Racism In The Racism In The USA TodayUSA Today

By: Alicia Gomez

Why Am I Talking About Why Am I Talking About Racism ?Racism ?

Racism is important to talk about Racism is important to talk about nowadays not because is history but, nowadays not because is history but, because racism is still alive today. because racism is still alive today. We can’t go through a day without We can’t go through a day without hearing either in the news or in other hearing either in the news or in other media that a racist crime has media that a racist crime has occurred.occurred.

What is Racism?What is Racism?

Dictionaries define it as:Dictionaries define it as: The belief that one’s The belief that one’s own ethnic group is superior to others.own ethnic group is superior to others.

Minority groups define it as:Minority groups define it as: Discrimination Discrimination against ethnic minorities and to maintain against ethnic minorities and to maintain advantages and benefits for White Americans.advantages and benefits for White Americans.

What Do I Believe?What Do I Believe?Racism began years ago, when African Racism began years ago, when African

Americans were discriminated by Whites. Americans were discriminated by Whites. Later Hispanics and other minorities were Later Hispanics and other minorities were added to the list of the ones who were being added to the list of the ones who were being discriminated. After African Americans were discriminated. After African Americans were given their equal rights, we thought racism given their equal rights, we thought racism was over, but we were wrong. Nowadays there was over, but we were wrong. Nowadays there is still several of us who discriminate people is still several of us who discriminate people because of the color of their skin or their because of the color of their skin or their background. The only difference there is, is background. The only difference there is, is that whites were also added to the ones who that whites were also added to the ones who are being discriminated. Making racism all are being discriminated. Making racism all against all.against all.

Which Definition Is Correct?Which Definition Is Correct?There is not one way to define racism, because There is not one way to define racism, because every individual has his or her own opinion on every individual has his or her own opinion on the topic. The definition that is given by the the topic. The definition that is given by the dictionaries are based on what was racism at the dictionaries are based on what was racism at the beginning and the definition that minorities give beginning and the definition that minorities give is there point of view on it. But what they should is there point of view on it. But what they should really define racism as is, all cultures against all.really define racism as is, all cultures against all.

Why Should We Keep Talking Why Should We Keep Talking About Racism?About Racism?

A 1990 study found that a majority of Whites rated A 1990 study found that a majority of Whites rated African Americans and Hispanics as less intelligent African Americans and Hispanics as less intelligent than themselves.than themselves.

A majority of Whites also thought African Americans A majority of Whites also thought African Americans and Hispanics tend to bring violence and would rather and Hispanics tend to bring violence and would rather be on Welfare than work.be on Welfare than work.

Violence cases to and from whites against ethnic Violence cases to and from whites against ethnic minorities.minorities.

There is no nation in the world that holds “racism” in There is no nation in the world that holds “racism” in greater horror than does the United States.greater horror than does the United States.

My Opinion On the Facts FoundMy Opinion On the Facts Found

Most of the facts about racism in the Most of the facts about racism in the United States today always begins with the United States today always begins with the words “The majority of Whites”, and I believe words “The majority of Whites”, and I believe this is wrong. How can you say the majority of this is wrong. How can you say the majority of whites said something if I live around many whites said something if I live around many and none think the same way as the article and none think the same way as the article points out. For example, If a racism survey is points out. For example, If a racism survey is done to a couple of white people in New York done to a couple of white people in New York City and the results state 70% of them are City and the results state 70% of them are racist, that does not mean the majority of the racist, that does not mean the majority of the white people in New York City are racist.white people in New York City are racist.

Where It Takes Place?Where It Takes Place?Racism or discrimination can take place on Racism or discrimination can take place on

the job, in school, hospital, etc,.the job, in school, hospital, etc,.For example, in the housing market, racism For example, in the housing market, racism

against African Americans and Hispanics leads to against African Americans and Hispanics leads to greater difficulty renting apartments of buying a greater difficulty renting apartments of buying a home. This is because in some white home. This is because in some white neighborhoods there is fear of having African neighborhoods there is fear of having African Americans or Hispanics moving in. White people Americans or Hispanics moving in. White people are scared that either one of these minorities can are scared that either one of these minorities can bring violence into their neighborhood.bring violence into their neighborhood.What we don’t realize is that the lack of contact What we don’t realize is that the lack of contact among groups makes it easy for stereotypes to among groups makes it easy for stereotypes to continue, and will keep racism alive.continue, and will keep racism alive.

So far I have only talked about racism So far I have only talked about racism toward ethnic minorities, but where white toward ethnic minorities, but where white people stand?people stand?

Are they the ones keeping racism alive? Are they the ones keeping racism alive?

Or Or

Are they victims of racism as well?Are they victims of racism as well?

They are victimsThey are victims

White people might not be attacked the same White people might not be attacked the same way as minorities are, but they sure are being way as minorities are, but they sure are being victims of racism as well.victims of racism as well.

They are being attacked by minorities now. They are being attacked by minorities now. Since racism was set aside after equality was Since racism was set aside after equality was given to African Americans, they were trying given to African Americans, they were trying to have white people feel what they had felt to have white people feel what they had felt before. But instead of taking the intelligent before. But instead of taking the intelligent path, they took the violence. Since then we are path, they took the violence. Since then we are all against all. all against all.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Racism is a stereotype and is still Racism is a stereotype and is still alive today. I don’t think that racism is alive today. I don’t think that racism is just limited to one certain race that just limited to one certain race that everyone is racist to each other but some everyone is racist to each other but some more than others. Racism is sort of more than others. Racism is sort of hereditary trait if someone’s parent acts hereditary trait if someone’s parent acts in a racist manner than that child might in a racist manner than that child might grow up acting the same way because grow up acting the same way because him or her think that it is right to do so. him or her think that it is right to do so.

MeMeI try to live life in the “gray” were there is no I try to live life in the “gray” were there is no

black or white, there is every background, and every black or white, there is every background, and every nationality. Color is not important, because color just nationality. Color is not important, because color just shows what the person looks on the outside but what shows what the person looks on the outside but what really matters is what we really are in the inside. We really matters is what we really are in the inside. We are all equal so why waste our time judging others by are all equal so why waste our time judging others by their color if it isn’t going to change anything. So we their color if it isn’t going to change anything. So we should just learn how to live together as one and not should just learn how to live together as one and not against one. Our country has enough problems against one. Our country has enough problems already, such as war, so instead of adding problems to already, such as war, so instead of adding problems to the nation we should all come together and try to help the nation we should all come together and try to help the nation. the nation.

What Should We Do to Stop It?What Should We Do to Stop It?

Even though we might think racism is over it Even though we might think racism is over it is not. Individuals continue to hold deep, underlying is not. Individuals continue to hold deep, underlying negative stereotypes and feelings toward African negative stereotypes and feelings toward African Americans and other ethnic minorities.Americans and other ethnic minorities.

So then…So then…• Let’s not judge the person by their color, but by who Let’s not judge the person by their color, but by who

they really are.they really are.• Let’s come together and fight racism, not add Let’s come together and fight racism, not add

ourselves to the racist listourselves to the racist list• Be yourself and not like othersBe yourself and not like others• Integrate with others no matter their raceIntegrate with others no matter their race

Seven steps to fight racismSeven steps to fight racism Be honest:Be honest: Discuss your own experiences on racism with Discuss your own experiences on racism with

others.others. Be secure:Be secure: Having a sense of your own background and group Having a sense of your own background and group

identity will reduce anxiety and defensiveness in relation to identity will reduce anxiety and defensiveness in relation to others.others.

Be a partner:Be a partner: Work on projects with members of groups Work on projects with members of groups different from your own.different from your own.

Be an anti-racist parent:Be an anti-racist parent: Expose your children to diversity at a Expose your children to diversity at a young age.young age.

Be a role model:Be a role model: Expose views and practices Expose views and practices Be a teacher:Be a teacher: Fight prejudice and racism by teaching Fight prejudice and racism by teaching

understanding, openness, and conflict resolution skills.understanding, openness, and conflict resolution skills. Be a student:Be a student: Reading books, seeing movies, going to hear Reading books, seeing movies, going to hear

speakers about experiences of other groups is an enjoyable speakers about experiences of other groups is an enjoyable way to increase understanding and empathy.way to increase understanding and empathy.

SourcesSourcesBook:Book:““Everything You Need To Know About Everything You Need To Know About Racism”.Racism”.

By: Sheftel Gomes , N.By: Sheftel Gomes , N.

Article in “ USA” newspaper:Article in “ USA” newspaper: ““Prejudice and Racism”Prejudice and Racism”

By: Jones, J.M. (1997)By: Jones, J.M. (1997)

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