Social Issues of Racism in America - Essay Example

Racism in America July 15, This paper examines the social problems relating to Racism in America. It diagnoses the problem of racism and investigates possible solutions to the issue. It traces the root of racism in America to the family, church and wider community and attempts to identify possible solutions from the root of the matter. Keywords: racism, church, family, bible, America, children The Roots of Racism Martinez (2010) states that racism is inherent in the way the United States of America was built (px). He states that people of European origins have always been the dominant power in the United States. These people were driven out of Europe because of “poverty, prison, social ostracism and death” (Martinez, 2010 pxii). This assertion therefore indicates that most of the founders of the United States were Europeans who were seeking a better life in a new country. This mindset shaped the behavior of the descendants of these people of European origin when Black African slaves and people of other Asian backgrounds came into the United States. The European justified their superiority over the African and Asian peoples through the scriptures of Genesis 9, which seems to be the authoritative Biblical view on the origin of the races. Most European slave owners quoted Genesis 9:26 where Noah cursed Ham, the ancestor of Black people saying: “Cursed be Canaan [the son of Ham] The lowest of slaves Shall he be to his brothers.” This and other positive blessings invoked by Noah onto Japheth, the father of European people gave most European Americans the impetus to believe that they were superior to the other races of America. This enabled the idea of racial segregation to thrive in America for generations. Thus in the era of slavery, the “subject was turned into an object” (Martinez, 2010 pxiv). This is because the Biblical and cultural position of the Europeans made them see Black people as chattels and not human beings. The concept of slaves made the human beings to be seen as a property rather than a human being and much less a citizen (Martinez, 2010 pxiv). This theory existed for generations in America until slavery was eventually abolished. However, in all societies, there have been classes of people in society who do menial activities (Martinez, 2010 pxv). The descendants of Africans and Asians have been considered as members of the class that are involved in menial activities. These people have always been seen as disadvantaged, social outcasts, marginalized and rejected (Martinez, 2010 pxix). People considered to be of superior races grow up to build up habits and actions that suggests that people of certain races are inferior and are of a lower race. Diagnosis of the Problem In Genesis 1:26 – 27, God says that “26 Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth and all the creeping things that creep upon the face of the earth. 27 And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them. This therefore indicates that all human beings, whether African, Asian or European possesses Gods breath and spirit. It is therefore important for all peoples to be given equality and fairness. No one should be forced to live a lower life because we are all entitled to live a fulfilled lives and our actions should determine the kind of life we live, and not our racial features and origins. This became the basic philosophy of people like Abraham Lincoln and other activists who fought against the institution of slavery. This came at a high price of the American Civil War. However, eventually, the Abolitionists won the struggle and slavery was rendered illegal. However, Harry Steele Commander is quoted by Williams (2007) as saying “slavery is destroyed in America but racism is not” (p1). This therefore shows that racism is the direct result of the institution of slavery and the categorization of people into groupings based on their racial features as it existed in America in the past. Powell (2009) states that racism has always found its way in schools, churches and the press (p166). He traces this back to the 19th Century when Americans were still trying to carve a unique identity. This era came with so much vulnerabilities that made it common for numerous matters to find its way into the American social system. The Family & The Community Williams states that “racism is taught and learned at an early age through a process known as racial scripting” (2007 p1). This implies that a person is made to understand the role and position of his race right from home. Williams identify that most White American children are made to believe that their race is superior right from home. These children are made to believe in White supremacy right from home through racial scripting. “A racial script is a series of programmed messages (eg. stereotypes and myths) about a particular ethnic group that is transmitted to children by their parents, relatives, teachers, media, religious groups and significant others” (Williams, 2007 p1). Williams therefore identify that most children in White homes get the legacy of racism passed on to them via the behavior, actions and advice of older people that they find around them in their homes and the community. This is either done either consciously or unconsciously through programmed systems and activities that makes children to grow to understand and believe in the superiority of their race. The Community Kivel identifies that family relationships are affected severely by racism and discrimination in America (2007 p78). The unequal balance of power in the American society is supported strongly by the family, which has long justified slavery and oppression in America. Thus anyone in a family who rose to defend or support equality in America was considered to be an outcast or a negative person. Elders discourage fairness and accept discrimination and teach their children. These ideas are transmitted from the family into the wider society: schools, churches, offices and neighborhoods (Kivel, 2007 p79). Kivel sees America as a big family where White people play the role of the benevolent father (Kivel, 2007 p79). Right from the root of arts, Jesus Christ is seen as a European man who watches over the whole people. This therefore places the White man in the helm of affairs in America from a father figure to the leader of institutions. On the other hand, people of color are seen in the big American family as ungrateful and rebellious children (Kivel, 2007 p79). This therefore makes them appear as people trying to integrate into the society and are disadvantaged and inferior. People from a colored background that complain about the status quo are seen as rebellious people. The Church The Church has had problems with racism right from the era of the Crusades, where they fought people of Arab and Muslim origins for control of strategic locations like Jerusalem in the Known World (Powell, 2009 p3) . This was powered by so many beliefs and ideas that sought to institutionalize racism in the Catholic Church and other Protestant churches in America in the 19th Century (Gillis, 2006 p83). However, by the 1900s, most “racist laws were ended but that has not eliminated them in some churches” (Gillis, 2006 p86). Some Lousiana Catholic Bishops portrayed beliefs and segregation policies that entertained the idea that some races are more superior than others (Gillis, 2006 p86). This lead the Black community to break away from the Catholic Church in such states. Solutions The way forward in the solving of the racial problem is to focus on ways and means through which racism will be eliminated right from its root. First of all, there is the need for the identification of the sources of negative racial scripts in the family, society and churches. This can be done by being sensitive to the manifestation of these trends by the encouragement of watchdog organizations and attempts to discourage the branding of people who raise such issues as negative people. When these negative racial scripts are identified, they should be prevented from developing. They should be discouraged so that racial systems are not transmitted to the younger generations through the family, society and the church. The racial scripts should be replaced with subjects that seek to promote social justice and the respect for people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Conclusion Racism in America has its roots in slavery. Although slavery has been destroyed in America, the discrimination of people of slave classes has evolved into racial segregation and racism. Racism has its roots in the family, the society and the church. The family transmits and promotes racism through the teaching of stereotypes and racial scripting. Some teachings of the church, rules and doctrines also promoted racism in America. In order to stop racism, racial scripting at the family level should be discouraged. Racial scripting should be replaced with themes that promote respect for people of other racial backgrounds. References Gillis, C. (2006) Roman Catholicism in America 2nd Edition Columbia University Press. Kivel, P. (2007) Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice 2nd Edition Boston, MA: New Society Publishers. Martinez, R (2010) On Race & Racism in America: Confessions in Philosophy Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania University Press. Powell, T. (2009) The Persistence of Racism in America 4th Edition New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Williams, R. L. (2007) Racism Learned at the Early Age Through Racial Scripting: Racism at an Early Age New York: Authorhouse Annotated Bibliography Gillis, C. (2006) Roman Catholicism in America 2nd Edition Columbia University Press. Chester Gillis examines the role of the Catholic Church in America. It looks at the causes of splits across racial lines. It comes up with a critique of the Church and recommends ways the Church can help bridge the gap. Kivel, P. (2007) Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice 2nd Edition Boston, MA: New Society Publishers. This book examines the various options available for the uprooting of racism in families. It traces the source of racism down to the family as a unit and tries to find ways of solving it. Paul Kivel appears to write this book with a genuine desire to meet the target of uprooting racism Martinez, R (2010) On Race & Racism in America: Confessions in Philosophy Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania University Press. This books examines the many perspectives of race in America. It also looks at how the various units of the American society have tried to turn a blind eye on racism and related matters. Roy Martinez is a humanities professor who has a holistic view of racism and its effects on the American society. The book gives a good background to understanding race in America. Powell, T. (2009) The Persistence of Racism in America 4th Edition New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers This books is about the factors that institutionalizes racism in America. It gives ways in which these factors can be checked in the modern era. Thomas Powell is a professor in Sociology. Williams, R. L. (2007) Racism Learned at the Early Age Through Racial Scripting: Racism at an Early Age New York: Authorhouse This book argues that White racism is taught to children at an early age in life. This leads them on to continue the practice of racism amongst White people in America. Dr. Robert, L. Williams is an outspoken critic of Eurocentrism in America and he makes an effort to identify how racism grows in families and spreads out to the wider American society through what he calls racial scripting. Read More