Racial Discrimination in Civilized Society - Term Paper Example

 Sociology- Racial discrimination Racial discrimination has always been considered a very sensitive and grave natured issue among sociologists owing to its power of hugely impacting people’s lives. Undoubtedly, the bedrock of the societal structure is largely related to equal human rights since discrimination always leads to destabilizing the whole society. This is the general consensus among all the sociologists that racism is the name of culturally created beliefs that support the excessive advantages and liberties of whites while condemning even the basic rights of the minorities due to their weak position. The concept of racial discrimination is quite old and goes back to the days of slavery when a large number of African people in addition to the native black Americans were forced into slavery and ordered to serve the white people. Discrimination has a very old history and sadly, it is still subtly impacting many societies. According to many authentic research reports done in America, black people are still much less likely to get jobs than the white people in many different states, no matter however impressive their credentials may be. This is a deplorable fact that despite many efforts of countless human rights movements, unemployment rate still persistently remains higher in black and Hispanic people, which ultimately also leads to a higher probability for criminal activities. More black people tend to fall in the silken snare of crimes and this defiant behavior is hugely related to the unjustifiable treatment they are bound to tolerate. National Association of Social Workers (NASW, 2010) claims that racial discrimination in American society still remains a notorious natured silent code that strives to maintain social inequities and closes the doors of bright opportunities to racial minorities. Many people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds still have to struggle vigorously for achieving same privileges that the majorities enjoy. Tough circumstances like deteriorating economy, diminishing natural resources, conservative approach, and prevalent unemployment are some of the major factors that stimulate racial rivalry in the workplaces and social gatherings. Definitely, blacks and other racial minorities would be less preferred as compared to the white people and this condemnable attitude is potently capable of creating pandemonium in a society. The horrendous and long-lasting effects of this societal force are sadly overlooked and seldom scrutinized, due to which more criminal tendencies are observed in oppressed racial minorities. This discriminatory behavior is not only prevalent in workplaces but it also significantly plagues educational systems. In fact, educational systems can play a very important role when racism is talked about. It is the responsibility of the teachers to be sensitive enough to make the students realize and respect the cultures, tradition and races of those students who are from diverse backgrounds. This is an acclaimed reality that racial and cultural diversity is readily increasing in all the educational setups around the world, and to lessen the probability of discriminatory issues erupting from this diversity, teachers need to step in for ensuring a negativity free educational environment. A major revolutionary change can be brought in the world if all the educationists make it their business to implement such strategies that would make the students respect each other’s values, no matter whosoever is black or white. Such an attitude can stimulate the racial minorities to feel proud about their backgrounds and ethnic values, rather than encouraging them to discard their racial identities. The research done by NASW (2010) identifies that racial discrimination is rampant and growing at an unprecedented rate in all areas of employment. This difference in the general attitude of employing firms for black and white people mainly emerges form the poor enforcement of equal employment action programmes. Housing problems are also more common in racial minorities, who are sadly required to pay higher rents than the dominant majority. This issue poses a serious threat to the futures of many people who are from such racial backgrounds that are looked down upon by the superior people of the society. Persistent discriminatory attitude displayed by the landlords of superior races is creating terrific residential difficulties for the racial minorities. Almost everybody knows this harsh reality that many landlords and real state agencies in America hesitate to communicate with black people when dealing housing issues. Homelessness is such a profoundly grave issue that it readily strengthens the inequality between the dominant racial groups and the oppressed minorities, thus further aggravating the problematic situation. Despite the reality of persistent racial discrimination, some people still remain incredulous about the inequalities existing at various levels in a society discarding them as myths created by a particular group. For making such people realize the solid existence of racial discrimination, Graham (1995) practically experienced this discriminatory attitude while working at a club as a waiter. He happens to be an influential and well established black lawyer, who just for the sake of curiosity decided to practically test the racial inequalities existing in the society, so that he could judge the difference between facts and myths. It is narrated by Graham (1995) that he changed his overall outlook so that he could not be recognized as a well groomed lawyer, but considered to be a below average black person from a poor background. He applied at various clubs and restaurants for the job of a waiter but he was denied employment everywhere only because of his color and racial background. It is identified in the article that not a single employer showed any interest in his abilities, rather he was refused every employment opportunity the moment any employer or hiring manager looked at him. Finally, he got the job of a waiter at a club, where he was cruelly worked for long hours along with other black and Hispanic workers. For such horrendous and grueling working hours, all the workers belonging to oppressed racial groups received mediocre wages, and there was no way anyone could protest against such an unjustified behavior displayed by the influential white employers. Graham personally heard many offensive terms including “Negro” by the managers and visiting people, while he worked at the club that was deliberately named “Monkey House”. It is identified by Graham (1995, p. 104) that the club was called Monkey House since the workers who used to work there in the start all happened to be Negroes, and so the name was maintained even long after the blacks were majorly replaced by the Hispanics. After reading this article, one realizes the fact that racial inequalities cannot be better comprehended if they are not practically experienced. In a latest research report, Shackle (2010) claims that “black people are five times more likely to be imprisoned, while black graduates face 24 per cent less pay.” This authentic data depicts the ingrained racial inequalities in Great Britain. Many people agree on the point that no matter how much impressive the achievements of a black graduate may appear, he/she still deals with many insecurities and fears of job denial at different employing firms. The rate of imprisonment is higher in British black people than everywhere in the world, and this social approach is reflective of strong racism that is even regarded as the bedrock of the British societal structure by some. The point to be noted is that this racial discrimination is not restricted to some specific areas, rather it plagues almost every level of the society. It is identified in the report that racial inequalities are significantly pronounced in almost all the educational setups in Britain. Even minor offences are more likely to target black children than the white and more black students are readily expelled form the schools everyday. This well pronounced discriminatory approach is clearly reflective of inappropriate teaching strategies practiced in the schools. In the absence of multicultural teaching strategies, no respect for each other’s racial and ethnic background can be inculcated in the students in the present times, when diversity is already so much significant in the educational setups around the world. When racial inequalities are not dealt with carefully at any level, crime immediately encapsulates the society and the societal imbalance is brought to such a worse point that even severe wars among different races may start without any warning. Summing up, this much becomes clear form the above discussion that even in today’s world of modernity and groomed civilization, a large number of people from different ethnic backgrounds in many areas still have to face myriad problems. Any sort of discrimination can have drastically negative effects in shaping any society. What with more and more grave discriminatory issues cropping up every other day almost all around the globe, it can be said that despite slavery and segregation have long been abandoned, racism is still recognized as a strong societal force in the world. The simple truth that has not been realized even yet is that there does not exist anything like superiority or inferiority on the basis of race, color or religion. In fact, racial and cultural diversity is very important at all societal levels in today’s world of fierce competition. References: Graham, L. O. (1995). Member of the Club: Reflections on Life in a Racially Polarized World. HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. National Association of Social Workers. (2010). Racism. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/pressroom/events/911/racism.asp Shackle, S. (2010). New report shows shocking racial inequality in Britain. Retrieved from http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/10/black-report-times-less Read More