Racism Is A Very Affective Problem

Racism is a widely discussed topic, and everyone agrees that it is something that only causes harm. People with racist views can view others from other groups as people who are lesser than them and might use physically actions to show their dislike. In response to that, more and more people are having their own ideas of how to identify and end racism. For example, Kwame Anthony Appiah who brought out the idea of extrinsic racism, the perspective of utilitarianism, and the Kantian ethic are views that show why racism is wrong and how it can be ended.

Racism was a big problem during the 18 and 19’s century. White people always thought that they were at the higher level in the society and they treated black harshly. They could trade them in the markets. They also thought the deserved to have better life, better education, better house, etc. Why this happened? The government was the chief culprit. The government educated white people that they were above the blacks. Because of that, they taught their children in the same idea. Luckily, the growing number of people realized that it was unfair and they tried to make the government treated everyone equally. More than that, the government laid down the law of protecting all of the colored people; however, even the laws passed, the racism still happens today. Black people were classified as robbers, murders, or thieves and a lot of people judge them with this category.

History, especially in regards to issues of race, is a repetitive thing. There are recurring events just with different faces, places, and circumstances consuming the individuals of the communities we live. Once where the black communities started to form their own progressive movements and make a name for themselves in America they are now regressing back to a time where justice for the black community only seems to be something we dream, hope, and fight for. Reading “The Fire this Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race” by Jesmyn Ward made me open my eyes to a different reality one that I think I tried to believe did not exist to appease the fantasy that one day we would all be seen as truly equals. In reality, we are not equals. We live in a world that constantly tries to demean people of

Black people, even today, are subject to racially motivated violence and discrimination in their everyday lives. In the 20th century this kind of treatment was accepted and even at times prompted by authorities. Back then, brutal murders of black men, women, and children

After slavery ended four conflicts came up two of them were heavy racism and the fear of African Americans lives that were getting lynched very often. After the civil war the south was completely destroyed and they needed to rebuild. Lynching in the south was a big problem for blacks/African-Americans. In my primary source” Lynching in the United States, it shows how in the years 1889-1893 that 705 Lynchings were reported. Out of (705) 260 were white and 579 were black this a big impact on society of life for blacks. This made it very a hard and scared life for African Americans growing

Violence against black people in America began when slaves were kidnapped from Africa and sent to America. White slave owners would beat them, breed them, make them work without pay and sell them as if they were animals. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States in 1860, he wanted to abolish slavery in the south. This lead to the civil war, a war between the north, called the Union, and south, which was called the Confederacy. The Confederacy wanted black people to still be slaves and the Union wanted to abolish it. The war ended with the Confederacy losing and the creation of the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all of the black people in the south. Once black people were freed, a white supremacist group called the Ku Klux Klan was created to prevent black people from fighting for equal rights. They would do this by terrorizing and murdering innocent black people. Not only did black people had to deal with the KKK, but they also had to deal with Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow laws were the laws that were specifically made to hurt the black community. All of these injustices lead to the beginning of the civil rights movement, where people fought for equality. After the Civil Rights movement, a majority of black people have equal rights, but still, have to face violent acts of racism in America.

In Post-Reconstruction time, Black Americans were left reeling from the aftermath of the Civil War, and Reconstruction inadequate attempt to right the wrongs of history. They also faced the horror and humiliation of Jim Crow, the terror of the Ku Klux Klan and other like-minded organizations, and the weight of oppressive legislation. These challenges resided in the consciousness of Black Americans at the turn of the 19th century, and carried on into the 20th century.

Throughout the 1900’s we have documented African Americans being persecuted and slaughtered by hate groups, while the United states government turned a blind eye. Minstrel shows successfully convinced the American public that people of African ancestry have the natural urge to rob, rape, and murder innocent women and children without any remorse. Naively, the American people bought into the act and became frightened of the color black on a man’s skin. Movies and skits mocked African American’s culture and appearance. European Americans AND African Americans were taught that African Americans were uneducated and mannerless. That they did not have any self-value, dignity, or honor and nor should they be treated with any. African Americans became hated. Racism and brutality against them were encouraged and taught by local civilians without any punishment from the local and state government. Segregation was prevalent in restaurants and bathrooms and African Americans were discouraged to have a proper education.

Racism is in the daily lives of everyone. One group craves power and the other surrenders. It comes from a natural place and is the cause for many wars. With racism in the world it will never be a place of total serenity. Jim Crow, mob mentality, and the Scottsboro trial have effected a readers outlook on To Kill a Mockingbird.

African Americans have continued to struggle and do the best they can to be seen as equal humans in America. The early 20th century was no exception. Jim Crow laws from the late 19th century greatly impacted the lives of the African Americans. The “American dream” was not a reality for African Americans and they, rightfully, wanted more. Thus, we start to see a new attitude in African Americans through race riots, a new movement called “Black Nationalism”, and the Great Migration1. The race riots are caused by the growing racial tensions between Blacks and Whites, partially due to intense segregation. The Blacks were not going to be accepted into the world of the Whites and they knew this, so they strived to create their own world. Marcus Garvey founded the “Black Nationalism” movement, seeking a separate nation within the American nation, but ultimately failed due to corruption1. During the Great Migration, African Americans moved north to escape segregation and to find better paying

Historically anti-black violence started with American slavery. Slavery allowed black people to be treated as less than human and was the catalyst to the struggles and oppression that they face to this day. The ownership of a person gave slave masters an incredible amount of power. The slaves they owned were theirs and they could do whatever they wanted to them. This was all without fear of police intervention. Since slaves were property law enforcement could not and would not intervene on the behalf of the slave in any case. Racial violence was fundamental to the creation of the United States (Black Radical Congress). Ownership of black people was the premise of America and what truly kickstarted American business. Without the use of slaves America would be as successful of a country as it is today. This is all because of the fear that was put upon slaves beginning in the 16th century.

Even before the origin of the United States, a chronic divide between the races of humanity was present. In early America, blacks were subject to unthinkable cruelty and grueling work as they were forced to work under the harsh ruling of a slaveowners. Daily they were required to tend to land they didn’t own and harvest crops they would not receive. They received no salary for their services and were often physically abused. Although Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation put an end to the appalling system of slavery, inequality still reigned in the United States. Jim Crow laws, which allowed for strict segregation were passed in many states and signs reading “Whites only” were visible on virtually every street corner. Violence against black citizens did not cease and blacks were not seen as equal in the eyes of law.

Many black in America began to feel the need to address this white supremacy that they felt suppressed under and found that “they are only being used as a tool of the white liberal establishment; liberal whites have not begun to address themselves to the real problem of black people in this country.” The most important lesson they learned was that anything the white man does is never in the best interest for the black man or community. This led to a growing rage amongst blacks and led them to take a stand against the problems they faced.

Unfortunately, in this time and age, racism continues to be an issue in the American society, especially in the south. Since the introduction of slavery, many people have the belief that skin color determines someone’s ranking in life. After the freedom of slaves, racism became a big problem in America. As a result, other races look down upon many different cultures and ethnic groups believing that they are superior to others. Racism has lead to people discriminate against one another and become prejudice. Unfortunately, racism effects peoples lifestyles, job opportunities, and education.

Race is a subject that dominates our culture, our history, our elections and our lives. Without it life would never be the same. Although some believe that racism (to an extent) doesn't exist anymore. However, they are wrong. The same racism that is shown through Karl Linder and George Murchison in A Raisin in the Sun- is still shown today- in our world in things such as: the travel ban/Muslim ban, and behind the scenes in soccer.