Always Think Twice Before Speaking Carl Sandburg once said, “Be careful with your words. Once they are said they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.” Not only do words matter in the world, but also words have a connection to being defined as racist due to micro aggression. Racism is discrimination directed against someone of a different race or ethnicity. In society, the viewing of race is seeking a higher status than others. This being said, before saying anything, think twice due to racial inequality with the unfairness in the world. In relations to thinking before one speaks, “The Talk” and “Touching the Earth” are more aimed towards racism such as the way you address police enforcement and prejudgment of other races towards blacks. …show more content…
In “Touching the Earth” by Bell Hooks, she proclaims “Living in modern society, it is easy to forget that black people were first and foremost a people of the land, farmers” (Hooks 971). Hooks go on to state that “Living close to nature, black folks were able to cultivate a spirit of wonder and reference for life” (Hooks 971). Blacks moved from the south to the Industrialized north where they then became slaves, much like a tool (Hooks 972). In “The Talk,” Canedy asks a colleague about the correct time to sit down and have a conversation with her son about the presence of the police. The colleague then replies, “Before they are no longer seen as cute.” This shows that blacks are prejudged by others. Canedy’s son comments “Then I don’t want to be black anymore” (Caned 886). Colored people can be seen as criminals or suspects before being seen as sweet and innocent. She explains that not all police officers are there to harm black people, but it isn’t rare for racial injustice in everyday lives. With this connection, racism is occurring due to looks and actions of blacks towards higher authority, like the police force. In Greg Luikanoff and Jonathan Haidt’s article, emotional reasoning is defined as “your negative emotions necessarily reflecting the way things really are” (Luikanoff and Haidt). In this article, Robert L. Leahy, Stephan J. F. Holland, and Lata K. McGinn are quoted “your feelings guide your interpretations of reality.” This relates to
In America, a culture of sustained racism and sexism influences foreign policymakers, which results in colonialism and imperialism, the desecration of nations, and militancy. The authors of the articles, Michael L. Krenn and Laura McEnaney, with differing skill sets, provide evidence of racial and gendered bias in foreign policy. In “The Adaptable Power of Racism,” Krenn expertly examines the history of racism within foreign policy; how racism adapted in the face of religious and scientific challenges, and the overall effects of racist foreign policies.1 McEnaney, in “Gender Analysis and Foreign Relations,” provides a lackluster account of the application of gender analysis to foreign policy, specifically in relation to the policies of the Cold War and Spanish-American War.2 The history of racism and sexism in America provide a blueprint for foreign policymakers, where racist militancy and sexist excuses override basic human rights.
Racism is a serious social menace not only in the US, but also the world over, including Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The situation has escalated to a new high, especially in this twenty-first century where technological advancements have necessitated mass and quick sharing of information (Nairn et al. 188). Indeed, social media elements like Facebook, Snap Chat, Twitter, Instagram, and What Sapp has been core in enhancing globalization and its effects, some of which affect and influence racial discrimination both directly and indirectly. As opposed to the views that racism is real and has gained momentum globally, the work of media has on the other hand chosen to report the manifesting cases on the extreme degrees, so that it appears as though the world has come to a halt because of such discriminations. At a critical approach, scholars have noted that media is a channel that creates awareness about racism, and hence could easily escalate the situation if a critical balance on the news and reports aired to the public are not balanced between estimates and practical occurrences (Baker and Rowe 443). While discussing the subject of racism and racial discrimination, it is not only essential to outline how the situation is apparently but also imperative to confirm that race relations are depicted to be really bad in today’s times but the media tries to persuade people to believe an exaggerated side of the situation.
In our everyday life, we see some form of racism being portrayed in movies, tv shows, and media. For many of us, it is hard to distinguish and truly uncover the racism being portrayed. There are forms of racism that one can easily see, but it is hard to reveal full insight. For instance, in the film The Help, racism was portrayed because the women working as maids were African American whom worked to pay for their necessities. This film showed how women of color suffered double the hardship because of their race and sex. However, some white women were also discriminated by men and amongst each other. In addition, this could be traced back to the article Take a Closer Look: Racism in Women’s Lives, because it speaks of the different levels in which racism harms an entire society. Also, the article talks about the advantages/privileges that whites have. Although the article and the film are fairly similar, they also have some differences. The film portrays both racism and sexism, and the article focuses on how children’s upbringings develop racism, and how others resist racism. Both the article and the film interrelate with one another.
Racism has been around for many centuries and it has affected many people around the world. Racism affects people mentally and emotionally and can cause many terrible actions to happen to people. Racism happens to every race around the world but the most common and frequent race being affected by racism are the African Americans. African Americans have been affected by racism very harshly throughout centuries and have caused many to have mental and emotional issues. African American women and children have always taken a big toll when it comes to racism. Racism has always been amongst African American women and children and it has been affecting their psychological state of mind.
Racism has come to be a very important topic in today’s society. Many are talking about the injustices when it comes mostly when it comes to African-Americans and Caucasians in authority. Many have deemed the incidents of Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, Walter Scott, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, the Spring Valley High School video, and even the Charleston Shooting to name a few as reactions to racism. Out of the people talking about these events, only a few really know the meaning of racism and what this grand idea includes. There are many different type of racism such as racial discrimination, institutional, economic, symbolic/modern, cultural, color blindness and othering. The most common forms of racism in today’s society are mainly racial discrimination (social division), institutional (institutionalized racism, state racism, affirmative action, racial profiling, and racism by country), and othering (we are here, they are there; us vs. them).
Racism has been a growing concern in the United States for many decades. Many individuals of color are treated unfairly just because they are of pigment. Recently many individuals in the African American Communities sparked out in outrage when individuals such as Michael Brown and many more were racially profiled by the police and were brutally attacked. Racism does not only limits individuals of color their freedom and rights but has further impacts on health. However, when one mentions inequalities and racism, people may look at it in terms of a justice problem, but not much attention is given how racism and inequalities impact people of color and their lives. Racism needs to be resolved because this issue is spontaneously growing across the nation targeting innocent victims of color and creating long-term health issues.
Societies are corrupt when racism thrives within in them. This is because race separates groups of people by their typical values and morals- what they are raised to think and act upon. Racism is treating an entire race of people differently all based upon stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and active hostility. Race can affect an individual adversely and raise the corruptness of society. A corrupt, racist society can affect how a character grows and what their obstacles are during life. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines point out the oblivious corruptness of their societies due to racism; this is done by shaping characters’ backgrounds, standings in the community of which
Racial inequality is a disparity in opportunity and treatment as a result of someone’s race. Listening to S-Town I encountered myself with various examples of racial tension. One of the most common scenes displaying racial tension was at the tattoo parlor shop. Bubba and his friends explain to Brian having a big tattoo parlor shop would attract too many black people. “Someone mentions offhand that the small tattoo area in front is about as much as you want here in Bessemer. Otherwise, the place will be filled with black people who’ll piss you off and won’t pay anything”. I was curious to why racism still occurs in 2017; therefore, I decided to answer the question: Is there a link between lack of education and racist attitudes? Personally, I am interested in this topic. A few facts that I know about racism include: racism is a major problem in the United States, Southern states tend to be more racists, and there are many associations that combat racism. What I would want to know, is what are the major factors that influence people to have racial attitudes towards black people. My motivation for finding the answers to this question is simple. Racism is a small problem compared to other major world problems. Global Warming and world hunger are problems I believe are more important. I strongly believe racial attitudes and behaviors shouldn’t be an existing problem. Doing extensive research, I accumulated sufficient knowledge towards answering my question: Is there a link between lack of education and racist attitudes?
In the United States there has always been accounts of racism with the most severe being against Black minorities. “Racism has been described as beliefs, attitudes, and individual and systemic approaches that degrade people based on the color of their skin,” (Graham & Roemer, 2016, p. 369). These thoughts and attitudes have dated as far back as the 17th century where Whites heavily discriminate against Blacks because of the color of their skin. In history it has been stated by White Americans that they are superior and Black are the inferior race; this has been known as White supremacy. Racism began in the United States in August of 1619 when the first slave ship docked in Virginia and slavery began but slavery did not end until December
Throughout history, inequality and racism have been a major problem in all governments. Inequality is the difference in size, degree, and circumstances. Governments have showed inequality in their economic growth, which also helps them thrive on the poor. Racism is also a benefit to states where the dominant race runs the government. A liberal democracy is a democratic system of government in which individual rights and freedoms are officially recognized and protected, and the exercise of political power is limited by the rule of law. The basic institutions or values of liberal democracy are individual liberties, free elections, and representative democracy. Representative democracy can be corrupt when the need of capital comes to play.
In this day and age racism is ingrained within our society no matter your “race”, and or beliefs. It exists, consciously and unconsciously. Racism is a manmade, non-biological, unnatural disease if you will. Whether it is accepted or not humans constantly judge one another for any number of reasons like skin color. Even to a child born this day in age, a certain level of racism is cast in front of their faces, though they may not know what exactly it is. Perhaps they pick up on the ways their parents treat others, or how they speak about them. Surely enough as the child grows, this way of thinking will continue to live on within them. Most likely they don’t even question why they feel a certain way about certain types of people. It simply
In today’s society they criminal justice system is racist and bias because blacks and people of color, who are low-income are targeted by law enforcements. Society is blind and doesn’t want to see how racist the world is, even though you can see racism through media, people killing people, and the criminal justice systems. The media has a great impact on the people, because they only broadcast news that gives fears and show how bad people of color and blacks are, and hardly reporting crimes that white people have committed.
Sexism, racism and heterosexism are happening in contemporary America till this day. The media reflects everyday struggles that Americans face based primarily on their gender, race and sexual preferences. Many innocent Americans are getting killed in protests and rallies while they defend their rights. Everyday millions of Americans are faced with backlash from their community, state and even their own country for who they are!
American history includes horrific acts committed against minorities, ones specifically committed by white Americans.. For example, the institution of slavery allowed for the harsh treatment of blacks in America, with no repercussions for whites. However, over time, an abolitionist movement grew, bringing about prominent members, such as, Frederick Douglass. After fleeing slavery in Maryland, he began to speak and write for the abolitionist cause. In his memoir, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he recounts America’s dark history of slavery. The events stated in this work have directly caused our modern-day racial division. The modern-day racial division completely created by white Americans, due to their need to have
As the saying goes, history repeats itself. Thankfully, not all history, we don’t need another civil war or a great depression, but great deal of grim incidences do seem to repeat or they’ve just continued since the beginning. Racism and sexism are two of those instances, this oppression has never stopped, and doubtedly ever will. Even though we’ve resolved these issues the best we could, there is still hate and discrimination everywhere.