Essay on Racism in America Today - 1316 Words

The legacy of past racism directed at blacks in the United States is more like a bacillus that we have failed to destroy, a live germ that not only continues to make some of us ill but retains the capacity to generate new strains of a disease for which we have no certain cure. - Stanford Historian George Frederickson. The population of the United States of America has been one of mixed race since its very beginning. Boatload upon boatload of enslaved Africans provided a labor force which would fuel the American South’s economy for many years, until national abolition and the subsequent civil rights movement created a primarily biracial population of blacks and whites. The US has come a long way since those days, and today every child†¦show more content†¦These people are correct in a sense; loud and public acts of racism are no longer prevalent in the US as they were in the past. However, today racism is stealthy and unspoken, and often deftly covered up with fabrica ted cover stories to legitimize the discrimination. This new breed of racism is perhaps even more difficult to fight against than its more egregious past self; its subtlety allows its perpetuators to claim ignorance of any discrimination, and its lack of media attention lulls Americans into complacence and acceptance of the current system. Further disturbing is the prevalence of â€Å"covert racism†, also commonly called â€Å"subconscious racism†. Many white Americans may actively stereotype and discriminate against blacks without even being aware of their actions and thought processes (BlackYouthProject). This phenomenon is a sad consequence of being raised a subtly racist society which perpetuates discrimination, even if never openly. Many subconscious racists may also be unwittingly subscribing to â€Å"symbolic racism†. In J.H. Moore’s book Encyclopedia of Race and Racism, Henry Sears characterizes symbolic racism as the endorsement of four specific beliefs: 1. Blacks no longer face much prejudice or discrimination. 2. The failure of blacks to progress results from their unwillingness to work hard enough. 3. Blacks are demanding too much too fast. 4. Blacks have gotten more than they deserve (Sears 111-112). As with subconscious racists,Show MoreRelatedRacism in America Today1933 Words   |  8 PagesRacism has been a terrible problem in American society for hundreds of years. Racism issues are not limited to one specific race, but include all races. It is the responsibility of the people of this nation to address racism and learn to accept and embrace each other for our differences, and allow this great nation to become even more united for our sake and the sake of future generations. To eliminate racism it is imperative to know first, where racism started and how it has developed, why it continuesRead MoreEssay on Racism in America Today2249 Words   |  9 Pages â€Å"Racism can be defined as beliefs, attitudes, actions or behaviors that are based on phenotypic characteristics or ethnic affiliation†(Patcher, 2010). Racism is a struggle that, to this day, has continued to be a major issue. The color of someone’s skin alters how a person is perceived by socie ty as a whole. Race is a social construct created by humans to categorize the world. (Ponds, 2013) The outlook on racism varies from community to community, family to family, and even person toRead MoreRacism in America Today Essay1048 Words   |  5 Pagescan you be so sure when you actually open your eyes and see reality. Rapper Kanye West once said â€Å"racism is still alive, they just be concealing it† and these words are everything but false. You must ask yourself the real question about racism and it is how could you ever cure such a thing in people’s minds? People are free to think and believe what ever they would like and old habits such as racism will never change in people. 1619, a date remembered by most African Americans (Afroamhistory).Read MoreRacism in America Today Essay954 Words   |  4 Pages Long walk to freedom? Although slavery is over and African Americans are in a better place today than they were years ago we still have long ways to go. There are still people out there that is praying for our downfall. There are still people out there who wants to harm us and make us extinct. Even though we’re allowed to go to school with whites there is still controversy with us being friends and even dating. Just like some Caucasians are racists there are some African Americans that are as wellRead MoreChristopher Columbus Persuasive Essay726 Words   |  3 Pages America. The â€Å"Land of the Free† and the â€Å"Home of the Brave.† Yet, is this country truly one where all can live freely? Free for the poor? Free for immigrants? Free for religious minorities? Free for people of color? The United States of America is a country that was created to allow for certain freedoms for all people, yet within its rich history and today’s world, our country has become a melting pot for prejudice, racism, and ignorance. As our world progresses further, it may seem as if thereRead MoreRacism in America Essay1121 Words   |  5 Pagesthough America prides itself on being this melting pot racism is still alive and well today. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, the country that calls to so many; calling to them with the promise of freedom and prosperity, to live their lives as they see fit. As stated in the National Anthem, America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. America is the country where dreams c an come true. So if America has emerged as a single people and nation, why does racism stillRead MoreRacism in Our Society Essay examples1068 Words   |  5 PagesRacism in Our Society Race relations are becoming increasingly important in our civilization. Despite this increasing importance, the question, Is our society racist? is commonly debated. After investigating this subject, it is evident to me that American society is racist. There are various definitions of both racism and society. It is important to clearly define these terms when addressing such a controversial and emotional issue. Racism is defined by Merriam-Webster as a beliefRead MoreRacism And The Civil Rights Movement984 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is racism? By definition racism is the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one s own race is superior. This is a big issue in America today. Many Americans believe that racism is over in this country because it had gone through a civil rights revolution but those people are more than wrong. Some people believe that just because America went through a civil rights movement that all racism is gone. That everything wasRead MoreRacism : Some Call It A Disease1153 Words   |  5 PagesRacism Some call it a â€Å"disease†, some consider it a way of life, and others want it to be gone. Racism has been around for centuries as a sensitive controversial topic among Americans. Racism comes from way back when before I was born and it shocks me that it s still a popular subject in this day an age. It has been brought to the countries attention and has gotten better, but hasn’t vanished and still remains. Everyone views racism differently and have different reasons to why racism may be presentRead MoreEssay about Racism: Then and Now991 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout history in America there has always been the idea of racism. When Americans think of racism, they usually think of slavery and that racism is no longer a problem in America. However, this is not the case. Racism is still very apparent in America. It is true that since the end of slavery, the U.S. has made great strides towards becoming a less racist country. In reality, racism will never be extinct. In today’s society, all American citizens of all races have the same rights as one another