Racism in America - Essay Example

Racism in America Racism in American society is like cancer in that it has no cure and it will continue to eat the American society unless people’s attitudes towards the people of color transforms. Looking around the world, we find a sense that we are at a crucial moment for a diverse society. Separation and exclusion is seen all around us; suspicion, fear, and ignorance parting away communities. At the same time, public figures, the media, and heads of states, who are the people supposed to fight and defend pluralist and inclusive societies, initiate attacks on multiculturalism. While this negative outlook may be so widely accepted challenging it seems to be a hard but important task. In his work, James Baldwin explains his experience of being an African American and talks about the matters of racism in the early twentieth century in America. In addition, in order to manifest his ideas, Baldwin used his own experiences with the whites to describe why his family, responded against obtaining education from a white tutor or teacher. In addition, he talks about his fathers’ animosity of being an African American and states that these replies were natural. In general, Baldwin asserts that at time, African Americans were not given opportunity to get education because of their race and skin color. Baldwin later believed that black existentialism would happen when the black men will be free and equal to the whites (Baldwin 51-3). Baldwin says that he believes that racism in education sector is not just acceptable but also important given the risk that the education sector would have to face if it permitted racism in that some children would be denied opportunities to exploit their talents. Baldwin condemns the inappropriate racism that is seen on a daily basis in school especially against blacks who for no apparent reason are prone to commit crime. Brent Staples presents her racial experience in almost the same way as Baldwin. In her work, she argues that her first victim was a white woman. The white woman looked at the approaching black man in a worried manner in that she felt uneasy meeting a black man. Staple describes himself as a big black man with billowing hair. Further, he perceives himself as a soft guy who cannot slaughter a chicken nor threaten a woman. In this sense, Staples explains that he is described by the color of his skin and his appearance (Brent 75-7). Despite the fact that he might be soft and innocent, going for a night stroll in the town will mean a disaster because every woman he meets will become worried and paranoid about the security and opportunity that they might be pursued by this possible African American man that desires to injure them. Staples in his work, just walk by are aware and understand himself, and the people who perceive him as a felon (Brent 79). This notions were planted in his mind not because he was a felon but because of the paranoid behaviors of other people. This shows how racism is rooted in the American society. Staples is determined to guard himself from these conceptions, thus he convinces himself that he is a good man who has not harmed or injured anybody. The experience of Baldwin and Staples is evident in American in that people of America were have continued to discriminate people of the color. Abraham Lincoln had many ideas regarding slavery in that he even proposed setting up a black colony in Central America. By doing this, the black people could seek freedoms and rights where atrocities were not committed. He decided to declare all men free but there was no total emancipation since this was the legal action that the constitution recognized. Baldwin states that racial discrimination and segregation in the American society was deeply rooted in that there was no hope of creating an equal society where men were recognized by value of content of their character but by color of their skin. Staples and Baldwin uses different approach in addressing the issue of racism in America. Staples argues that every time an African American walks in town, white people will always look at them anxiously with frowned faces. The main aim was to show their dislike to the African Americans. Baldwin in his work reveals that segregation is still a thorn in flesh in American society in that there seem to be two different worlds that Americans people live in. the whites live in upper class while the blacks languish in abject poverty. White men looked for ways to separate and isolate themselves from African Americans. This was evident in schools, shopping malls and even in bus stops. These two groups posses their own schools, bus stops, and shopping malls. Despite the fact that slavery had been crushed, some people mainly the blacks were suffering in different towns in America. The African Americans have up to now not able to attain the freedom they had been advocating for since slavery days. Will they ever be satisfied with the American society? In handling the issue of racism in America, James Baldwin states that the issue is probably well suited since it has affected him on a personal level. The author argues that he has been subjected to racial profiling in a number of cases (Baldwin 45-6). In America, being a people of the color leads you to oppression and discrimination because of your race. James Baldwin in his work is to convince the reader that racism in America is as ugly as it is, is an important thing and it is should be regarded to be for the good of the rest people and also that of the person being profiled. James Baldwin probably had the minority races as her audience in mind while writing this book on racism in America and wanted to show them that the small inconvenience they may have to undergo in such circumstances is not only necessarily but also important, for themselves and everyone else. Staples in his work describes how people in American society are quick to judge African Americans just because they are black. Works Cited Baldwin, James. Notes of a Native son. New York: Beacon Press, 2012. Print. Brent, Staples. Just Walk By. New York: Kindle Books, 1999. Print. Read More