Comparison of Racism between UK and USA - Case Study Example

COMPARISON OF RACISM BETWEEN UK AND US By Date Introduction The problem of racial discrimination in the US and the UK have remained a challenging issue for a couple of decades regardless of the concerted efforts by the governments and other lobby groups to combat it. The problem can be traced back to the colonial times of these states when slavery was the order of the day before the era of civilisation. However, despite the milestones that have been made in fighting racism in these countries, a number of incidences that have happened in the recent past indicate the problem is yet to end. Therefore, this paper will examine the problem of racial discrimination beginning with the UK and then the US by comparing how the issue has been manifested and the groups, which have been discriminated. Racism in the UK Racism in the UK can be traced back to the colonial era of the Empire and to date the issue remains worrisome (Freeman, 2005). However, even though the problem might not be the most tangible thorny issue causing division in the UK today compared to cultural and religious issues, it remains a significant challenge in the country. The relationship between the indigenous Britons and non-white immigrant minority groups have in the recent past resulted in racist murders that re perpetrated by extremist groups of all races and race riots. For instance, some of the notable incidences of racial discrimination in the UK started inform riots, which rocked the country throughout the 20th century causing ‘bogeymen’ and fear that were characterised by negative attitudes, violence and resentment during the late 1980s (Tijk and Yeboah, n.d.). Racism within the Police in the UK Since the late 20th century, the police force in the UK has been blamed for institutionalised racial discrimination. For instance, during the riots in London 2011 a Metropolitan law enforcement officer by the name, PC Alex MacFarlane tried to strangle a male African after arresting him while throwing racial insults at him such as black cunt and nigger. That notwithstanding, the defendant filed a suit against the police officer and the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Officer of the UK who declined to bring charges against the law enforcement officer but reconsidered after the defendant’s attorney threatened taking the case to the high court (Newburn, Lewis and Metcalf, 2011). Conversely, the National Black Police Association that offers only African Caribbean, African, and Asian officers full membership to the unit has been in the recent past been accused of racial discrimination because of selective recruitment based on ethnic region in the force (Newburn, Lewis and Metcalf, 2011). Politics and Race Riots Moreover, the element of racism in the UK manifests itself in the political mainstream where parts of what used be called the far right core messages such as the tough instances on asylum and immigration have found their way, hence, creating and strengthening negative attitudes towards the minority groups (Berg, 2013). For example, in 2011-2012 the number of crimes reported in the UK aggravated by racial discrimination averaged about 100 per day, which encompassed damage to property, persistent name-calling, violence and harassment. For example, it is reported that during the same period, a number of individuals from minority groups working at night and alone such as cab drivers or fast food vendors were the most affected (Tijk and Yeboah, n.d.). Other areas in politics that have manifested racial bias include the enactment of the Terrorism Act, which came into effect in 2000 and 2006 that has led to an increase in racial profiling of Muslims within the UK to justify the inherent trends of racial discrimination (Tijk and Yeboah, n.d.). That notwithstanding, racial discrimination confrontations between white youths and local Asian youths in Oldham and Burnley in the mid 2001 were a clear manifestation of a society in which racial discrimination is deeply rooted (Newburn, Lewis and Metcalf, 2011). Further, during the same period similar racial confrontations happened in Bradford when the National Front made announcement of its intended plan to march to the city resulting in a confrontation between white extremists and Pakistan youth (Newburn, Lewis and Metcalf, 2011). Thus, this was a clear manifestation of racial discrimination aimed at curtailing, instilling fear, harassing as well as violating the freedoms of the minority groups to express themselves. Racism in the US Racism in the US just like in the UK has its roots in the colonial and slavery era. Moreover, just like the UK, the US has instituted measures through legislation acts to discourage racial discrimination in the US. However, despite this concerted efforts by the government and humanitarian civil organisations, racial discrimination remains a significant challenge in the United States. For instance, in an interview on Black Entertainment Television, President Obama retaliated that racism is something that is rooted in the American history and society. He went ahead to say that, “You know, when youre dealing with something as deeply rooted as racism or bias in any society, youve got to have vigilance, but youve got to recognise that its going to take some time, and you just have to be steady so that you dont give up when we dont get all the way there” (Whitlock, 2014). Therefore, this implies that racism is still rooted in the American culture but unlike in the UK where discrimination is towards all immigrant minority groups; in the US racism is geared more particularly towards African Americans compared to other minority groups. Racism within the Police in the US One of the recent more notable incident of racial discrimination against minority groups was the case of the Ferguson incident in which a police officer, Darren Wilson shot an 18 aged African American by the name Michael Brown. The case drew a lot of attention from international organisations both within and without the US and foreign countries, in addition to, sparking protests and civil unrest in the US (Young, 2014). Moreover, this incident of Ferguson has sparked a heated discussion on the relation existing between police officers and African Americans on the use of force doctrine. That notwithstanding, Kimberley (2014) states that, “All across the country black children as young as kindergarteners have been handcuffed and arrested as if they are adults.” She goes to say that black girls have not been spared from the police brutality as was witnessed in New York and Brooklyn incident on March 27, 2014. Politics and Race The US just like the UK racial politics has been manifested in different ways in the US since the colonial era and notably during the 1990s such as the riots of 1992 in Los Angeles. Moreover, the 1990 refusal of the Miami city officials to honour President Nelson Mandela’s visit in the US was a remarkable manifestation of a society corrupted with racial prejudice. However, in retaliation African American organisations declared a national boycott for the incident resulting in the enactment of the Hate Crime Enhancement Act of 1994, which did little to curb racism. That notwithstanding, according Harwood (2013), many Native American consider the Obama’s Health Care Act and according of legal status to illegal residents a bad idea while most Africans and Hispanics feel the idea is a noble one. Other notable areas where racism has been depicted in the US is in the application of the death penalty to accused persons. According to Swafford (2011) the application of the penalty of death in the US seems to be skewed because many minority groups such as the African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to convict by courts as opposed to Native Americans and other whites. However, despite all the challenges and problems facing the US and the UK to end racism, there are notable changes that have taken place in last decades in both countries. Some of the areas, which have been transformed include the education that has changed from a racial based unit to a multiracial system, which provides equal chances of students to be selected into campuses. For instance, Kendal (2000) argues that today’s US universities are a clear manifestation of the critical achievements that are taking place in both racial and ethnic composition, in addition to, the spectacular increasing number of individuals identifying themselves as coming from mixed race families. Other area areas that transformed immensely in both countries include sports and entertainment and intermarriages between the minority groups and the natives. Conclusion Ultimately, it is evident that despite the major milestones that the countries have been made in combating racial discrimination, more still needs to be done. Moreover, from the paper it is also evident that some of the measures that have been taken by these countries are similar such as through legislation. Conversely, the relationship between law enforcement officers and minority groups in both countries regarding the doctrine of using force is quite impartial because in many situations minority groups have been abused, harassed or manhandled by the law enforcers unlike the native people. However, despite the challenges, the countries have also made achievements in education, sports and intermarriages. References Berg, W., 2013. Racism in the Modern World: Historical Perspectives on Cultural Transfer and Adaptation, pp. 1. Freeman, S., 2005. "Britain urged to wake up to race crisis". The Times. Harwood, J., 2013. Behind the Roar of Political Debates, Whispers of Race Persist. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/us/politics/behind-roar-of-politics-whispers-of-race-persist.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 [Accessed 29 Dec. 2014]. Kendall, D., 2012. Sociology in our times. Cengage Learning. Kimberley, M., 2014. Racism and Law Enforcement in the U.S.: Police Target Black Children. Available at: http://www.globalresearch.ca/racism-and-law-enforcement-in-the-u-s-police-target-black-children/5384314 [Accessed 29 Dec. 2014]. Newburn, T., Lewis, P., and Metcalf, J., 2011. A new kind of riot? From Brixton 1981 to Tottenham 2011. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/09/riots-1981-2011-differences [Accessed 29 Dec. 2014]. Swafford, A. T., 2011. Qualified Support: Death Qualification, Equal Protection and Race. Am. J. Crim. L., 39, 147. Tijk, V.J., and Yeboah, T., n.d. Discrimination and Racism in the UK. Available at: http://www.internations.org/great-britain-expats/guide/16161-safety-security/discrimination-and-racism-in-the-uk-16163 [Accessed 29 Dec. 2014]. Whitlock, S., 2014. On BET, Obama Finds Deeply Rooted Racism in America’. Available at: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whitlock/2014/12/09/bet-obama-hits-deeply-rooted-racism-america [Accessed 29 Dec. 2014]. Young, P.C., 2014. Race and Policing in America. Available at: http://www.communityrenewalsociety.org/newsroom/race-and-policing-america?gclid=CjwKEAiAt4mlBRDXwt_m9ICU4DcSJAAS_X0WOPBL0_-ML9WWXrVIURHpHhcMAFOEKttQteVqQbojnRoC6kHw_wcB [Accessed 29 Dec. 2014]. Read More