Racism is an attack on humanity through prejudices, hatred, and an idea of supremacy that insistently result in ethical distress and sustain inequities and racial disparities. The ignorance of many individuals about other peoples cultures and ethnicities is one of the causes of racism (Gino & Coffman 2021). They might have never dealt with people from other races, leading them to form an unjustified hatred for them. Racism impacts both populations and society as a whole, however, this essay uses social science as an interdisciplinary lens to examine the subject.
Impacts
Racism is a serious issue that impacts everyone, regardless of a persons demographics, cultural traditions, social comparisons, or the main problems they encounter. Redlining is an illustration of how racism impacted the lives of black people. This form of racism not only affected the social interactions among the communities but it led to hatred, and education disadvantages among students (Butler, 2017). In the past, redlining was used to keep people of color out of particular communities or services (Foster & Thomas, 2022). This practice, which was based on the idea that people who belong to minority groups are less valued than people who belong to majority groups, negatively impacted minority group members ability to access economic opportunities.
Lens and Cultural Impacts
I would choose the social science lens to mainly expound on racism. This is because I believe racism ought to be viewed as a fundamental societal issue. According to Payne and Hannay (2021), racism mostly occurs through the methods by which people converse with one another. One can examine the various components of society and how they relate to the issue of racism by using the sociological perspective (Payne & Hannay 2021). Choosing the lens was not much challenging it examines the issue of racism from a scientific viewpoint. It gives us the chance to consider the causes of racism and potential solutions.
Conclusion
The notion that one race is inherently superior to the others gave rise to animosity among people of different races. Racism prevents individuals and society from progressing both socially and economically. Even though racism is still experienced today, more learning on valuing one another has helped in reducing its impact. As explained in the social science lens, race should be considered as an ever-evolving social construct for the objective of identifying and monitoring racism.
References
Butler, J. E. (2017). Intersectionality and Liberal Education. Liberal Education, 103, n3-4.
It is essential to emphasize that discrimination is a serious societal challenge that has been struggled with for centuries, and only new forms of it are emerging. Discrimination is considered to be behavior that restricts the rights and freedoms of the individual.
Discussion
At the same time, discrimination can occur in various spheres of society (Brunsma et al. 5). The highest prevalence is found in family life, politics, and the workplace. There may be individual reasons and solutions for each type of discrimination. In addition, this phenomenon is often found among multicultural youth who are forced to live together (Brunsma et al. 7). Therefore, it is essential to investigate discrimination in dormitories and propose solutions to this problem, such as disseminating knowledge about other races and explaining common features of human beings.
The racial issue affects many social groups and has a long history. This is especially relevant for young people who previously had no contact with each other and who are now living together. For example, in a dormitory, students of different skin colors often live in the same room and often with different religious preferences. Racial tensions can lead to acute conflicts such as fights and insults (Brunsma et al. 8). Moreover, students may not only be prejudiced against their roommates but also insult them in front of other students and spread false information about them, motivated by racial differences. In this way, such behavior incites racial animosity and violence, affecting not only the conflict participants. Their ability to learn is reduced, and they may suffer psychological problems.
Conclusion
In addition, people from neighboring rooms and their classmates are also negatively affected, which is manifested in shouting from neighboring rooms or fights (Brunsma et al. 9). Hence, racial discrimination is a real problem often encountered in colleges.
Work Cited
Brunsma, David, David Embrick, and Jean Shin. Graduate Students of Color: Race, Racism, and Mentoring in the White Waters of Academia. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, vol. 3, no. 1, 2017, pp. 1-13.
This papers main argument is that racism is not an attitude but a perspective generated through societal influence, mass media, religious groups, and education. The authors main point is that racism is no longer a problem for white and black people, but it includes other ethnicities, too (Cramer 162). This paper covers such topics as implicit and explicit racism, the origin of racial resentment, and the role of political elites.
This source is useful since it provides an extensive overview of this problem from different perspectives, like the paper by Salter et al. It can be considered reliable because it was published in a peer-reviewed journal. However, it may not be very objective because it was written by one author. It seems that the goal of this source was to understand the reasons behind the voters opinion shift when they chose to elect Trump, who demonstrated his racial bias many times.
This review fits into my research about race because it helped me revise my understanding of this issue by explaining why racism is a perspective rather than an attitude. I will use this source to present background information and formulate a thesis statement for my project. Overall, this source was helpful for me to review different aspects of the problem of racial bias and distorted perceptions about ones skin color.
This papers primary argument is that many white Americans still possess racist beliefs in various forms. The primary point of this study was to survey 2500 white participants to reveal one or several types of racism: old-fashioned, institutional, symbolic, Laissez-faire, and color-blind (Milner et al. 398). The results showed that symbolic racism, which claims that the inferior social position of black people is their fault, was the most prevailing among the respondents. Overall, this article is about the prevalence of five major types of racism in the U.S.
This source is useful because it defines racism, describes its forms, and presents the survey results about the prevalence of five types of racial bias. This paper can be considered reliable because it was published in a peer-reviewed journal. The study sample size was relatively large, and its results seem to be objective. However, it is crucial to highlight that these respondents perspectives do not represent the viewpoint of the entire American society.
Since the authors goal was to reveal hidden forms of racism, this paper fits into my research because I want to create an objective picture of this problem in the U.S. This source helped me recall various forms of racism that were imprinted in peoples minds by external influence. I will incorporate this information into my project to argue that this issue has not been resolved in the United States.
This paper argues that racism is not an individuals prejudice but a systemic issue that stems from ideological discourse, cultural artifacts, and institutional realities. Its main point is that the psychological perspective of a person is shaped by a cultural attitude (Salter et al. 150). The paper talks about three main conditions that cause racial bias to persist in the United States: everyday realities, personal choices, and ignorance about the historical causes of the issue.
This source is useful because it reviews cultural psychology to articulate the reasons for subtle racism in modern America. This paper is similar to the review by Cramer since both discuss peoples perspectives that were shaped by external factors. This source was published in a peer-reviewed journal by researchers qualified in this field; thus, this article can be considered reliable. Although bias is present in any writing, I think that the information in this paper is objective because it is a collective work of three authors.
Since the goal of this review was to analyze cultural attitudes towards racial discrimination, it fits my project that aims to assess the perspective of American society on racism. This source will help me show that hidden forms of racial bias result from the generational mindset of ethnocentrism. Lastly, this article aligned with my understanding of this question; hence, I can use it to support my argument.
Works Cited
Cramer, Katherine. Understanding the Role of Racism in Contemporary U.S. Public Opinion. Annual Review of Political Science, vol. 23, 2020, pp. 153-169.
Milner, Adrienne, Berkeley Franz, and Jomills Henry Braddock. We Need to Talk About RacismIn All of Its FormsTo Understand COVID-19 Disparities. Health Equity, vol. 4, no. 1, 2020, pp. 397-402.
Salter, Phia S., Glenn Adams, and Michael J. Perez. Racism in the Structure of Everyday Worlds: A Cultural-Psychological Perspective. Current Directions in Psychological Science, vol. 27, no. 3, 2018, pp. 150-155.
Racial diversity is a critical concept that calls for a deeper understanding of how human relations influence and shape social interactions. For instance, when interacting with individuals from a different race, one may avoid using stereotypical and hidden language that would make other people uncomfortable. This knowledge adds value to human interactions and influences personal views of communities, leading to a more diverse society.
Different Views from a Humanities Lens
Analyzing the topic of diversity through the humanities lens differs from the social sciences beyond statistical information and field reports into the human experience. By examining individuals and occurrences from the perspective of their immediate surroundings, humanities help to reveal phenomena people may never directly experience (Jones et al., 2019). If I had used the humanities lens, I would have looked into significant occurrences such as the Womens Rights and Black Lives Matter movements.
Impacts on Value Addition and Personal View of Society
A thorough analysis of diversity adds value to social interactions by informing human behavior through a deeper understanding of racism and its impacts on society. People use this knowledge to adjust their conversations in various contexts. Conversations can be adjusted to include affirmations that demonstrate acceptance of other ethnic groups and an appreciation of their roles in society to meet their social and psychological needs, as outlined by Maslows theory (Christopher, 2021).
For example, I remember having to use English instead of French when addressing an African-American friend who would have felt left out. This course has helped me understand diversitys crucial roles, such as shaping community projects and collaboration (Tanya et al., 2020). I now comprehend how cultural identity and intersectionality can be used to prevent bias and facilitate cultural diversity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, racism is an essential concept whose role in society can be evaluated through different lenses. Using the humanities lens leads to a better understanding of how human behavior in different contexts shapes conversations. Comprehending various aspects of diversity contributes to social equality since people can realize how their conversations should be adjusted to accommodate all races. This course has made me more sensitive as I avoid biased and stereotypical communication.
References
Christopher, A. (2021). Maslows hierarchy of needs. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health.
Jones, E. K., Kumagai, A. K., & Kittendorf, A. L. (2019). Through another lens: The humanities and social sciences in the making of physicians. Medical Education, 53(4), 328-330. Web.
Tanya, M., Leigh, T., & Edward, S. (2020). Research: How socioeconomic status impacts the way we network. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, pp. 2-5.
Vue, Rican, et al. Affirming Race, Diversity, and Equity Through Black and Latinx Students Lived Experiences. American Educational Research Journal, vol. 54, no. 5, 2017, pp. 868-903.
This peer-reviewed scholar article was found in the JSTOR database (detected by the Google search) through entering key words race affirmative action and marking the publication period between 2017 and 2022. In it, authors address the perception of affirmative policys necessity within the framework of colorblindness. According to Black and Latin students interviewed for the research, regardless of seeming equality, minorities face racial discrimination or misunderstanding as racial colorblindness limits Whites ability to perceive their race-based struggles and issues. In addition, the achievements of colorblindness presented by the media do not represent the reality in which economic conditions create substantial barriers for minorities opportunities and equity (Vue et al. 892). The source may be regarded as credible as it reflects the attitude of minorities to affirmative actions. In addition, it provides an insight into the social attitude to this phenomenon indicating the necessity of changes.
Allen, Walter R., et al. From Bakke to Fisher: African American Students in US Higher Education over Forty Years. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, vol. 4, no. 6, 2018, pp. 41-72.
This peer-reviewed scholar article was found in the Project Muse database (detected by the Google search) through entering key words race affirmative action education and marking the publication period within the last five years. Its authors assess the position of African American high education students throughout history and state that they still face discrimination on the basis of race. The article relies to the outcomes of affirmative policies and refers to the social issue of structural racism unaffected by current changes that aim to abolish it.
Lee, Jennifer. Asian Americans, Affirmative Action & the Rise in Anti-Asian Hate. Daedalus, vol. 150, no. 2, 2021, pp. 180-198.
This peer-reviewed scholar article was found in the JSTOR database (detected by the Google search) through entering key words race affirmative action and marking the publication period between 2017 and 2022. It assesses the vulnerability of affirmative action in relation to Asian Americans who gain advantages due to moral worth, competence, and respectability politics, but nevertheless faced race-based hate during the pandemic. Related to the topic, this research demonstrates the weakness of race-based affirmative action in society as it is based on preferable actions rather than the understanding of peoples equality on the basis of basic human rights.
Bailey, Stanley R., et al. Support for Race-Targeted Affirmative Action in Brazil. Ethnicities, vol. 18, no. 6, 2018, pp. 765-798.
This peer-reviewed scholar article was found in the JSTOR database (detected by the Google search) through entering key words race affirmative action and marking the publication period between 2017 and 2022. In it, authors assess the attitude of Brazilians to race-based affirmative policies for African descendants in relation to university education. When quotas were introduced in 2010, the majority of citizens express support, however, in 2012, the level of acceptance was critically low (Bailey et al. 765). The source may be regarded as credible as it addresses the factors that form peoples attitude to affirmative action. In particular, in Brazil, in contrast with the United States, poor education and low income are associated with greater support. On the basis of this information, measures for efficient response for the acceptance of social just may be developed.
Valente, Rubia R., and Brian J. L. Berry. Performance of Students Admitted through Affirmative Action in Brazil. Latin American Research Review, vol. 52, no. 1, 2017, pp. 18-34.
This peer-reviewed scholar article was found in the JSTOR database (detected by the Google search) through entering key words race affirmative action and marking the publication period between 2017 and 2022. In it, authors aim to evaluate the performance of Brazilian university students who admitted through either affirming or traditional methods. According to the results, there is no difference between them in public universities and better performance of quota students in private facilities (Valente and Berry 18). This article is essential as it demonstrates the results of race affirmative action. In addition, the article shows its necessity for social just and well-being.
Turner, Claudine, and Liz Grauerholz. Introducing the Invisible Man: Black Male Professionals in Higher Education. Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, vol. 39, no. 39, 2017, pp. 212-227.
This peer-reviewed scholar article was found in the JSTOR database (detected by the Google search) through entering key words race affirmative action and marking the publication period between 2017 and 2022. It refers to the disturbing issue of the underrepresentation of Black male professionals in higher education. While Black students are attracted on the basis of race affirmative policy, educators are supposed to be guided by colorblindness. However, the majority of Black professionals leave job due to discrimination as a result, students cannot be represented properly (Turner and Grauerholz 212). This reliable article addresses the topic and shows the social issue of race-based affirmative action as it cannot be complete to the fullest extent.
Work Cited
Allen, Walter R., et al. From Bakke to Fisher: African American Students in US Higher Education over Forty Years. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, vol. 4, no. 6, 2018, pp. 41-72.
Bailey, Stanley R., et al. Support for Race-Targeted Affirmative Action in Brazil. Ethnicities, vol. 18, no. 6, 2018, pp. 765-798.
Lee, Jennifer. Asian Americans, Affirmative Action & the Rise in Anti-Asian Hate. Daedalus, vol. 150, no. 2, 2021, pp. 180-198.
Turner, Claudine, and Liz Grauerholz. Introducing the Invisible Man: Black Male Professionals in Higher Education. Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, vol. 39, no. 39, 2017, pp. 212-227.
Valente, Rubia R., and Brian J. L. Berry. Performance of Students Admitted through Affirmative Action in Brazil. Latin American Research Review, vol. 52, no. 1, 2017, pp. 18-34.
Vue, Rican, et al. Affirming Race, Diversity, and Equity Through Black and Latinx Students Lived Experiences. American Educational Research Journal, vol. 54, no. 5, 2017, pp. 868-903.
The persistent threat posed by racism question, and more especially anti-blackness, has prompted worldwide concerns about its long-term resolution. In several of these discussions, more empathy has been proposed to remedy the racial inequality that haunts society. Empathy is the capacity to comprehend and experience the emotions and ideas of others (Janice Gassam Asare). Moreover, empathic emotions are essential to social and interpersonal life since they allow individuals to adapt their cognitive processes to their social surroundings and to grasp the intents, actions, and behaviors of others (Janice Gassam Asare). Therefore, empathy in racism should be avoided since it causes more harm than good as it impairs the empaths ability to provide ideal remedies to racially affected individuals.
Narrative
Generally, some people champion the essence of empathy toward racial eradication. At the same time, others discourage the action, as they argue that it breeds other emotions that are only detrimental to victims. In defense of advocating against empathy in racism, it is evident in the cold-blood murder of George Floyd in 2020 that onlookers were emotionally overwhelmed by empathy and hence could not rescue his life (McGhee). In this way, most of the witnesses were perplexed to the point where they could not aid in saving his life. Therefore, this narration is overpowering proof that employing empathy is not a way to assist the victimized; instead, it jeopardizes their lives further.
Confirmation
Peoples capacity to empathize with others is impacted by their personal encounters and their perception of the one with whom they are empathizing. As such, empathy is an ambiguous notion intended to cloud peoples inherent nature; thus, it is not an optimal solution to racism. In this sense, people have less empathy for those who do not belong to their races (Lanzoni). For instance, the race of the individual experiencing pain affects the degree to which Caucasian onlookers can empathize with the suffering of other individuals. In the movie The Help, it is a typical scenario that enhances people to overcome empathy when dealing with racism. Precisely, the film is beneficial in preventing white viewers from feeling guilty and in lifting their spirits (Frederick). Thus, it emphasizes that people should address racism directly without involving emotions to soothe their feelings rather they should address their responsibility.
Hence, the conclusion that can be drawn from this is that not all forms of empathy are created equal. Due to this, individuals can empathize more with particular categories of people; nevertheless, they are only able to sympathize with one or two other individuals simultaneously; empathy seems to have a limited capacity. In addition, empathy has a limited field of vision, which means that it might lead people to concentrate their thoughts and feelings on a single subject to the exclusion of others (Lanzoni). If having empathy is the goal, then it makes perfect sense to argue that it will be difficult for a single person to comprehend and be sensitive to the anguish experienced by several oppressed groups at the same time.
Moreover, people do not have the same unique experiences as others. In this regard, the advocates of the thought argue that placing oneself in the same context as others who are racially abused is an approach that can alleviate racial discrimination. However, this is not the case; individuals should abandon the notion that everything needs to feel like something they actually encountered to be legitimate. For example, one needs to be racially mistreated to embrace or comprehend racism. Accordingly, it is essential to resist the need to tie everything to their real-world experiences (Janice Gassam Asare). In addition, arguing for this idea would indicate that if justice impacts an area of personal experiences that these individuals cannot connect to, they will likely disregard it.
In reality, individuals should be able to provide assistance to a trauma survivor without filtering the situation via their own subjective experience. This is problematic; nevertheless, since the empathy concept is predicated on the idea of knowing and experiencing what someone else person is feeling, and in doing so, individuals contrast their perspectives through the lens of their own experienced circumstances. Nonetheless, one might be empathetic and worried for another individual without necessarily experiencing what they undergo. Notably, one does not require empathy to help underprivileged individuals. White people may not always be able to comprehend and sympathize with the experiences of the racially disadvantaged, but this does not preclude them from advocating for and supporting these groups.
Empathic feelings often breed high sentiments and emotions that can be detrimental to people. Extremely empathetic individuals may be hindered by their compassion and unable to assist people who are directly hurting adequately. An extremely sympathetic individual, for instance, may not be able to properly advise people affected by trauma since they, too, are impacted by the experiences of the victims. This may result in secondary trauma, thus; a person suffering secondary trauma may be unable to provide effective assistance and advocacy for an individual in anguish (Janice Gassam Asare). As a result, it might obscure empaths judgment and restrict their grasp of how to directly provide meaningful assistance to a person suffering racial violence and trauma. It is essential to recognize that one might be motivated to assist people and campaign on their behalf without having empathy for them.
Refutation
Without empathy, an individuals cognitive and emotional knowledge, when combined, has a lower likelihood of relieving racial prejudice.
&I had learned many things today, and Miss Caroline had learned several things herself. She had learned not to hand something to a Cunningham, for one thing, but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes, wed have seen it was an honest mistake on her part (To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), time. 40th minute) .
The above quote originates from the movie To Kill a Mockingbird, which underscores how empathy is crucial to people who are being prejudiced. Consequently, this supports the notion of empathy role in curbing racism. Specifically, from the quote, Scout portrays that empathy can ensure responsibility in enhancing moral behavior. As such, Scout demonstrates empathy as she heeds Atticus when he urges her to contemplate Miss Carolines predicament after she sobs in class. Scout cannot comprehend why Miss Caroline is sobbing, but Atticus explains the situation.
However, to refute this idea, it is important to acknowledge that empathy means experiencing the same emotions, thoughts, and dispositions as another individual; hence, people have diverse attributes that limit the idea. Therefore, Scouts character of being spiteful towards other races is a feeling she developed and is deeply ingrained in her, and her nature seems insidious towards other minority races. Hence, the notion that empathy is a key to eradicating racism is a vague idea. Instead, people should develop a collective responsibility to accept that equality and, thus, form an all-inclusive environment.
Concession
Essentially, from the above argument, it is evident that empathy is a scapegoat for those who are racists. As a result, it should not be used as an excuse for someone loathing other minor races. This is because feeling empathic while others are suffering has done more harm than good. In fact, it has cost people their lives as empaths frequently act based on emotions rather than ideal actions and solutions.
Summation
Basically, racism and prejudice is a persistent problems; hence, to tackle the ever-growing menace, people should stop being empathic and develop a strong sense of accountability towards every other minor race. Additionally, people should alter their way of thinking and get rid of any outdated practices. A transformation in thinking, changes in behavior, and the elimination of laws and institutions that create obstacles are required to fulfill the commitment to anti-racism and equality in the educational setting. As a result, it will ensure that in case of racial incidences, the victims will receive aid as opposed to when they are shown empathy, which sometimes can subject them to regrets of belonging to a particular race.
Conclusion
Overall, empathy is a crucial function that regulates social life in humans. Therefore, it cannot be discouraged and must always be employed in other bases of life. Nevertheless, based on the racism concern, humans deserve dignity and compassion irrespective of color, social class, gender, or other qualities. A lack of them cannot be subjective at the expense of a lack of empathy. The difficulty is that people process their emotions through the lens of their individual experiences. If someone cannot comprehend an experience or cannot place oneself in the shoes of another, their capacity to understand their emotions is restricted. It may be useless to attempt to remove racism via empathy alone. Importantly, empathy should not be the guiding principle of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Compassion and kindness are superior substitutes for empathy in the workplace. Rather than attempting to feel what the other person feels, individuals should concentrate on mitigating and repairing the damage perpetrated on the most underprivileged.
Racism is a belief that a particular racial group is fundamental and essentially more than others. Racism leads to the oppression of a specific group of people so that another group can have a political-economic or social advantage. It also leads to hatred among people of different races and can have severe consequences to the victims. This paper seeks to find the root causes of racism and the possible solutions on how to combat this persistent menace in the society.
Self-Interest
Self-interest is the one of the leading root causes of racism. In the 17th and the 18th-century, racism was intensified by the Europeans through the use of barbaric actions to force Africans into serving them in their tobacco and sugarcane plantations (Coates 21). They believed that their American counterparts were superior and they could not attract voluntary laborers from them. To serve their interest, they kidnapped Africans and forced them into slavery to work on the plantations. According to Derbyshire, the European colonialists perceived the enslavement of African Americans and other native communities in the U.S. as an acceptable because of the misconception that slaves were less human beings. With such awkward ideas and beliefs, they subjected slaves to severe conditions, including unsanitary living and working conditions and inadequate nutrition. The plantation owners, for instance, controlled the work and physical wellbeing of their laborer and forced the enslaved people to work even when sick. Self-interest that manifests itself in the harsh treatment of the enslaved people contributed to the deeply-rooted racial segregation that still exists today.
Urge to Maintain the Status Quo
Some groups in the urge to maintain the status quo that protects racism justify it in the name of maintaining law and order or maintaining peace. Racists have utilized racism for a long time in suppressing racial inequalities and resistance among the European nations (Derbshire 416). For instance, people believe that black people are naturally brutal and violent, and they are not disturbed by the mass incarceration or police ferocity. Therefore, people come up with racist ideas that approve discrimination to prevent society from rebelling against them. Such statements help them maintain the status quo, which is more vital to them than equality and justice.
Good People Who Do Not Challenge Racism
Some good people are the main reason why racism continues to flourish in many countries. Many people do not like racism, but they do not speak about it. While so many people are trying to fight against racism, there are no rules, laws, social habits, or beliefs to make black people equal and full citizens of America (Lewis 12). There is a misconception among some people that racial discrimination can be addressed by recognizing and appreciating all people, but there is still a lot of work to do to eradicate systematic racism. Having the laws into the system is the only way to combat racism because, in the long run, what matters is not the words but the actions taken to end racism.
Discriminatory Policies
Some policies discriminated against people by race and kept people in poverty. Such policies reinforce racist beliefs and make people who advocate for racism believe that policies support it. Housing laws are an example of such policies. The policies prevent black people from owning houses in certain neighborhoods and relegate them to low-quality housing (Lewis 14). The laws advocate that black people can only own homes in certain areas and prevents them from accumulating wealth. Looking at such laws, it is a clear indication and a justification that black people should only live in certain neighborhoods, which are crime-ridden and low-income places. People believe somehow it is their choice, whereas it the policies that dictate so.
Failure to Recognize Racism in Oneself
Racism still exists because people are not in a position to acknowledge racism. Some people believe that racism is slavery, segregation blatant, and specifically negative references to race. However, racism is more than this as it manifests itself in many different ways. Unfortunately, many individuals erroneously think that as long as a person does not demonstrate flagrant assumptions, beliefs or behaviours towards another from a different racial or ethnic background, he or she cannot perpetuate racism. This failure to accept responsibility and recognize prejudices is the better reason for the existence of racism and why it continues to flourish.
Media Representation
Media is meant to eradicate racism and maintain unity among people but the case is different in some situations. The way books, TVs, music, and movies represent race somehow has a significant effect on societys view of the race. Despite being a reflection of culture, media keeps racial stereotypes well portrayed and alive such that it fuels racism in a big way (Dyson 25). While discrimination in the media is subtle and has no malicious intent, it has significant negative impacts. An example is where media represents black men as the perpetrators of violence, and also, they are over-represented in the poverty news stories. This largely affects societys view of black people and black peoples view of themselves.
Solutions to Racism
Since racism continues to be a big threat, especially for many African American people, uniting and accepting that it exists can help in coming up with ways to combat it. Learning about other people and cultures will somehow emphasize that all individuals are equal and will help send a message that xenophobia and racism will not be right in civil society. Here are some solutions to end the discrimination.
Celebrate Other Cultures
Celebrating, accepting, and learning about different cultures is one big way to end racism. Since stigmatization is cruel and counterproductive, standing up for cultural diversity, supporting the local businesses run by immigrants is a great way to end racism. In addition, reading stories that celebrate and appreciate different cultures, trying food and recipes from other cultures and countries, and watching other countrys films with children will play a critical role in combating racism.
Call Out Hate Speeches and Bigotry
The only way to end those hate speech and discrimination is to speak out. If one overhears someone telling a racist joke, the best thing to do is to let them know that stereotyping is harmful (Dyson 16). Also, it is vital to make children understand nothing is amusing in the use of stereotypes that perpetuate racism and the importance of speaking up. When one sees something in the media or in the newspapers that predicts racism, it is vital to write a letter to the editor or leave a comment to show them that it is not acceptable to tolerate unkind and hateful remarks that encourage discrimination.
Stand Up for People Being Harassed and Intervene If It Is Safe to Do So
If people stand together for the black people, immigrants, and minority groups, they will make the bullies lose their power and eliminate racism. Helping people who are being harassed and making onerself a witness when in a position to do so is vital. All people are equal and deserve respectful, dignified, and human respect. Standing up with them in solidarity will go a long way in combating racism. Another solution for discrimination is supporting human rights organizations such as UNICEF and other anti-prejudice and anti-racist organizations (Dyson 17). Regardless of the effort they are putting in funding these organizations, the support is critical. It might be volunteering, financial aid, working with other groups with the same goals, or being an advocate. Involving oneself in such actions will make voices be heard excellently and make a significant change at the local level. In addition, it will also help meet other great people with whom one can share the same goals and, hence make ones voice strong enough to be felt across the group.
Be A Proactive Parent
Hate and prejudice are not innate but behaviors that children learn from parents. Teaching your children to be respectful at a tender age is crucial. Since children learn their behaviors from parents, what they watch on the televisions, and what they read in the books, it is vital to set good examples for them. Teaching them the importance of observing the proper materials and reading good books is essential. Also, talk to your children about different cultures and make them understand that we are all humans and everybody has the right to be valued and dignity.
While racism has flourished for a long time, the solutions to it are in peoples power. Individuals have all it takes, and standing up in solidarity is the most effective solution. It is also good to teach children the importance of appreciating others by encouraging them to watch films and eat food from other cultures to bring up a generation that understands no racism should exist in the contemporary world.
Works Cited
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me. Text Publishing, 2015.
Despite the fact that the USA is ruled by the democratic principles and that humanism is nowadays the most respected and appropriate policy towards the racial minorities in the United States, saying that racism is finally over will definitely get some weird looks.
On the one hand, over such long period of time that has passed since the African American people were officially recognized to have the same set of rights as the white population of the United States and since the Jewish Diaspora has become an integral part of the USA, one might have expected that both races would have already been accepted in the American culture, social and political life.
On the other hand, the facts of harsh reality seem to have proven that the racial stereotypes of the African Americans and the Jewish people are still there. Sadly enough, in the present-day United States, both the Jews and the African Americans know for a fact that discrimination is still a threat for them and that they can encounter it not only in the city suburbs, but also in the broad light of the day in the middle of the city.
When it comes to defining the factors which have predetermined further development of racial moods in the USA, the problem turns out much more complicated than it seemed. It is worth mentioning, however, that the United States are not the only place where racism has sprung to life after the years of bringing the democratic ideas into life.
If considering all the states where racial issues still exist, one must mention such countries as Serbia, Ukraine, Iran, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco (Silverstein, 2012, 130). The above-mentioned does not justify the fact of racism in the USA on any account; however, it shows that the problem has spread much further and, therefore, needs immediate actions to be taken.
In addition, while in other countries, the fact of racism and anti-Semitism can be explained by considering the latter a result of xenophobia, in the U. S., where African Americans and Jews have been a great chunk of the population for quite long, the situation needs to be researched to find out the causes of racism and to eliminate them.
Thesis statement: the racist issues are still there despite all the efforts
Because of the lack of knowledge on the Jewish and African American culture and the existing prejudices concerning the above-mentioned ethnicities, as well as the cultivation of the culture of the white population, which nowadays tends to be the dominant one in the American society, the representatives of the latter displays obvious mistrust and exercises racial profiling towards Jews and African Americans, violating the rights of both ethnicities, encouraging racial discrimination and developing anti-Semitist and anti-African American attitudes in the modern United States.
The Undertaken Attempts and the Current Score
Though, after what has been achieved over 60ies, it seemed that all racial ideas were ripped to shards and that the African American people could exercise their rights in full in the American society, there are recent evidences which show that racism remains the problem of the XXI century just as it used to be in the XIX century.
According to the recent evidence, some of the law enforcement groups in the USA solely target Mexican restaurants, African Taxi Cab companies, and non-Judeo-Christian places of worship in their efforts to deal with undocumented workers (Shattel & Villalba, 2008, 542).
While there is no obvious discrimination of the African American population which can be spotted by the state officials and, thus, punished in the appropriate way, the instances of implied racism, i.e., making the choice in favor of a white person for no obvious reason when there is a competition between a white American and an African American, as well as considering African Americans the ones to blame in case of a conflict between the latter and the dominating elements of the American society, etc., are still painfully regular.
Speaking of the Jewish immigrants in the USA society, it is necessary to address the fact that, when the first immigrants came to the States, they received rather cold shoulder from the local residents. Even though it seems that an ample amount of time has passed since the rights of the Jewish have been acclaimed and fully restored, one must admit that in the America of the new millennium, the old concerns about anti-Semitism still remain in their places.
While one must give credit to all the efforts which have been made to help the Jewish people acculturate and at the same time to make the residents of the USA accept and respect the rights of the Jewish people, anti-Semitism remains a problem in the USA.
Therefore, it must be admitted that the problem of anti-Semitism exists in the modern American society on par with the racial profiling which African American people encounter in the U. S. The arguments of the supporters of the discrimination attitudes are ridiculous and fail on all levels.
However, the weird statements of racists do not end in claiming their rights to discriminate against ethnical minorities. To top it all, some people tend to hush the problem down, claiming that it actually does not exist. Hence, sadly enough, it cannot be denied that the racial discrimination still exists and even thrives in the USA of today.
It is worth mentioning, however, that the racial issues and the anti-Semitic attitudes did not come out of nowhere there have been a range of factors which have induced the enmity towards the given ethnic minorities.
An Unexpected Discovery. Racism Has Ceased to Exist Has It not?
As it has been mentioned previously, a certain part of the American society tends to white-knight the governmental policies towards providing the ethnical minorities with their rights and freedoms by claiming that the problem of racial profiling is a way too far-fetched statement and that individual instances of a racial slur or conflict do not mean that there is a problem of racism or anti-Semitism.
The absurd level which the arguments of anti-Semitism proponents hit can be defined by the fact that the latter accuse Semites of being intolerant towards the people with racial prejudice:
Neo-conservative elites in the USA and Western Europe [&] define Judeophobia and anti-Jewish anti-Semitism as the hegemonic forms of racism in the West today in order to blame, in a perverse way, Arabs and Muslims and to hide the hegemonic forms of White racism which are now mostly anti-Black racism and anti-Arab/Muslim anti-Semitism (Grosfoguel, 2009, 96)
It can be deduced, therefore, that the main argument of the people who defend anti-Semitic attitudes is that the Semitic population of the USA are being too harsh on their opponents. In other words, the Black people and the Jews who argue against their discrimination are intolerant of the racists intolerance.
Moreover, the discrimination of African Americans is justified by the fact that now America has a Black President (Prickett, 2009), which is rather lame argument as Grosfoguel (2009) explains, the given fact makes the people supporting racist ideas even more enraged and make them undertake even more racist actions. As for anti-Semitism, the basic argument is that the Holocaust actually never happened (Fischel, 2003, 226).
As it has been mentioned, the statements above do not hold any water. If considering the recent events of racial discrimination towards African Americans and Jewish people, it becomes obvious that hushing down the problem will lead to even greater problems in future.
When There Is Still Some Room for Hope
Despite decades of struggling for the rights of the African Americans, as well as years spent by the Jewish community in the United States to prove that their culture should be appreciated and that the stereotypes and prejudices concerning Jews and Jewish faith are completely wrong, it cannot be denied that racism and anti-Semitism are still on the agenda of the modern American society issues.
It must be kept in mind that the existing laws and regulations concerning the rights of the ethnical minorities in the USA seem to leap through the cracks, the attitude of the Americans towards the above-mentioned cultures have not changed or made too little progress for the African Americans and the Jewish people to feel comfortable in the American environment.
While it is important to address the changes which the American society has undergone and realize that the required freedoms and rights have been granted to each of the ethnicities in question, these rights are obviously often violated in the American society, which means that the racism and anti-Semitism are still in their place sand that it will probably take at least another decade to right the wrongs of the modern society.
Despite the attempts which have been made to make the USA society more democratic and the fact that both Jewish people and African Americans have the same rights as the rest of the USA citizens have, the violation of these rights occurs on a daily basis, which means that there are a lot of changes to be made to peoples perception of African American and Jewish culture and people, as well as get rid of the stereotypes about the given ethnicities.
Once appropriate measures are undertaken and the dominating part of the USA population becomes aware of the racial issues which are nowadays very recent in the United States, the world will be a better place.
Hence, it can be concluded that the idea of a complete absence of racial discrimination or anti-Semitism in the American society is absurd. Though the current concern for the treatment of ethnic minorities in the United States is definitely a silver lining, it cannot be denied that the situation demands much more actions to be undertaken.
Reference List
Fischel, J. R. (2003). The new anti-Semitism. In R. Michael & P. Rosen (Eds.), Dictionary of anti-Semitism (pp. 225-234). Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press.
Grosfoguel, R. (2009). Human rights and anti-Semitism after GAZA. Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge, 7(2), 89-102.
Prickett, S. (2009). Is racism really over in America? Harvard Educational Review, 79(2), 267-268.
Shattel, M. M., & Villalba, J. (2008). Anti-immigration rhetoric in the USA: Veiled racism? Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 29, 541-543.
Silverstein, P. (2012). A new Morocco? Amazigh activism, political pluralism and antianti-Semitism. Brown Journal of World Affairs, 8(2), 129-140.
One cannot speak about racism in America and fail to mention the two great legendary persons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These are the famous and the most eloquent proponents of the Afro-Americans rights in the history of war against racism in the USA.
The freedom and cultural heritage that African Americans enjoy today are actually the result of the contributions of these two great persons. Their philosophical approaches might have been different and sometimes viewed as contradicting, but their ultimate intention was to liberate the blacks from the whites. Kings approach was a peaceful one whereby his belief was founded on his philosophy that whites and blacks can live harmoniously with one another.
On the other hand, Malcolms approach was propelled by a philosophical idea that whites are inherently evil, and self-defense is the only weapon to liberate the African Americans, although, he is believed to have changed this position thereafter (Howard-Pitney 6). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the philosophies of King and Malcolm evolved over time, and why the Kings approach is viewed to be more effective.
Both King and Malcolm are distinguished leaders whose philosophical ideas were considerably influenced by their childhood environment. Their background actually explains the source of their dissimilarities as portrayed in their pursuit of the freedom for African Americans from the Caucasians. On the one hand, King was brought up in a Christian family that embraced the love of all children irrespectively of the skin color (Howard-Pitney 4).
King received a quality education, and because of his intelligence he earned his doctorate at a tender age. It is after Kings venture into Philosophical studies that his views on freedom and nature of man began to take a new direction. His family roots contributed greatly to the formation of his character, including, in particular, such traits like calmness, kindness, and courage to liberate his fellow people. All these traits are well portrayed in his revolutionary speeches that he gave all around America with intention of uniting both races.
Conversely, Malcolm was born in a chaotic family, whereby his parents did not live in a harmony. Malcolm struggled so much with bitter feelings first because of the ill treatment the Afro-Americans received from the Caucasians, and secondly, because of the witness of his mother being assaulted by his father. After his fathers death, Malcolm together with his numerous siblings and their widowed mother lived in deplorable conditions, where even daily meals and education were almost impossible things (Howard-Pitney 6).
The year 1939 was tumultuous not only for Malcolm but his family as well since this is the year his mother suffered a mental breakdown. Now, it was imperative that Malcolm and his siblings could not provide for their needs. A white family took care of Malcolm until he was in the eighth grade at the very point that he dropped out of school. After that, Malcolm started participating in the street crime so as to provide food for him. These crimes finally led him to jail where he met a fellow Muslim inmate who influenced him greatly.
The above disparity in the backgrounds of King and Malcolm explains the root cause and the power behind their philosophical thoughts that shaped their lives thereafter. King who was born in a peaceful environment carried out a peaceful non-violent activity by his revolutionary speeches and philosophical arguments. The atmosphere that he enjoyed in his family formed in him positive attitude towards his struggle for freedom.
Referring to his peaceful family, King once said, I have never experienced the feeling of not having the basic necessities of life (Howard-Pitney 36). In many cases, King encouraged his followers not to engage in any destructive activity but create an environment where peace and harmony were at home among the whites and the enslaved blacks. The idea of harmony and respect of all human beings is a result of his Christian foundation as well as the philosophy of Gandhi that he encountered later on in his life.
King says that he became a minister not because he felt so qualified or as a result of any extraordinary experience but it was to answer a call that he felt deep within him to render his service to humanity regardless of color or race (Howard-Pitney 57). It is this positive attitude of encouragement that created an atmosphere in which even the Caucasians seemed to like his ideas. This is the underlying belief that shaped not only his life but his philosophy as well.
Kings non-violent movement soon won the hearts of many people both black and white. Many people loved listening to his eloquence, a desire that compelled them to follow him wherever he was addressing the people. In the process of listening to him, many come to appreciate his ideas.
This explains the reason why King was more effective than his contemporary Malcolm. On many occasions as King traversed America selling his bid of peace, respect of all, and the desire to obtain equality among blacks and whites, he was heard to encourage especially the youths to embark on handiwork, to do anything that did not compromise their moral principles as they engaged themselves in a mature leadership.
Consequently, King changed the minds of numerous individuals by encouraging them to work hard so as to alleviate their lives. Thus, it is believed that African Americans are so hard-working till the present day because King instilled in them the culture of handiwork. He wanted them to know, that by hard work they would win respect from the whites.
Similarly, the philosophy of Malcolm finds its shape from the melancholies encountered during his childhood. The experiences coined by the burning of their only home, an incident that led to the death of his father, the trauma caused by seeing his mother go throw a mental breakdown left him in a state of desolation, hatred, and vengeance.
This is the tread that his philosophy followed. Malcolm hated the whites to an extent that he called them devils (Howard-Pitney 55). Malcolm was propelled by bitterness to fight for freedom by use of violence. His philosophy was based on the belief that it is only by self-defense against the whites oppression together with the separation of the two races that was going to liberate the blacks.
His revolutionary speeches provoked rivalry between the blacks and whites. To realize how bitter Malcolm was, one can think over his saying: White America must now pay for her sins& White America is doomed (Howard-Pitney 102). This portrays Malcolm as a man already prepared to take responsibility for the outcome of his actions, even if this meant shedding his own blood as long as he fought for the rights of the African Americans.
However, when Malcolm broke his relationship with the Islamic movement after the visit to Mecca, his philosophy changed and he began to advocate unity among both races. He began to mend his former reputation in which he had called for violence, hatred, and ravage. He encourages the blacks to have self-respect and be proud of their heritage.
After a critical analysis of the two great activists philosophies, we are now in a position to establish who had more effective ideas. This also enables us to judge the sincerity of their motives as well as the source of zeal and strong will that is found in both.
As presented above, Malcolm is portrayed as a man who has faced a lot of difficulties in life. His childhood predicaments clearly give directions of his future activities and thoughts. Malcolms bitterness and desire for revenge can be clearly viewed in his revolutionary speeches. Therefore, we can say that his motives were not purely to liberate blacks but a desire to revenge as well.
King, on the other hand, is a calm person who has nothing to revenge for but a desire to go against anger and share love to all human beings since they shared the same nature. He believed that nothing good could be achieved by revolt characterized by violence and hatred between the two races, but instead by mutual respect and love. His approach is partially welcomed by both races although some Caucasians considered him as an enemy.
Works Cited
Howard-Pitney, David. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief History with Documents, Bedford/St. Martins, 2004. Print.
The society is expected to live with one another in brotherhood. Such expectations have sometimes been difficult to achieve due to racism.
Racism can be defined as the feeling of superiority and hatred held by a person towards another person who is of a different color or practices different customs from theirs. These feelings make the person who holds them see the other person as being a lesser human being and end up mistreating them as was done by many slaves masters.
This essay will use the books The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, A Passage to India by EM Forster and Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe to analyze how literary elements have been used to explore racism while explaining how the issues contribute to the meaning of the work.
How each author contributes to racism by the The Jungle , A Passage to India and Uncle Toms Cabin
Theme
Sinclair (13) reveals racism in the early 20th century by talking about the lives of the immigrants working in the meat packaging industry. During the time, most immigrants were characterized by poverty, poor living conditions, desperation and poor wages for the workers. Welfare programs did not exist and corruption was rampant with little pay for the Africans.
Forster (7) chooses to discuss racism between the Indians and the British living in India, Chandra pore. The author uses the temple, the caves and the mosque to deliver his knowledge on the tension between the British and the Indians. The gap between the Indians and the British widens as they continue to interact. The British who are colonies rule and believe they are superior. Loyalties in the story are purely based on the race. The British are rulers to the Indians and inflict suffering on them at will.
Stowe (23) is keen to reveal the wickedness in slavery that has its roots in racism. The white men trade black men as slaves. The author points out the moral authority in slavery and reveals the terrible experience slaves encounter in the hands of their masters. Chances of redemption are few and the slave can only hope for a better future. The ill morals held by the masters of the slaves as well as violence are demonstrated in the book. Religion also gives the Christian hope that they may one day be free.
Conflict
The immigrants in the United States have to struggle to survive in worse conditions, something they had not anticipated. Before immigrating, they view the US as a place with better opportunities. At the beginning, the author describes the celebrations and happiness in Onas wedding during a time which suffering and hopelessness exists. Most immigrants hope that life is good in the United States and that democracy is thriving (Sinclair 10).
The conflict in Foresters book is between the British and the Indians. The British believe they are superior to the Indians and treat Indians as if their culture is inferior. The racist beliefs are held by both the Indians and the British yet they live together. There is no equality and the British are brutal to the Indians.
A British doctor is even believed to have used paper instead of antiseptic on an Indian patient. Again, Healslop becomes furious and breaks engagement to Adela, a fellow British for apologizing to the Indian after falsely accusing him of sexual assault (Forster 17).
Stowe (8) has described the hardships that slaves undergo. Despite the few chances of being free, they have to yield to their master who is of another race and has no respect for the slaves. The slaves are sold by their masters who also practice a lot of inequality in their treatment of the slaves. They are sold off and separated with their families at the will of their master.
Character
Sinclair (11) uses characters such as Jurgis and Ona who emigrate for a better life only to encounter problems in the country of destination. Jurgis is a family man who is very hard working and supports family and other friends.
Forester (9), uses Aziz, an Indian who dislikes the British, to show racism. There is a lot of tension as the Indian men are accused of being disrespectful towards the white women. Mrs. Moore, Adela, Fielding and other British characters develop racist ideas while visiting the Indians.
The character used by Stowe (4), is Tom whose life in slavery is unpleasant and unfortunate and this leads to his death. Emily, who escapes with her son Harry, has a happy ending when they finally escape and meet their father and their sister and trace their way back to Africa. Shelby, a good master tries to redeem Tom but does not succeed in doing so.
Racism
Racism is the norm and the grandmother of the family narrates how workers are beaten by the owners of the mat industry. Jurgis, by virtue of being an immigrant, is paid very little. The immigrants are bought by the natives in order to vote for them in the elections. The immigrants are viewed by the natives as their enemies.
Socialism, which is seen to be an idea pioneered by the immigrants, is an avenue for the different marginalized races to share their grievances. They note that the immigrants are left to work in the meat industry with poor working conditions.
Socialist ideas are not welcome by many as they gain few followers. They continue preaching socialism and its benefits and eventually gain members. The socialist movement manages to secure positions by overcoming corruption that existed before. Socialism is partly the battle against racism. Leaders attained positions through corrupt means and the immigrants suffered in the country where democracy was expected to thrive.
Those in official positions are mainly natives and racists. Before the immigrants gain any service from the judges, politicians and the police, they have to bribe. What is more is that gaining favor from the native race is almost impossible. It is also clear that the immigrants are illiterate and cannot compete equally.
Forster (9) has revealed racism in many ways. The Indians have been colonized by the British and have to be careful with them, yet they are both in India.
The Indians because of being skeptical turn down the invitation to a party by Turton. Turton invites them without knowing that they are racists and is disappointed when they fail to turn up. Again Adela and her mother become uncomfortable when the visitors, both Indians and British in the party fail to interact. Moreover, Fielding who is a British and Aziz an Indian collude to appear as friends yet they hold deep racist ideas.
Aziz holds that the British are advanced and use logic. The racists also believe that having an intimate relationship with the other race is overcoming racism. The British seem to dominate the Indians as they are the colonialists and holds more influential positions than the Indians.
It was believed by many living in the mid 19 century that the blacks were supposed to be slaves. Their task was hard and none had education. The masters, who were rich and owned property, used the slaves to work in their farms and treated them brutally. Beating of the slaves was common and very few masters befriended the slaves they owned.
Christianity gave the slaves hope that one day they will be free. The blacks separated with their own family when the master sold them. A slave could only be free if the master bought them from another master to be free (Stowe 4).
Setting
Sinclair (6) uses the US, particularly California and Illinois, to demonstrate racism. Immigrants come from different places among them Poland and other places. This is a period when the US claims that there is democracy yet racism is thriving. The immigrants do not have a safe working environment and do not have welfare programs. Many get ill and lose lives for lack of ability to access good health care like the natives.
The setting used by Forester (9) is the period of colonialism. The British who have joined the Indians come with a lot of tolerance and change little by little to become more racist. The British are influential and feel superior to the Indians as they believe that the white skinned have more intelligence than the Indians and also the Indians believe in spirits which is primitive.
The two races treat each other with a lot of suspicions yet they live in the same place. This tension leads the British woman to accuse the Indian falsely and is taken to court. The British are also disappointed when Adela apologizes for accusing Aziz.
Stowe (4) chose to expose slave trade. Africans were sold to Americans as slaves and belonged to the master. The book was written in the mid 19th century when slave trade was prominent. The whites owned the slaves and could even sell off the slaves children and separate them from their family.
Christianity was against slave trade and was not welcome by many and those who believed in it hoped that one day they would be free. It revealed the long suffering of the blacks. The black slaves suffer in the foreign country and cannot salvage themselves unless they buy their freedom. Their children remain slaves. When they escape they can be hunted and be turned back.
Style
Sinclair (3) describes the mysteries that Jurgis experiences together with his family. The author begins with the wedding and immigration of Jurgis family. Shortly after the wedding problems rooted in racism come their way and they have to struggle to survive. For lack of education and being from another race, Jurgis is not able to support the family hence others join in.
Some succumb to illnesses for lack of funds to foot hospital bills. He moves form one job to another and eventually finds socialism. He joins socialism and begins preaching which eventually leads to the victory of one of them.
The author of A Passage to India gives the story about the encounters of visiting India. The country is openly racist as the two races are constantly sensitive to the issue. He uses the context of the mosque, the caves and the temple to explain the events that happened. Aziz is accused of assaulting Adela, a British and is taken to court. This move conceals the tension between the races (Forester 9).
Slavery is devastating and undesirable and escape from it is impossible for the blacks in America according to Stowe. The story begins with the master Shelby, choosing to sell Tom and Harry his slaves.
Eliza escapes with her son, Harry while Tom sails to Mississippi and is bought by another trader who lives in New Orleans. Eliza and her son join the family and they are hunted and caught where they hurt the slave hunter. Toms master passes on and he is sold off to another master who forces him to whip other slaves.
Tom refuses and he is beaten and succumbs to the injuries. Later on, the slave hunter is assisted by the slaves to heal. Shelbys son who comes to buy Toms freedom finds him gone. Harry and her family reunites and they travel back to France and later make their way to Liberia. They believe that Christianity inspires them all (Stowe 4).
Conclusion
Racism is socially constructed and is preventable. It is in most cases unpleasant for one group or both. The authors have used the themes to demonstrate racism, to advocate for equality, marginalization, colonization, moral decay and oppression to the weak. Conflicts cause the society to live like enemies and to create more pain and disintegration.
The setting is from mid 19th century and early 20th century when there emerged immigration, colonization and slave trade. The authors have also used characters that were dominant throughout by stating their life experiences and encounters. It is unfortunate that some of the characters suffer so much.
Works Cited
Forster, Morgan. A Passage to India. Florida, United States of America: Harcourt Brace & company, 1924
Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle. Chicago: Sharp Press, 2003
Stowe, Harriet. Uncle Toms Cabin. New York: Bantam Dell, 1981