Oppression. Domination. Injustice. Living with cruel or discriminant restraints. Experiencing unequal authority and power. Suffering in everyday lives. It does not matter if it is white, black, or red. Every person, every color, every ethnicity encounters unfairness in some aspect throughout a lifetime. Has disparity been visible since the beginning of time? Are certain ethnicities more subject to discrimination than others? Both Native Americans and African Americans are two predominant minorities that are present in the United States. The culture of the United States has been influenced by these ethnicities but molded to not fairly include these people in everyday life. But why is this? Native Americans were present on the continental United States long before any of the founding fathers were even born, but they are still discriminated against and not included in the “normal” way of life. Is equality too much to ask for? In all reality, some of the oppression can be attributed to creation myths in both Native American and African stories. Young children grew up with knowing the story of being oppressed by the white people, and therefore, never knew they had a right to fight back or stand up for equality. Oppression of Native Americans and African Americans can be found in their respective creation myths and across the United States still today, even though there have been multiple programs and attempts to integrate to stop the segregation and discrimination that divides
African-American people have been treated unequally compared to people of European descent. For example, african-americans could not use certain public things like water fountains; when it comes to restaurants, black people had to go to the back to eat. Another thing, black people had to attend different schools than white people furthermore, the schooling was not as good as the others. The way african-americans were treated was not justified in any way at all. To explain, the african-americans probably felt horrible about the mistreatments they experienced. When they had to go to the backs of restaurants it was very inconvenient and they were basically being shamed and ridiculed all day no matter where they went. Some of them weren’t even
Throughout the 19th century Native Americans were treated far less then respectful by the United States’ government. This was the time when the United States wanted to expand and grow rapidly as a land, and to achieve this goal, the Native Americans were “pushed” westward. It was a memorable and tricky time in the Natives’ history. The US government made many treatments with the Native Americans, making big changes on the Indian nation. Native Americans wanted to live peacefully with the white men, but the result of treatments and agreements was not quite peaceful. In this essay I will explain why and how the Native Americans were treated by the United States’ government, in
During the 1960’s African Americans were abused, considering they were black consequently, terrible living conditions affected all African Americans, for example Oigbokie was abused in a historically black college in Alabama. Oigbokie Said due to the fact that African Americans wear Kente cloth it doesn't confirm that they happen to be African. African vs. African American is an article written by Tracie Reddick and it’s a descriptive writing. Yeshitela is from St. Petersburg and there are no cultural differences between Africans and African Americans. In 1990 the income of an African who migrated to America was higher than African Americans.
In America’s history, each race has been portrayed as inferior or inferior, because of one’s skin color, or the beliefs of a culture. Oppression In early America varied in some ethnicities. Some races didn’t even have any civil liberties at all, they were not allowed to vote, not even allowed to become professionals. This was to keep everyone that was not of the superior race below them. Even though they are classified as U.S citizens. In most areas, the ruling race is the upper white class that runs the system, and have a disproportionate amount of power. In other areas, it may not be the white race, but it is still the race that makes up the majority. The majority, who makes the laws, and/or has money, are keys to dominate over the weaker minorities that don’t have the
An often forgotten group of oppressed people are Native Americans. Many gloss over or just ignore the injustices they have faced. Such examples of their oppression are prevalent but often neglected. Such as how they were faced with many injustices from american settlers as they tried to force them from their land , the countless massacres, and lastly the atrocities they faced on the trail of tears.
How can counselors work to lessen the effects of racism and discrimination that have impacted Native Americans and Asian Americans?
America has always been labeled the “melting pot” and the “land of the free,” but when one is analyzing the history and social norms of the country, these statements are far from true. America has thrived through the oppression of minority groups and social pressure towards these groups to conform to the majority culture. In any historical sense, from the near extermination of Native Americans to the racial profiling of Muslim individuals after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, minority groups have always been the victims and have always been viewed as different if they do not assimilate into the “typical” American culture. Numerous works of literature have successfully displayed the struggles that minorities face when attempting to conform. Two works in particular, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman and When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka, tell stories of two different minority groups: Native Americans living in the 21st century and Japanese-Americans during World War II. While these stories are separated by several decades, it is clear that American culture has not changed, as each story exemplifies how difficult it truly is to leave old cultural norms behind in order to be accepted by the majority.
Economic benefits are at the center of white privilege. Dating back to slavery, the majority of labor was provided by African Americans from which both the North and the South benefited and is one of the founding source of economy. Yet, African Americans and other minorities still struggle to get their slice of the American pie. Poor and working class whites strongly object to the idea of white privilege, stating or pointing out what they consider the obvious, that not every white person has wealth and power. Other benefits enjoyed by white people, including one which W. E. B. DuBois called the "psychological wages of whiteness." (Williams, 2004) This refers to that age old membership in the privileged group, even for whites on the bottom rung, confers a social status and recognition which is denied to all but the most powerful members of oppressed groups. The history of racial oppression in American is not disputed. However, what is disputed is whether and to what extent, four hundred years of oppression continues to harm African Americans and other minorities and their life chances unjustly. Looking at the way benefits and damages are allocated in the U.S., for example wealth, income, equality of our court system, treatment from the police, access to colleges and universities we see white privilege. As a group, white people have more income, wealth, political representation, status, power, and social reinforces of their human dignity and self respect than any group in
Decades of discrimination against the Native American people including the Indian Removal Act, the Trail of Tears, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee has led to a so called “compromise” and the much needed formation of the American Indian Movement to try and keep Native American culture and customs alive. This unfair treatment and discrimination has been fueled by many different people and reasons, but ultimately boils down to the greed and intolerance of the white man. Numerous indian tribes were already living in the United States when the european people settled here. The act of living and existing in nearly complete peace for a great deal of years started its swift decline in the years leading up to 1830, again fueled by greed for land and materials along with intolerance of the indians obliterated any chance of fair treatment, or the two groups living in complete peace again.
There is no reason for people of color to believe that social institutions and power
Racial disparities and inequality dates all the way back to slavery: when whites abused, raped, tortured and killed black people. “Slavery transformed America into an economic power; the exploitation of black people made the south the richest and most politically powerful region in the country” (ABS). Black people did not have any rights, instead they were forced
One of the darkest subject matters in United States history is the government's policy toward Native Americans. When European settlers first landed in North America they depended on Native Americans to give them food, trade for skins, and teach them how to gather food. Without the help of friendly Native Americans the possibility of any colony surviving, much less thriving, would be virtually impossible. However, once the colonies were self-dependent the colonists felt like they had a God given right to the land that the very people who helped them survive lived upon. Since that time Native Americans have been pushed off
Jackson was a well determined man, set on just one prior ambition, although past presidents didn’t quite share the same standings as he did. And that would be in regards to Native American equality. Jacksons discriminating bias against Natives is suggested to be because Jackson was southern raised. While president he allowed his stereotypical southern heritage (racially bias) judge and punish the Native. It is understood that southerners desperately desired then Indians land for its rich fertile ground in which they can farm and start their businesses. Despite southerners desires Indians did not wish to part from their native land. To please the south, Jackson strong held congress into passing the Indian removal act. In 1830 the United Stated
It is interesting to see that it was John who wrote down this document, so the word "devil" to which the natives worshiped may be the bias from John in some extent. Although what the natives did to their captives was cruel, there is an interesting fact that they did not commit murder or crimes a lot in their society which had no law or penalty to rule them. However, they had their own way of revenge, and I think that is why they were so cruel to their enemies, because they did not like people to intrude their peaceful life.
The history of America has always been intertwined with the history of discrimination and oppression of ethnic minorities. Whether it be the internment of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II, the passage of ethnic quotas for immigrants during the 20th century, or most prevalently, the racial disparagement of Native and African Americans since the birth of the nation. Although intolerance of both Native and African Americans has persisted throughout time, authors of all time periods and races have spoken out and criticized the treatment of these groups through works of literature: specifically, A Century of Dishonor by Helen Hunt Jackson, and The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois. Although both Authors criticize the treatment of minorities in their book’s, Du Bois African Americans and Jackson Native Americans, they do so through distinct methods, differing in regards to the portrayal of the tone and the mood of the novel, though both using powerful imagery to support their arguments that the treatment of minorities is unacceptable and must change.