Simple-Minded and Unrefined People - Essay Example

08 June Story and essay: Part A giant space ship landed along the Atlantic Coast on 01 January, 2000 carrying within it a delegation of 20 men from a star very far away from the planet Earth. This delegation was expected by the US officials for a month now because it was promised by the spokesperson for the space people that they will be bringing with them a stupendously profitable deal. Finally, the US officials did not have to wait anymore because the space people stood right there in front of them in a very welcoming mood. They knew how to speak English and after complementing the manners of the US politicians, they arrived at the place where meeting was to be held between the two groups. While the Americans politicians could not help but notice the gleaming gold stacked inside the gigantic space ship, the space people also could not keep themselves from noticing that there was only one Asian American in the delegation sent by the US president from the White House. In a group of 20 politicians of high standing, only one Asian American represented the US. This was diversity at its poorest and it did not go unnoticed by anyone who arrived from the star in the space. It was assumed by the space people that Asian Americans were largely considered simple-minded and unrefined people by the white elitist forces in America. On grounds of extensive research conducted by them in recent past, they knew it well that a few white elitist groups acted as a driving force behind the American politics. The US president could not risk their anger or disagreement because they funded his campaigns. Since Asian Americans formed a racial minority in the US in contrast to whites who formed a racial majority, the leader of the delegation from space put forward a very unique proposition before the Americans. He offered remarkable treasures in the form of gold to America to help the politicians address all kinds of domestic catastrophes in exchange for every one of Asian American residing in the US. They did not explain what they intended to do with Asian Americans, rather they just emphasized this deal claiming that the US president is free to accept or decline this offer. They naturally expected some resistance or hostility form the US delegation on introduction of such a nonplussing offer, but to their amazement the Americans threw themselves into hot debate soon afterwards considering the offer very seriously. The gleam of gold masking their good judgment, they ran off to their president with this otherwise outrageous offer to the White House. The president having been already tired sick of all the unbridled domestic concerns abstained from immediately dismissing the offer and spent two weeks to read into it. He knew it well that without direct and immediate assistance offered by the space people in the form of gold, the entire economic system would be reduced to ashes some time soon in future. On the other hand, he already despised the different nature of a few Asian Americans in his party. Harboring many stereotyped images in his mind regarding this particular race, he secretly detested Asian Americans’ different way of thinking and handling things. This is why he finally agreed to this offer and all Asian Americans despite having protested incessantly left in a line for the star far away in the space. Part 2 I revised this famous story by Derrick Bell replacing African Americans with Asian Americans because I believe the kind of philosophy introduced by Bell in his story can also be applied to other racial minorities in America. Though in the present contemporary times, we could easily claim that we have beaten racism and prejudice to a large extent in America, truth is that these social evils still permeate through every barrier in a very subtle and discreet manner. Racial segregation might not be as blatant and obvious as it was in the past in the time of the Jim Crow laws, but one cannot remain oblivious to frequent displays of racial bias and segregation in this country even currently. Compared to whites who form a racial majority in the US, racial minorities like blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Americans are generally viewed in a stereotyped fashion by a large percentage of white Americans. There is obvious racial tension in American due to which whites are almost always portrayed as heroes or saviors by the media and people from other races are presented as troublemakers or even criminals. I revised this story by Bell because other than blacks in America, Asians also experience serious amount of racial segregation and general biased attitude toward their race. For example, our prisons are full of people from racial minorities. Compared to whites, there is a higher percentage of black, Hispanic, and Asian American youth incarcerated in the US. This is because instead of addressing their concerns and improving their socioeconomically disadvantaged position, we judge them on grounds of warped stereotyped images that are popularized by our media. Racism and prejudice are not only experienced by African Americans, but other racial minorities have also had and continue to have their fair share of these evils in the country. In contrast to the privileged whites, Asian American and other racial minorities including Muslims lack power and resources. They have far less say in important political, social, cultural, or economic matters in comparison to whites. This is because they are underprivileged and generally seen in a negative light. No white person might find it comfortable to straightforwardly demonstrate his/her dislike for people from racial minorities, but truth is that many harbor poisonous hate inside their hearts for anyone who is different. It would be a hyperbolic statement to suggest that all whites happen to be prejudiced and full of hate because reality is that many are welcoming and open-minded. However, there are many powerful groups operating on every level in America from media to politics to economics to educational institutions who see to it that racial minorities never become able to stand on an equal level with fellow white Americans. There is an obvious unfair distribution of wealth between whites and people from other races. This unfair or unequal distribution serves to make the already privileged whites even more powerful and renders people from disadvantaged or overlooked races even less resourceful. The story by Bell also tells us what racial majorities in the US could do to racial minorities in times of distress in exchange for monetary rewards given by extraterrestrials. Read More