What Are The Effects Of Racism On African Americans

Racism throughout time has had a powerful negative force in society. There have been many efforts made to relieve racism. Racism is still present in America, although many people are doing their best to put a stop to racism and its somewhat devastating effects on young black males in society. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee) The negative stereotypes and racial profiling that Americans hand down from generation to generation are damaging not only to the minorities but to those perpetuating them as well. The behaviors that are kept alive because of these negative stereotypes and the behaviors associated with them, create an emotional and social struggle as well as presenting obstacles when receiving an education and employment opportunities.

Black on black violence is an enormous problem in the African-American community. Living in a neighborhood that is mostly minority, many may have witnessed a lot of black on black violence. The black on black violence has continued to arise in many communities and continues to be a problem around the world. Black on black violence is ignorant, and many black Americans should be coming together instead of killing one another. African-Americans people should be helping each other achieve in the world, instead of putting one another.

People have been stereotyped into a certain group because of their skin color or they have been discriminated against because of how they dress, their name, or even their hairstyle. Minorities such as African Americans deal with this type of racial discrimination every day because of their skin color and the way they might sound despite if they do not sound as the way they appear. For example, if an African American person walked into an interview dressed nicely and clean and a caucasian went in for an interview dressed just as nice and clean, the Caucasian application is more likely to get the job and receive a higher rating than the African American applicant. (Zimmerman) It might seem to the naked eye that minorities in general somewhat have the same opportunities as Caucasian people but in fact they do not really have them. All in all, there is still racial discrimination in America and African Americans do not have the same opportunities as Caucasians in housing, education, and jobs.

There is still some racism from whites to blacks, but things are beginning to make a turn and some blacks are now beginning to be very racist toward whites. Some African Americans call whites “crackers,” “white privilege,” and other things due to their white race. But, no outrage or protests occur after they say these things and few people even know about the statements because the media will not cover them (Backer, 2015). This proves a double standard in today’s society. Backer states, “When a white man/woman uses racist language towards another race, they get ridiculed for it and very rightfully so. On the other hand, when a minority uses racist language towards any other racial groups, no one seems to care,” (2015). Blacks can say whatever they want about whites with little fear of criticism or backlash, but whites are not allowed to make fun of or criticize black people (Peterson 2015). According to Jesse Peterson, if a white person dares to speak the truth about blacks, he or she will be labeled “racist” and immediately shut down

Chapter one covers the history and definition of racism. It also covers different pathways of racism and how racism is manifested. Within this chapter the impact of racism of people of color is discussed and its effects, such as depression. Symptoms beyond the mental and physical aspects are also discussed such as incarceration.

For America present day, the change in race relation has changed, “technically” for no longer are acts of hatred as blatantly open and accepted; while they still do exist they are not as common and frequently exposed as appropriate. The Black Slave Codes, Jim Crow Laws, and Color-Line are within our societies normative cluster cultures. This is where groups of culture habit a vicinity of likeness and share appropriations, such as racial norms, bed rocked by realtor support, financed lender discrimination, city-property tax inequality increases, and school zonings. These are some of the new erected obstacles that “blacks” face when trying to assimilate into a society not made for their habituation. Now don’t take my word for it, but just as a Racist would claim their non-racist ways, so would an individual who bares no observation from the receiving end of inequality. Just take for example the school teacher interviewed during a psychological experiment in Europe on Racism. (Elliot, Jane)

Wise’s examination of the inconspicuous character of racism 2.0 dovetails fittingly with our course’s recurring theme of institutionalized racism. In class lectures we have defined institutionalized racism as the discriminatory practices that have become regularized and routinized by state agencies, organizations, industries, or anywhere else in society. Although such practices might not be intentionally racist, they end up being racist nevertheless as consequence of the systematized and unspoken biases that have become increasingly convoluted and entrenched within society over time. It also doesn’t help white people to recognize these discriminatory practices considering they have been unconsciously tailored to be consistent with white perspective and mentality. In her article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, Peggy McIntosh examines not only how white folks often consider themselves to be a normative figure within society, but also how they are carefully taught not to recognize the advantages they gain from the disadvantages that impair people of color. In the article, McIntosh acknowledges the reality of her own white privilege and expresses, “In my class and place, I did not see myself as a racist because I was taught to recognize racism only in individual acts of meanness by members of my group, never in invisible systems conferring unsought racial dominance on my group from birth” (McIntosh 4). In fact, even if white folks do not believe themselves to

We saw a video of how 1960s African Americans were being discriminated against getting home mortgages and getting contracts instead and were basically paying much more than their house were worth and, had rules like if they missed 3 payments they will be evicted from their house. Most of them didn’t even know they were a target of institutional racism. It is hard to believe that this was about 50 years ago and that the law was allowing for banks to let this happen. Even after protest and boycotts it took a while for this issue to get resolved.

Slavery was the life of the African American of how they suffered and how they were treated, and even though all this was happening they still tried to keep their family together no matter what was happening. First, in a slave's life family's where separated (chapter nine-page 433) ''A husband or wife could be sold' Quote 1. means that a wife or a husband can be sold to a new owner and they will have to leave their families and their children, but their children will stay with an aunt or uncle. Also, the slave they could not get married but they say a phrase that says ''until death or separation do us part.'' They will say this to keep a promise to each other. Also, the salves had their own culture (chapter nine-page 433) ''These native-born African American practiced their African customs''. Quote 2. means that the African Americans enjoyed their traditions. They told stories to their grandchildren. Even though they were slaves I think they should not sale each one if they are going to sell them at least let their family go with them. Also, they tried to be happy in their own way.

Hitler killed a total of 16 million people; the slave trade era killed almost four times more than Hitler. Today, the past lead the white people as we get to see many African-Americans treated as minorities. This is not a colonial or a capitalist influence, but it’s more of the racial influence. This has shown from many social media website where African-Americans today were outrageous in the things many African-Americans were suffering from getting shot. What actions will they do? African Americans had enough and eventually formed the Black Lives Matter movement to fight back racism or the ruination of America; also known as #blacklivesmatter. This movement became phenomenal as more and more people support this day after day. It bought many

The value of person is taken for granted when their lives are claimed so easily, more specifically by the hands of their own. The very act of shooting a gun at someone almost desensitizes the thought of taking someone else’s life, no longer seen, or loved, or cherished by their loved ones. To think so lowly of a person, enough to the point that their life is seen as disposable, is disrespectful, and the ones truly not getting this is the black people themselves. Black related homicide has sky rocketed over the last year claiming 400 of the 550 lives taken in Chicago in 2016 alone (McClelland). Gang related violence has contributed greatly with the use of

Institutional racism has solidified its position into various aspects of American society. It has installed itself into employment practices, all levels of education, healthcare, housing, politics and the criminal justice system. Institutional racism has made some subtle changes to replace the boldness of slavery and Jim Crow. However, in educational institutions the effects of racism and discrimination are so delicate they typically go unnoticed by students of color. Individual racism usually happens on the personal level where the prejudice is expressed either consciously or unconsciously while there is some form of interpersonal encounter. When it comes to institutional racism it is similar to the individual concepts, however policies and practices are associated with with the belief of racial dominance of one group over another. It is a powerful system that use race to determine power and privilege(Reynolds et al., 2010). Even after the desegregation of school, educational institution are still separated. In Shelby County where I have lived since 1999 there are schools for minorities, and there are schools for whites. The schools for minorities in the city of Memphis have police officers walking the halls and there no books for learning. There are higher numbers of Whites students enrolled in private, charter, and magnet schools in the more affluent segments of the county. They will be exposed to the advantages of a proper education because of their race and privilege

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 fabricated 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 “covert racism”, also commonly called “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 “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:

“Racism the belief to distinguish a race with beliefs that they are superior to another”. As racism remains a major setback in America, it is in no Comparison to how it was like back in the days. From the pain it caused and the poor innocent people being tarnished on just cause of the color on their skin, this was a horrific phase to those who lived upon it. We have accomplished enormously but then again we still have much to improve. With the most discreet subtle form, modern racism is slowly catching up to us.

After living in a place like Bend Oregon for 18 years I haven’t ever noticed a difference between blacks and whites. Bend has been said to be “one of the whitest places to live”, yet I never viewed a city by its race. Being racist to me meant that it was the whites who had a problem with the blacks and whites didn’t want anything to do with blacks. I hadn’t actually seen racism in action from anyone here. Now, after watching the film Crash and reading the essays “Blinded by the White: Crime, Race and Denial at Columbine High” written by Tim Wise and “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” written by McIntosh, my understanding of race, diversity, and communications have changed.