Class : Ids 230 - Great Books

Racism hovers of this country and is always in the backs of everyone’s minds. Henrietta’s case the Tuskegee experiments and the Mississippi Appendectomies are all different cases in different locations but

Although there has been a lot of progress made over the past years, there are currently many various problematic issues in this world that are contributed to by discriminatory behaviour and belief systems. Back in 2015, MTV’s White People had the goal of bringing notice to that. The writer of the film, Jose Antonio Vargas, wanted to show caucasians that race was not just an issue for those of color; it affects everyone. The idea for the documentary was  excellent, but feel short when delivered. Part of that could come from poor editing, MTV’s documentary history, or even just the lack of variation in those interviewed. This film could’ve been a really good conversation starter, but the entire thing just felt rushed and left me feeling disappointed.

John Lewis once said that “The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society." Racism has become a huge issue in people’s everyday life and not many may notice, but that’s because it’s been around for so long that it’s not new to anyone and it is the normal, when in reality that means it is so bad that not many people notice anymore. [African Americans experience racism in two main places their workplace and their education, and in a certain way, police brutality.]

America as we know it is filled with racism. Most of the time these incidents only happen because of their skin color. An example of this would be the Emmett Till murder case in Mississippi. The way Emmett was murdered caused barbarism in all races across the globe. Emmett’s legacy changed the view of people when they think about racial issues.

These authors and artists all do an outstanding job at framing the topic to give insight of what racism is all about and hope to spark something in people to cause a revolution of how race defines a human. Racism is prominent all over the world, and is used by people in both major and minor scales. It is something that can not be shut down no matter how hard people try. Discrimination is always present and roaring throughout the globe. Governments have even stepped in to gain justice for colored people and the world still have trouble accepting their differences. It is astonishing to think that the inequality has been around since slaves were first used in America. Small steps by activists against racism slowly begin to tie the knot between races, however, if people do not start to understand the fact that a human is a human, then our chances to equality are slim to

Racism has always been a big factor in the United States, less so in the 21st century but ever so present. This issue resulted in the longest and biggest human massacre in history, followed by decades of discrimination and horrific acts of abuse that are a reality until this day.

Race is a term that society has created. The term has had a long history within the United States and has grown in both the complexity of its meaning and effects as time has progressed. Before race and physical characteristics were used as a way of dividing people, nation’s would sort their population based on religion, social status and language. The concept of Race and Racism has proven to be enduring, and has had underlying effects on our nation’s social and economic structure. Race has altered the fate of every one of us, causing vast socioeconomic disparities in America. In recent years, scholars, anthropologists and intellectuals have come to understand some of the devastating effects racism has had on North Americans and have recognized the need for widespread change. Race has not only permeated the economic and social opportunity of Americans, it has established a society of spitefulness and an environment of advantages and disadvantages that greatens the opportunity of light-skinned people at the expense of dark-skinned people.

Carson’s lecture, I had no idea what to discuss. All I wondered was, “How can a non-black person respond to this?” until it struck me that none of my teachers have bothered to take so much time to focus on these aspects of African American history. Of course, I’ve learned about the civil rights era, but the old negro and new negro are essential to comprehending what led to such a culmination. The old negro was an undermined person, which inspired a youth that wanted to be greater than the simple Sambo. The fact of the matter is that schools aren’t teaching the “in betweens” in history of the minority culture. They aren’t teaching what happened to the African Americans after reconstruction in the south until they come across the Civil Rights era. However, the problem not only lies with ignorance towards African American culture. It’s Native Americans, Asians, and Latino cultures too. Why are Sacagawea and Pocahontas the only two Native Americans that the average American can probably think of? Or why don’t schools delve into the fact that America illegally invaded Mexican territory and got fired at, but took their illegal invasion’s crossfire as a “reason” to start the Mexican-American War? Why do we harshly condemn the Nazi’s for having concentration camps when we took Asian people into camps against their will also? At least now, the German’s intensely review the holocaust because they do not wish to repeat the same mistakes. Our education, on

As an African American male in the south region of the United States, where slavery was once in full effect. I still am effected by some of the hardships that my ancestors once encountered over one hundred years ago. While I was at an upscale restaurant in the city of Atlanta, plenty of Caucasian people looked at my family and I as if we didn’t belong there. President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery on April 8th, 1864. The abolition of slavery didn’t stop the mistreatment and the pain that plenty of Caucasians enforced on African Americans two hundred years before. As we follow times after the Emancipation Proclamation (which officially freed the slaves in the south), and make our way to the civil rights movement, we still see separation and violence between African Americans and Caucasians even in today’s society.

Throughout many of the reading this semester, we have encounter serious racism. In some cases the individual being a target of racism in turn exhibits acts of racism themselves. The anger that these character feels can cause them to label all individuals in a group as racist, which isn't fair at all. Some of the characters lose themselves due to racism. They try to fit to the ways of another culture that is more excepted than theirs.

The phrase, “All problems in this country are race-related” is a very powerful statement. In today’s society, racism tends to be a major issue. Whether it is political, economic, or social, indeed racism and ethnicity are being used in wrongful ways. Personally, I believe this quote is very true and it can point out details going on everywhere around America today. Racism is slyly going on around us everyday and some are aware of it and others are completely blind to it. Before taking this class, I really fit into the category of completely blind to the issue, but learning the horrific and unjustified uses of it in different aspects, I have learned and now aware of certain situations.

I never realized how deep the root of racism is until I have read this book, see I never grow up around Caucasians people. I lived in an all black neighborhood and went to an all black school. “Racism is an evil weed sown in the garden of humanity. It has grown wildly, entangling the healthy plants and covering the pathways, creating a great maze, a labyrinth with twists and turns that have led humanity astray”(pg.11).

Racism is a plague spreading through the world. Over a million people have died due to lynching, burnings, stabbings, and beatings. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the dangers of racism and discrimination and the pain they cause, while offering solutions to help counteract them.

The scene on May 19 where Jim Farmer, Martin Luther King Jr, Freedom Riders, and the black community were all gathered at the Baptist Church to reconvene resonated with me. The moment where the white supremacists built a hedge around the Church and wanted to burn the individuals alive was heartbreaking It made me question why anyone would be this wicked. It also got me thinking that the true cause of race and racism is not because it has been institutionalized since the beginning of creation, but this idea of race was and still is indoctrinated into the minds of people. Furthermore, in viewing this scene from another perspective, it demonstrates that white Americans have always found various and sometimes non-clandestine methods to sustain and purify their “white race” from any perceived harm perpetrated by outsiders.

This essay stirred up many emotions in me by showing how racism can be hidden. If you were just going about everyday life you wouldn’t notice that the name “George” as being a word which diminishes a person 's value and self worth. Then if an innocent person didn 't know better they wouldn 't understand they said anything offensive. Which makes me think of a scarier question in which people can not see racism going around them, or they also choose to do nothing about it when it 's out there as light as day. It 's important when we see racist acts and are willing to make a difference to resolve those issues. When show those integral qualities we see value of others with loving eyes. While race has always been an issue is our country, it 's what we do to make it better within ourselves to help prevent it from being