Racism Still Exists in America - Essay Example

Racism Still Exists in America Introduction For a long time, America has been faced with racism. This form of social discrimination continues to exist despite the many campaigns against it. In fact, it keeps increasing. While the people of America make forward steps in fighting racism, others would pull them back. That is the reason why despite America having achieved much in anti-racism campaigns and elected a black president, the US President Obama has to address the nation behind a bullet proof glass because of racial threats against him. Similarly, there are a lot of racist groups operating in the country. All these exist amidst activities by many anti-racism organizations towards fighting prejudice and racism and after much battle have been fought in the past to counter racism. America is yet to see a society free of racism. Facts about racism would be well understood among the Americans if it would be considered for what it really is; an institutional ideology, according to CNN which reported that “racism is like a virus that has mutated into a new form that we don’t recognize”. There is more to racism than personal hatred. It refers to the belief that a group of people, identified by unique biological make up are superior to other groups with different biological make up. The President of Catholic Charities USA, Synder further indicates that racism refers to “unearned advantage, conferred dominance, and invisible privilege enjoyed by white Americans, to the detriment, burden, and disadvantage of people of color” (8). The superior group would thus be allowed to rule economically and socially over the groups considered to be weaker. The situation has been made worse in America due to the many action plans that have been started in the recent past to fight racism in the country. Since the times of Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 to the 1965 Selma March led by Martin Luther King, the relations were assumed to be headed towards improvement. With every move forward, the country appeared to be moving backwards in achieving genuine racial reconciliation. In the 20th Century, racism was mainly between the Blacks and the Whites. However, with the immigration of people from different parts of the world into the country, racism now includes hostility among people from different cultures. Effects of racism Synder (11) acknowledges that the privileged status of being white did not just happen accidentally. This had been constructed through time, through social policies, procedures and institutions which deliberately developed a system that promoted the white Americans’ welfare while greatly hindering opportunities for people of color. Racism has caused people from other cultures in America to despise their own cultures in favor of Americanism. Alvarez (37) describes her personal experience in America, having emigrated from Dominican Republic where beauty was synonymous with all women. In America, however, beauty was reserved for American girls only. Women from other races would not enjoy what Synders (5) describes as white privileges but would always be socially discriminated due to their different biological traits. This was well demonstrated with the airing of Miss America beauty pageant where Julia Alvarez and her sisters were portrayed to admire being American girls to be considered beautiful. The beauty pageant show presented Americanism as desirable and made people from other races appreciate the American blue eyes and blonde hair while despising their biological traits. Such discrimination in beauty contests enhanced racism in the American society. Among the major indications of racism, or otherwise white privilege include economic advantage which has been reserved for the white Americans through public policy and also through political power over years. Racism results into economic burden and disadvantages people of color. Take for instance the institution of slavery. Slavery was just a means to exploit labor where African slaves would be used to create wealth for others while they got no benefit. Slavery led to creation for the white elites and others like bankers, ship builders and immigrant farmers. Despite the fight against racism, people of color still encounter obstacles and need to overcome barriers as they pursue employment opportunities or promotions. Synder (13) argues that even with improving ability to secure jobs, people of color still face the challenge of not being represented at senior positions of most corporate organizations. The author further observes that whereas white males are fewer in the workforce of America, they hold over 90% of senior positions in corporate organizations in the country. Prejudices and fears by white managers have been cited as conditions that promote continued racial inequality in such organizations. The fight against racism Psychologists and theologians in America argue that racism is not a natural; human beings have been blamed for starting and promoting this form of discrimination (Synder 15). Hence, it should be the same humans who would challenge, restructure or eliminate the social problem. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a renowned person of the color who openly criticized the government of America for being insincere with its fight for equality. Most dominant cultures would be uneasy with social injustice but unwilling to carry the burden of eradication. This shows the lack of commitment to promoting social equality. New commitment among citizens would therefore cause genuine racial equality. It is the duty of theologians, scholars and activists to guide the society into commitment to genuine racial equality. Much has been done to counter racism in America. Students have been in the forefront in anti-racism campaigns as they stand to be most affected bearing in mind that most learning institutions would have students from various parts of the world. An example would be the initiative by Students Teaching About Racism in Society, STARS from Ohio University who in October 2011chose to deal with the problem of offensive Halloween costumes. The students came up with various posters which drew attention to humorous racism that was common around Halloween. They put together memorable and thought-provoking campaigns that pointed the connection between racism against people and the racist costumes. Civil rights movements have been formed, fighting for equality, making the rightful progress towards fighting worst influences of racism in the minds of people. According to CNN, most Americans believe in and support racial equality. Majority of white Americans do not support racism and they recognize that rights of labor apply equally across races and therefore the need for racial equality. Together with Arab, Asian, Latino and Black workers, this constitutes significant anti-racist voices by the majority in the country. The civil rights movement fought, even shedding blood for the rights of black Americans. This led to the 1964 Civil Rights Act that saw discrimination illegalized. But racism did not end merely because of the 1964 Civil Rights Act; it still existed and continues to be. However, the act saw to it that there would be legal action against those who discriminate or prejudice because of color, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or country of origin. The act is considered to be one of the most crucial legal documents in the history of America. Though the people of America have put much effort towards anti-racism, there are areas which still need regulation. The mass media has been a powerful platform where racism has been disseminated and being controlled by the country’s ruling class. The impact on people’s development of attitude towards those from other cultures has been significant. Portrayals or racism have been on the increase, erasing the gains made during the period of Civil Rights. Performers of nowadays have appeared on TV and images portraying racism among Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and Native American Indians have been frequently aired. The attempt has been to convince the people of America that racism would pass in comedies. Consider the influence that the Miss America beauty pageant aired on TV had on Julia and her sisters: “watching the pageant became an annual event in our family…In our nightgowns, we watched the fifty young women who had the American look we longed for” (Alvarez, 37). Beauty was an important component for all women in Dominican Republic from where Julia and her sisters came from. But in America, beauty was solely bestowed upon American girls. Therefore, people need to be educated so as to understand that what is aired on TV, played in radios or portrayed in movies relate to racism and should not be separated from the happenings in the economy and society at large. Communists could initiate a public debate on class analysis to determine whether what is aired on TV or passed across in music reflects the reality or promotes its creation. Conclusion Indeed, much could be done to completely do away with racism in America. The 21st Century has seen many campaigns and legislations in America that protect against all forms of discrimination. Affirmative action has been widely used to enhance equal employment opportunities, housing and other amenities. But still, the television shows have adopted different formats and characters so as to be aligned to the current politics. The society on the other hand maintains a differing view on races. There would always be persons who would seek to fight any positive change in their search to maintain their status quo and attain economic power and control. Even though racism has been said to be an institutional ideology, no improvement would be achieved unless more people work towards its attainment. Works Cited Alvarez, J. “I Want to be Miss America.” Something to Declare. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2008. 37 – 42. CNN. Poll: Most Americans See Lingering Racism in Others. 12 Dec, 2006. Web. 8 March, 2012. Synder, L. Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good. Catholic Charities USA. 2008, January 15. Read More