixing of populations through migration, and the vocabulary of race blurs the distinction between racial and cultural differences in the language of global politics.” Racism is an ideology that continues to affect the way people measure other people’s social, intellectual and economic worth.

As a result of the powerful influences of colonization racism invisible in our society. Racism affects our society. According to Dirlik“ While the persistence in the United States of the historical legacies of racism may not be visible in the presidential race or at Harvard fashion shows, it is there to see on the street and in schools and prisons.” Racism is mostly seen among social groups. According to a study done by the United States Department of Education, “ Black students are 1.9 times as likely to be expelled from school and are 2.3 times more likely to be disciplined through law enforcement than their White peers”. According to the US Census Bureau, “people of color experience discrimination at every stage of the judicial system and are more likely to be stopped, searched, arrested, convicted, harshly sentenced and saddled with a lifelong criminal record. This is particularly the case for drug law violations.” The US Census Bureau also mentioned that the black population makes up about 13 percent of the U.S. population, and they are documented by the U.S. government to use drugs at similar rates to people of other races, but the black population consists of 29 percent of those arrested for drug law violations, and nearly 40 percent of those incarcerated in state or federal prison for drug law violations (Drug .P. Alliance 2018). The black population is being targeted simply because they are labeled as being criminals because of the color of their skin. Although the Latino community is also being targeted by the police they have a lower percentage than the black population (Drug .P. Alliance 2018). This emotionally affects people that are colored. In some cases, they are people of color who decide that they are white and racist toward their own culture. This is called Internalized racism. According to Nadra Nittle, “In a society where racial prejudice thrives in politics, communities, institutions and popular culture, it’s difficult for racial minorities to avoid absorbing the racist messages that constantly bombard them. Thus, people of color sometimes adopt a white supremacist mindset that results in self-hatred and hatred of their respective racial group.” This simply means that because of racism in society people of color sometimes tend to feel a lack of self-worth and, as a result, turn on themselves and others. On a recent Dr. Phil show, a black teenager came on the show and told everyone that she is white and she hates black people (Callahan 2018). The mother stated that: “My daughter is a racist against her race,” she says, stating that Treasure is “consumed with” the Ku Klux Klan. If you ask me, my 16-year-old daughter has a very out-of-control identity crisis. She truly believes she’s white.” This is exactly the kind of conflict that arises because of racism. Because society criticizes people by the color of their skin, some people become racist towards their own culture.

Racism affects the way people estimate each other’s intellectual worth. People tend to think that if you are not white or Asian you are unintelligent. Some black students at Ridgewood highschool were interviewed and they stated that they didn’t feel comfortable in their classes because the teacher didn’t think they were capable of learning (Joseph 2016). In another instance, Kishanna a student at Ridgewood told the interviewer that her grandmother told her that “It is better to cause controversy than to be quiet.” Kih=shanna also mentions that “being oneself illustrates how being someone with great intellect and the ability to do well in school is a way to disrupt racism with teachers and inside of schools.”(Joseph 2016) Meaning it is better to be yourself and have self-determination. According to CNBC news, President Donald Trump once said, “Black people are too stupid to vote for me,” and suggested that all countries run by blacks are “s—holes,” Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen says in a new interview. This racist ideology is visible, especially in politics. The mere fact that society judges your intelligence based on skin color lowers self-worth. According to John McWhorter, “in the supreme court decision in 1978, justice lewis Powell concurred with four other justices that quota systems like David ‘s were unconstitutional. He submitted however that it was nonetheless appropriate for schools to base admissions decisions on a quest for a “diverse student body”. After this argument, it was soon admitted that black students had significantly lower qualifications than white or Asians students. The university hid this by hiding behind “diversity” (McWhorter 2003). McWhorter also implied a black separatist ideology had led to the idea that scholastic achievement was a “white” endeavor rather than a human one. It even got to the point where black kids started teasing other black kids who enjoyed doing their school work. They told them that they were acting “white”. It is because of this ideology that the success rates for black students are low and they lack qualifications for top schools (McWhorter 2003). Ideology such as this devalues other races and create a barrier in society.

Racism affects the way people estimate each other economic worth. The consequence of drug law violations has been strictly enforced. Once you have been incarcerated you can no longer have custody over your child, employment, voting rights, business loans, licensing, student aid, public housing or any other public assistance ( Drug .P. Alliance 2003). This punishment makes it difficult to gain status in society. According to the US Census Bureau, “Criminal records often result in the deportation of legal residents or denial of entry for noncitizens trying to visit the U.S. Even if a person does not face jail or prison time, a drug conviction often imposes a lifelong ban on many aspects of social, economic and political life.” According to McWhorter, “in the last class admitted to Berkely under the racial preference regime, more than 65 percent came from households earning at least 40,000 a year, while the parents of about 40 percent earned 60,000 a year. Of black students admitted in 1989 to 28 selective universities surveyed by Bowen and Bo, Only 14 percent came from homes earning 22,000 a year or less.” However, the whites still found a way to victimize the middle-class blacks. They still cling to the stereotype that all blacks are poor (McWhorter 2003). The United States of America is the number one market for Belizean during the Christmas holiday. Nancy Lundgren States that: “ Christmas is celebrated enthusiastically in Belize, and the most opulent array of merchandise is exhibited at this time. It is also at this time that one is almost completely aware of the impact of the United States upon the culture of Belize as a result of its increased economic interest in the region.” When the British had control over Belize, the U.S.had less influence on culture. This means that the U.S couldn’t control Belize’s economy because Belize was apart of Britain. However, as Belize became independent and the United States became more involved in Belize’s economy, the cultural influences grew (Lundgren 1992). This example is just to show how easy it is to idolize America. Belizean’s shop for toys and appliances in America other than supporting other Belizeans. This indeed affects Belize’s as well as other country’s economic worth. Lundgren argues that “Belizeans are free to create their reality and to make meaning of their everyday lives, but they are not free to make it any way they wish. Meaning is created out of a real social, political, and historical context, which is created for, not by individuals and which limits and constrains human potential.” They are told to study and work hard and eventually they are going to be rich and successful. The way the system is set up, you will more than likely die trying (Lundgren 1992). When Belize was colonized by the British they exported logwood from Belize and drained their economic resources. After Belize gained its independence they still relied on imports mainly America. Which in return introduced the Americanized way of life. This also means that most of Belize’s economy is controlled by foreign investors. Lundgren implies, “ They have learned about hierarchies of power and privilege. By a very early age, they have learned that to be poor, to be Belizean, and to be Black is to be situated in a disadvantaged position in this hierarchy. They know that they can control aspects of their immediate environment but that ultimate control is in the hands of forces far away.” According to the Racial Economic Inequality Organization, “the starkest divides are in measures of household wealth, reflecting centuries of white privilege that have made it particularly difficult for people of color to achieve economic security.” The statistics of the U.S. Median Wealth by race 1983 and 2016, shows the median White family has 41 times more wealth than the median Black family and 22 times more wealth than the median Latino family. It is sad but true. Colored people are at a disadvantage when it comes to economic stability.

The infectious disease known as racism puts colored people at a major disadvantage. It becomes difficult to fit into society without being judged or discriminated against. Prisons become home to mostly blacks and the Latino population. Kids in school are being bullied because of their skin color. Your intellectual capacity is in question because of your culture. Scenarios such as “If you are not “white” or “Asia” you are unintelligent. Your economic status is in jeopardy, Many “lower class” people idolize America because of their economic influences. Children become defined, and learn to define themselves, by these constructs and are put into categories called ‘poor,’ called ‘Black,’ in a world where poverty and Blackness often translate into limited access to jobs, housing, and appropriate education (Lundgren 1992) These are just some simple examples of how racism causes us to question our social, intellectual and economic worth. Lundgren argues, “to confront racism and the reproduction of inequality means to confront the exigencies of the material world. Flight into the realms of abstraction can only lead to intellectual impotence and practical retreat.” It is necessary to find ways to deteriorate racism once and for all. Gustavo Razzetti suggests, “Racism is about the color of your mind, not your skin.” Once the mentally changes toward different cultures and focuses more on the individual society will become more peaceful

Work Cited

1. Lundgren, Nancy. “Children, Race, and Inequality: The Colonial Legacy in Belize.” Journal of Black Studies, vol. 23, No. 1( Sept. 1992), pp. 86–106., https://www.jstor.org/stable/2784675 Smedley, Audrey. “Racism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 Mar. 2017, https://www.britannica.com/topic/racism.
2. Joseph, Nicole M., et al. “Black Female Adolescents and Racism in Schools: Experiences in a Colorblind Society.” High School Journal, vol. 100, no. 1, Fall 2016, pp. 4–25. EBSCOhost, DOI:10.1353/hsj.2016.0018.
3. Callahan, Yesha. “16-Year-Old Black Teen Tells Dr. Phil She’s White And Hates Black People.” Essence, Essence, 25 Oct. 2018, https://www.essence.com/news/16-year-old-black-teen-tells-dr-phil-shes-white-and-hates-black-people/.
4. “The Drug War, Mass Incarceration and Race (English/Spanish).” Drug Policy Alliance, http://www.drugpolicy.org/resource/drug-war-mass-incarceration-and-race-englishspanish.
5. McWhorter, John. “Don’t Do Me Any Favors: A Black Case against Race Preferences.” American Enterprise, vol. 14, no. 3, Apr. 2003, pp. 22–27. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=507820161&site=ehost-live.
6. “Racial Economic Inequality.” Inequality.org, https://inequality.org/facts/racial-inequality/.
7. Nittle, Nadra Kareem. “Can Minorities Be Racist Against Themselves?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 28 Sept. 2019, https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-internalized-racism-2834958.
8. Razzetti, Gustavo, and Gustavo Razzetti. “Why Racism Is About the Color of the Mind, Not Your Skin – Gustavo Razzetti.” Liberationist, 29 Sept. 2019, https://liberationist.org/why-racism-is-about-the-color-of-the-mind-not-your-skin/.

In the short story “Désirée’s Baby’ written by Kate Chopin she shows several examples of how white people perceive black people as inferior. This story takes place in Southern Louisiana during the mid-nineteenth century before the civil war when the different race was the main problem in society.

Glossary defines racism is a system of dominance, power, and privilege that is rooted in the historical oppression of subordinated groups that the dominant group views as inferior, deviant, or undesirable. The dominant group creates or maintains structures and ideology that preserve their power and privilege while excluding subjugated groups from power, status, and access to resources.

Chopin shows that being shallow and judgmental about racism can lead to disaster. Désirée was a victim of racism by her own husband, Armand. Three months after their son was born his skin began to darken and Armand could not get past the quadroon baby and he threw Désirée and their child out of the house. Racism doesn’t only exist in Louisiana it is a worldwide problem! If you ask any black person if racism still exists, they will tell you about their daily challenges compared to a white person. There are multiple types of racism and it is important to understand each of them. Racism can be very vindictive and colored people argue that they are more likely to be shot by police officers than white people. Racism can be seen everywhere even in school hallways.

When people think of racism, they think of individual racism also known as personal racism which exists among individuals. This type of racism occurs when a person’s attitude or beliefs, are based on stereotypes or prejudices about another race. An example of this would include bigotry or jealousy. A second instance would be when someone thinks their race is better than other ethnic groups. An occasion of when this type of racism might take place is discrimination in the hiring phase. Such as not interviewing a colored person because of their race. Or a well-publicized example is when the University of Oklahoma fraternity members sang a racist song that included the N-word.

This type of racism can be broken down into two other types of racism. Individual racism can either be conscious or unconscious. Trying to avoid racist thoughts or saying you are not racist is an example of conscious racism. Or not sitting by someone because you feel uncomfortable by the color of their skin. A third example would be making fun of someone’s race, even if you are only just being playful. An unconscious example would be when a white woman clutches her purse tightly when a black man walks by. Or refusing to date a black woman because of her strong personality.

The second type of racism is interpersonal racism. This occurs in social and political institutions and they intentionally make decisions to single out or harm people due to their origin. Interpersonal racism can be divided into overt and covert racism. Discrimination that is obvious, harmful, or leads to violent destruction is overt racism. An example of this exists when an employer won’t hire someone based on their ethnic background. Covert racism is more discrete and harder to prove there was a harmful treatment to others. An example of this would be avoiding someone on the street because of their background. With this type of racism sometimes things are said or done that the person doesn’t think is racists to them but someone else may find it racist. For example, serving fried chicken and watermelon to a group of black people.

Institutional racism is similar to individual racism. However institutional racism occurs when an organization such as schools, banks, and court systems treat individuals negatively because of their race. An example of this would be when a school is not awarded school funding because the majority of the students are a minority race.

The fourth type of racism is cultural racism. Thinking inappropriately about groups is cultural racism. With this type of racism, people tend to think of people of color as “others” or different. Cultural racism occurs when one culture thinks of their race as more powerful while destroying the culture of other races. An example of this is people believing Jesus Christ is a white male. Or a white person calling the police complaining of noise because the colored people having their music up too loud.

Structural or systemic racism is the least discussed but most harmful form of racism. Like institution racism, structural racism also centers its attention on organizations instead of individuals. While institution racism singles out a group of people societal racism excludes a vast number of individuals from minority backgrounds from taking part in social institutions. An example of this might be an enormous number of white managers running a business.

Structural racism can be found in police shootings. The shootings and deaths of unarmed black victims Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, by police officers sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. Fisher-Stewart states Black lives matter; they matter to God and they should matter to all Americans. She also goes on to say to serve and protect is the slogan emblazoned on the sides of police cars and recruit officers hear it from their instructors at the academy. In the United States police violence happens daily and the black population has been the victim of police officer’s brutality without being held accountable. Due to the advances in technology, cell phones, and video recordings are being shared on social media making the public aware of police violence.

From the stories reported on television, African-Americans are more likely to have excessive force used on them by police officers than are people of other races. When hearing of these stories makes one wonder if racism is the reasoning of this violence. Curry reported police killed African Americans more often than you may realize. He also goes on to say an unarmed African American died at the hands of an armed White police officer at the rate of two per week from 2005 to 2012.

One way to address police violence is to educate students in the classroom. Students often feel they can express their feelings and gain an understanding of events happening in society. However, teachers must be aware of the issues about diversity in the American educational system. Racism can occur in the form of name-calling, teasing, and bullying. White students need to become aware of their messages they are sending as being superior to blacks. A school district in Western Pennsylvania canceled boys’ soccer games against teams in a district nearby when racial slurs were used. Often black girls think they can’t be smart or beautiful because they don’t have white skin. African Americans and boys especially are vulnerable to being in special education classes. Students of color often feel they need to perform higher academic levels than white students so they will not be stereotyped as academically inferior. Chapman quotes they are further cast as outsiders and trouble-makers, making it more difficult for them to successfully matriculate through schools.

Racism has been in America since slavery was brought to the United States in the colonial era. Many people believe racism stopped when slavery ended however, that is not the case. Even though all races have the same rights as each other there is still racism. Although Americans have made huge improvements in becoming a less racist nation. Two places children need to be educated about racism is in the home and school system.

While at home parents need to listen to what they are saying as well as what their children are saying that might be of racial content. Parents need to listen for any jokes or words that might hint racism. Also, show your family it is okay to interact with people of different races.

Teachers as well can help put an end to racism. Just like parents’ teachers should stop and listen not only to what they are saying but also to what students are saying that might be racist. If teachers are given the chance to attend multiculturalism or diversity programs then they should attend. They could then incorporate what they have learned in their classroom. Another way teachers can help with racism is to have their class become involved with an organization that is combating racism.

Racism is a worldwide problem that has plagued America for centuries. And yet, we have made progress. Today, more people and organizations want to work to end racism in America. Even though racism has occurred for many centuries there is still a chance to stop it. Ending racism begins with the youth. They need to embrace different races and embrace unity. While adults need to recognize how powerful being white is and see the negative impact it has on people of colored skin. Unfortunately, racism isn’t going away soon by stopping to listen to what you are saying and those around you are saying is a positive step in the right direction. In addition, understanding the different types of racism individuals can help stop racism. Being shallow and judgmental can lead to police shootings of unarmed individuals or racism in our hallways. As a nation, if we continue to work together, we will be able to put an end to racism.

Works Cited

1. Chapman, Thandeka K. “You Can’t Erase Race! Using CRT to Explain the Presence of Race and Racism in Majority White Suburban Schools.” Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, vol. 34, no. 4, Oct. 2013, pp. 611–627. Professional Development Collection, EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/01596306.2013.822619. Accessed 23 Mar. 2019.
2. Curry, George E. “White Cops Kill Two Blacks A Week.” Skanner (Seattle, WA & Portland, OR Combined Edition), vol. 36, no. 46, 20 Aug. 2014, pp. 2–2. Newspaper Source Plus, EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=103149960&site=ehost-live. Accessed 23 Mar. 2019.
3. “Desiree’s Baby.” Awakening & Selected Short Stories, by Kate Chopin, Herbert S. Stone & Company, Jan. 1899, pp. 97–100. Literary Reference Center, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=22448969&site=ehost-live. Accessed 23 Mar. 2019.
4. Fisher-Stewart, Gayle. “To Serve and Protect: The Police, Race, and the Episcopal Church in the Black Lives Matter Era.” Anglican Theological Review, vol. 99, no. 3, 2017, pp. 439–459. Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=124514019&site=ehost-live. Accessed 23 Mar. 2019.
5. “Glossary: Key Terms and Definitions Related to Racism and Racial Equity.” ASHE Higher Education Report, vol. 42, no. 1, Nov. 2015, pp. 84–103. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=111193683&site=ehost-live. Accessed 23 Mar. 2019.