Role of Race Racism in Black Studies - Report Example

Racism Role of Race Racism in Black Studies Black study is devoted to learning and analyzing the history and culture of the African Americans and the blacks in general. With the history of the African Americans being superseded and dominated by racial discrimination, race and racism in general plays a big role in the studies. Racism according to (Bobo, Cynthia and Claudine 379) is the discrimination or prejudice accorded to members of a different race by another race. The discrimination is largely historical with its roots in slave trade after the Africans were shipped to America to become slaves in the large plantations as well as become domestic workers in exchange for cotton and other raw materials to the European countries which was shipping the slaves. It is important to discuss the role of race and racism as this trend of racial discrimination is still present in society to date. It was anticipated that once the civil rights movement was done and the slavery ended (which was meant to symbolize the independence of the African Americans), the issue of racism would “die” as well. This was the expectation as the African Americans were now independent just like the Whites and hence should be treated equally as well. This however is not what followed as racism continues in different areas of development including education, housing, employment, security among other areas and it is for this reason therefore that racism is still an important issue of discussion in the black studies. Studies indicate that there is an increase in the racial disparity in the education system as more black students are suspended in schools in what is termed as disciplinary cases compared to the white students and students from other races as well. This is not because they are the most undisciplined of the school children but is because of the implementation of these disciplinary policies which are biased. A study by Reuters confirms these by showing statistics which indicate that over 85% of the schools in the United States have these racial disparities as far as discipline is concerned. Furthermore, over 70% of the students who are arrested for criminal cases or lack of law enforcement are black students and a few Latino students Simon (2012). This cannot be a coincidence that the high indiscipline is only for the black students and neither should this issue be ignored by the Department of Education as it goes ahead to increase the division between the races in the country which is not good for the economy and society in general. If such discovery in the issues of race and racism is revealed through studies, it can be controlled and contained as the education system can be able to address the issue bringing out the pros and cons and advising against any revenge to the whites and other races. This way, when the evils of racism are addressed in the proper channels, there is a chance of it ending with the future generation. This is unlike if it is not addressed in the black studies hence leaving people to make their own judgment and even retaliate back which only further divides the races and increases racism which will continue even in future. Should the study of the concept of Race be part of the curriculum? With the high statistics (and which are on the increase) on the issues of racism not only in the education sector but also in other sectors as well, it is eminent for this concept of racism to be address in the only channel that will ensure that in future it will not exist. When race and racism are addressed in school, (Bobo, Cynthia and Claudine 390) explains that it will ensure that the teachers and the rest of the teaching fraternity will not discriminate the blacks and Latinos as they have to practice what they preach. On the other hand children who have adopted the discrimination (mainly the white children) from their parents and guardians and keep on discriminating the black students will also cease with the uncouth behavior as now they will be able to understand the evil that racism brings. Learning by practice is better and has long lasting effects than by imitating which is what the young children learn when they act according to how they see their elders acting or talking and the effects of this will last into the future and hence a guarantee of having a future that is racism free. Curriculum has a way of making an issue be taken with the seriousness it deserves as well as provide an opportunity for interactive learning which leads to an in depth understanding of a concept. The concept of race therefore when incorporated in the curriculum will be analyzed in all its different aspects and hence provide an in depth understanding of all it is about and even how it can be used positively (Bobo, Cynthia and Claudine 391). The tutors can let the students understand the concept of race in terms of peace and togetherness as different races have differences which are positively capitalized on can bring not only peace but an everlasting unity in the United States and the whole world in general. In order for this to happen, the teachers must teach the evils that racism brings and even how to not only shun it but also spread the goodness of having people of different races living and existing together in a society. How should it be done? There are several ways in which the concept of race can be taught in the schools. Research by Simon (2012) indicates that a high success rate will be possible if schools learn by examples. That is if they can learn from the schools that have no record or racism or those that have shunned racism from their schools. This can be done in an exchange program where students from the two types of schools (that which has shunned racism and which still has issues of racism) can get to experience the different environments. The students will learn while the others will be taught by the exchange students how to do away with racism. Research indicates that when students learn from each other, whatever they learn is more likely to remain with them for longer and they are more likely to act on it than what they are taught by higher authority figures like their parents, teachers and guardians. The other way is through having open forums, focus group discussions or debates on the positives and negatives of racism in the society. This type of open debate will raise different points and since it is not a mandatory thing like learning where there is pressure of examinations, there is a higher likelihood for the effects to be long lasting and even practicing what they have leant. There is also the learning in classrooms. This is important because of providing the facts about race, the history of race and racism and ways in which the trends can be reduced and with time done away completely with. In order to make this more interesting for the students, the teaching can be through films on the history of racism and the evils it brings to society have pictures and even let the students formulate plays on the pros and cons of race. This will not only do away with the aspects of boredom and redundancy as is evident in classes but also enable the students to remember this concept and even anticipate more discussions on the issue. Work Cited Bobo, Jacqueline, Cynthia, Hudley and Claudine, Michael. The Black Studies Reader. New York: Routledge, 2004. Print. Simon, Stephanie. “Racial divide runs deep in U.S. schools, study finds.” Reuters, 6th March, 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE82507620120306 Read More