Segregation and US Civil Rights Movement in the last 60 Years - Research Paper Example

Segregation and US Civil Rights Movement in the last 60 YEARS Introduction This essay argues the fact that racial discrimination is part of our society, and it can be manifested in various ways from schools, workplaces, and environment among others. The essay also provides a reverse discrimination as a counter argument. Peculiarly, United States meaning derives from the present dogma that all races stocks are same. The most widespread human rights violations are related to intolerance and racism frequently accompanied by ostracism and discrimination (Logan, John and Mark, 1970, pg.43). Racial discrimination occurs in multiple levels. These are not simply racist behavior and social-cultural inequalities. In certain circumstances, racial discrimination is institutionalized. It is set down legally, is part of the techniques employed by judicial and penitential bodies, and can lead to serious violations of fundamental human rights, in the form of degrading or inhuman treatment. Despite clear attestation to the contrary, all races in America have been declared overtime to be equally hard-working and talented, and anyone who challenges the dogma is perceived to be not merely wrong but evil. The dogma has logical effects that are profoundly important (Clark, 2003, pg., 33). If blacks, for instance, are equal to whites in every way, what explanations can be given for their poverty, dissipation and criminality? Because any theory of racial segregation has been outlawed, the only possible explanation for black lack of success is white racism although this is debatable. And since blacks are crime-prone, dissipated and markedly poor, United States must be racked with a pervasive and horrible segregation (Rothwell, 2011, pg., 77). Racism is not just a concern in United States but one of the world’s major issues currently. Many individuals are not aware of the gravity of racism still existing in our workforces, schools and anywhere else social lives are present. This essay may help understand these instances and areas that the government can act upon 1st Argument Many years after the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling it can be argued that, de facto racial segregation remains a force to reckon with. United States has been reluctant to fulfill its legal duties under the International Convention on the elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Convention). This lack of commitment has necessitated the various civil rights movements demand actions. The struggle for fair employment among United States citizens has been a major concern in my view. Despite the convention report criticism of the United States for not complying with their mandates. Since the US approved this treaty, hence becoming a State Party, it is part of United States law particularly under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. States parties have should actively comply with the obligations under the Convention, including submitting periodic reports (William, 2009, pg., 56). Various racial segregations are as a result of the laxity. Today there exists reports of instances of oppression at work places and unfair employment packages in some states that is rather unfortunate. CERD urged America to outlaw racial discrimination in all its roots and form; this by a fact has never been fully satisfactory. The prohibition was to include indirect discrimination. To further support my claim, the US presently outlaw only intentional discrimination, but not programs and legislation that are discriminatory in effect. Furthermore, the convention urged America to fulfill the Convention’s directive that States Parties adopt distinct measures to minimize persistent disparities based on race (Sikkink, David and Michael, 2009, pg., 144). Today, the United States Supreme Court has narrowed the application of affirmative action in education system no surprise issues of racial segregation in school and colleges a time became evident. It is important to emphasize the fact that contemporary forms of segregation today could have been avoidable with just extra government commitment. 2nd Arguments My first argument is based on Environmental racism, and it refers to any practice, policy or directive that differentially disadvantages or affects (whether planned or unplanned) groups, individuals or societies based on colour or race. It includes public programs and industry policies to offer benefits for corporations while shifting costs to individuals of color. My argument is based on fact that for year, legal, government, economic, political and other institutions have supported environmental racism, and it affects local land use, support of environmental regulations, industrial facility siting and the locations where individuals of colour live, work and play (Rothwell, 2011, pg., 77). In my view, the roots of environmental racism are very deep and have been difficult to terminate. Furthermore, the question of who benefits and who pays from environmental and industrial programs and policies is important to my analysis of environmental racism. Despite neglect by various authorities, environmental decision making often reflects the power appointments of the dominant society and its organizations. It disadvantages individuals of color while offering privileges or advantages for corporations and people in the upper strata of society. Environmental racism supports the stratification of individuals (by race, status, ethnicity and power), regions (in central cities, unincorporated areas, suburbs, rural areas or Native American reservations) and jobs (in that office workers, for instance, are afforded much protection than farm employees) (Rothwell, 2011, pg., 77). It institutionalizes unequal implementation, trades individual health for gains, places the load of proof on the “victims” as opposed to the polluters, legitimizes individual exposure to harmful chemicals, hazardous substances and pesticides, promotes “risky” technologies, exploits the vulnerability of politically and economically disenfranchised societies, subsidizes ecological devastation, develops an industry around risk evaluation, delays cleanup actions and fails to create pollution prevention and precaution techniques as the overarching and dominant approach. To further support my argument, it is a fact that today environmental decision-making and planning of local land-use operate at the intersection of science, politics, economics and special interests in a way that places society of colour at risk. This is particularly true in United States Deep South, which, by evasion, has become a “sacrifice zone”. 3rd Argument Years after active involvement by various civil groups there are still claims of racial segregation that is rather unfortunate. For years, racial segregation is rooted upon the myth of completely complex ex-inherent racial superiority. This myth has for years made individuals practicing segregation psychologically practice the norm from childhood. The continuous harm to individuals begins at their child’s earliest years (Rothwell, 2011, pg., 77). They then begin to react to segregation patterns. Eliminating racial segregation is a tough task since society becomes aware of the status difference at early age. My argument suggests that children of minority groups in society grow to be affected differently from those of the majority group. Despite many years after the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, it can be argued that, de facto racial segregation is still a reality. Various forms of racial segregations can be traced to these roots. Of course, progress has been made to this effect but instead of wallowing on this progress the government should be re-energized and tackle steps ahead for questions can be raised on their progress. I can argue that everyone in and out of the government to acknowledge the fact that future of society and any democratic government throughout the world is dependent on recognition of equality of man. This is the doctrine that is inherent in the principle of United States government and protected by the constitution (Bickford, Adam, and Douglas, 1977, pg., 21). Racial segregation can be linked to the fact that there is been failure to adopt legislation to prevent operation of voting regulations and rules with discriminatory effects. The supreme courts of United States invalidated routine safeguards in the Voting Rights. Act could have aimed at preventing the application of voting regulations that could have had discriminatory impacts. In my view, united States have also failed to intensify efforts to minimize racial segregation in access to housing, and guarantee affordable and adequate housing for everyone. There is persistent racial segregation in housing in other states of United States and a high rate of segregation and concentrated. The argument further points People’s discriminatory deeds can be distinguished from structural racism –laws, policies and institutions that create these racial inequalities (Laurie, Alexander, and Narendra 2003, pg., 23). Generally, it appears quite obvious those white races are advantaged from structural racism: it develops racial inequality, which places whites at the top in terms of wealth these are but opinions from majorly black’s majority states (Johnston, Poulsen, and Forrest, 2000, pg., 14). Through racist policies and practices, white individuals can accumulate wealth into their hands. In this way, they concur that racism advantage those white people with access to this resource. Counter Argument My counter-argument doesn’t weaken the facts I provided on the argument on racial segregation, but rather, it makes my argument stronger. This is because it provides a chance to respond to my objections and makes the essay more persuasive (Rothwell, 2011, pg., 77). There have been various assumptions that have in the past, and recent years contributed to perpetuation racial segregation or even accelerated it issues related to racial segregation. In my counter argument, there is a believe among many members of the society in United States hold assumption that Racism segregation is a thing of the past; therefore, society don’t need to bother with it. This assumption has made society and government authorities both at the federal and state take drastic steps to stop the norm (Weill, 1954, pg., 36). For a fact, racial segregation continues to be a problem though some cases go unreported. Society has begun and should continue to understand the relationship between the present and past and function well in their civil obligations. A general view of the public is that the society doesn’t care anymore. Racism continues to haunt every aspect of past and present society, and there is a need of concern. I can argue that everyone in and out of the government to acknowledge the fact that future of society and any democratic government throughout the world is dependent on recognition of equality of man. This is the doctrine that is inherent in the principle of United States government and protected by the constitution (Laurie, Alexander, and Narendra 2003, pg., 23). However, I take concern and assumption with the claim that racial segregation does no harm to white individuals. Racism is a menace on our society, and white people form part of our society. Moreover, eliminating racism will require a multi-racial coalition. If we assume that racial segregation is left to blacks then, the goal of eliminating the practice is farfetched. If a racial segregation does not hurt white race (Weill, 1954, pg., 36), why then would they fight against it? From this view, I feel bound to present argument. Once we perceive the harm that racial segregation causes all people in United States, it will be easier to create multi-racial coalitions to minimize racism. Conclusion In my critical view, I can conclude by fact that segregation has drastically been reduced from the communities generally. The government too is each day trying to put all systems in place to end racial distinction in American life in all ways. The reasons for these are based on the arguments given in the body, and there are various reasons. A weighty issue, of course, is the acceptance by more and more individuals in high places that the world situation in regard to the sensitive areas throughout the world depends on how United States as a country can handle racial segregation challenges (Weill, 1954, pg., 36). United States can no longer put up with an Achillesheel of discriminatory racial practices toward its darker citizens. Even more essential is the realization that the equality of any man as a principle and the equal defense of the laws as Constitutional views are both based upon the moral doctrine of any man’s responsibility rather than racial identity. Furthermore, racial segregation in any country is costly, immoral and damaging to nation’s prestige and should be condoned. In my critical view, racial discrimination and segregation violate the all aspects of human rights and the only refuge the citizens can count on is continuous and deliberate efforts by the federal and states government in protecting them from these dangerous acts (Logan, John and Mark, 1970, pg.43). Finally it is of importance that the Government of United States not only focuses on policies and laws to completely eliminate racial segregation but at the same time focus on psychological elimination of segregation from the minds of the its citizen as racial segregation begins from the mind. References Bickford, Adam, and Douglas S. Massey. "Segregation in the Second Ghetto: Racial and Ethnic Segregation in American Public Housing, 1977." Social Forces: 1011. Clark, W. A. V. "Residential Preferences and Neighborhood Racial Segregation: A Test of the Schelling Segregation Model." Demography: 1. Johnston, R., M. Poulsen, and J. Forrest. "Ethnic and Racial Segregation in U.S. Metropolitan Areas, 1980-2000: The Dimensions of Segregation Revisited." Urban Affairs Review, 2007, 479-504. Laurie, Alexander, and Narendra Jaggi. "Role of ‘vision’ in Neighbourhood Racial Segregation: A Variant of the Schelling Segregation Model." Urban Studies, 2003, 2687-704. Logan, John R., and Mark Schneider. "Racial Segregation And Racial Change In American Suburbs, 1970-1980." American Journal of Sociology: 874. Rothwell, J. T. "Racial Enclaves and Density Zoning: The Institutionalized Segregation of Racial Minorities in the United States." American Law and Economics Review, 2011, 290-358. Sikkink, David, and Michael O. Emerson. "School Choice and Racial Segregation in US Schools: The Role of Parents’ Education." Ethnic and Racial Studies: 267-93. Weill, Susan. "Conserving Racial Segregation in 1954." American Journalism: 77-99. Williams, D. R. "Racial Residential Segregation: A Fundamental Cause of Racial Disparities in Health." 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