C.P. Ellis. by Studs Terkel - Article Example

A passage from CP Elliss story In humanity, prejudice and racism have always been in existence. A lot of research has been conducted to determine the causes of these two misconducts. Most of these practices are as a result of community based factors and historical factors. Looking at the story by Terkel in the story C.P. Ellis presents a description of racism and prejudice within the community (Lecture notes 1). In this story a Klansmen who is a Whiteman asset that he has stopped being a resist. C.P comes from a poor white family.

He is faced with numerous misfortunes that make him join a cult known as a Ku Klux Klan (Lecture notes 4). Later on in the passage, C.P realized that, people are not made up of their color and was even ready to work with a black woman (Lecture notes 8). This passage makes an individual to look at the factors that made him join the Ku Klux Klan. It also makes individuals understand why others have prejudice or become racist against other of people. This passage makes one understand that, the main causes of prejudices are psychological, and these includes frustration, low self-esteem, and a societal cause such as financial competition.

These factors provide an explanation C.P. Ellis’ racial behavior. From these few descriptions, I agree with the C.P. Ellis, and the question that comes into my mind is that, why is racism and prejudices so persistent yet researchers know their roots? Part 2 It is also ironical that Ellis’ wish for success not only directed him to Klansman but also molded him. Furthermore while in the group he discovered that the African people where ordinary people (596). Furthermore, the society also had white people from low-income group just like the black low-income people.

The story provides a description of how he works with Ann on the assigned project. From the teamwork, Ellis’ discovered that he was doing something very important. Through his work, he got rid of inferiority complex. It is clear from the passage that inferiority complex can affect an individual’s self-esteem (596). It can either incite someone to have prejudices, or make someone not to have prejudices. Ellis’ frustrations were because of his poverty and he was not in a position to get out of the low c lass group of people, so he thought that by joining the Klansmen he would achieve the American dream.

In fact, from the story we are told he even blames the black niggers for his economic situation. He says that If they did not have negroes in their schools, then they would not be having financial problems (596). He also adds that the economic situations they have are related to increased aggression toward poor class of people (588). From this story, we can tell that several factors make people to become racist and practice prejudices. These practices are mainly motivated by psychological and social factors.

One of the best ways to reduce racism and prejudices is to advocate for factors that destroy racism like providing equal right that make people happy in turn reduce social class division in terms of race. Works Cited Lecture notes, p. 198 C. P. Ellis, “Why I Quit the Klan” from American Dreams: Lost and Found by Studs Terkel. Copyright © 1980 by Studs Terkel. 2013. Print. Studs Terkel. “C.P. Ellis.” Rereading America (2004): 591-601.Print