Has racism ceased to be a major problem in the world - Essay Example

Has racism ceased to be a major problem in the world? Racism has not ceased to be a major problem in the modern day world. In fact it has resurfacedin recent years and has become a major concern for many nations of the world. Developed and developing countries are struggling to eradicate this social evil. What is even more worrying is that it is not restricted to the apartheid promoting continents and nations alone. It has made its ubiquitous way into the very fabric of almost all continents. Racism is a complex phenomenon and cannot be wished away.

Discrimination on the basis of colour, race or religion entails the subjugation or oppression of a section of people within a community. To be able to eliminate this social malady one needs to understand the reasons that give rise to discriminatory behaviour of which racism is a major manifestation. Discriminatory behaviour can arise out of feelings of insecurity, fear, hatred and an acute desire to dominate. People who support intolerance towards others usually operate in gangs or groups and target those who are weaker than them.

Imperialism and the rise of colonialism from the 15th century onwards have given credence to racial superiority and discriminatory practises based on this perceived superiority. This led to the complete alienation of the people who have been colonized. The prevalence of racism was experienced in Africa, Asia and America at first, and then spread through colonialism to the rest of the world. Racism is manifested through behaviours that encourage separatism, hatred amongst groups and racial or religious intolerance.

Racists are unable to accept and/ or tolerate the exclusiveness and distinctiveness of ethnic or cultural groups other than theirs. Their dislike of anything that stands out as individual or special makes them feel insecure. In order to get rid of their sense of vulnerability they crush the differences and subjugate the group that is unique and different from them. In extreme cases of racial discrimination people can even suffer from xenophobia, which can result in fear and hatred of anything that is foreign and hate crimes are borne out of these feelings.

They can often become violent enough to cause death and destruction to the minority communities. Racism indeed remains a worldwide phenomenon. In recent times there has been a resurgence of racial ill feelings in countries like France, Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria in Europe alone. Racial discrimination towards the Jews, Arabs and Turkish people has become a cause of grave concern. Crimes against the racial minorities are on the rise in Europe. Australia has always discriminated against the aborigines and oppressed them.

In more recent times there has been a spate of criminal activities around racial issues where people, especially students from other nations and cultures, have been subjected to extreme vilification and oppression. Garrett Kaoru Hongo, an Asian- American writer of eminence, has pointed out in his poem, The Yellow Light, that stereotyping is the natural fallout of being unable to accept other ethnic groups. The reference to the word “yellow” repeatedly in his poem underlines the stereotype that the people of Asian origin are cowardly and weak and is used to renounce this idea.