This essay argues that racism remains a persistent and unresolved problem in contemporary American society despite legal protections and civil rights reforms. Drawing on personal experience and contemporary examples—including disparate school discipline, employment discrimination, and the political backlash against President Obama—the author demonstrates that racism manifests across multiple institutional contexts. The paper contends that racism is perpetuated through learned prejudice, stereotyping, and denial, and that meaningful progress requires cultural change beginning with education of younger generations to reject racial bias.
It was Saturday night and a few of my Army friends and I were on the road, headed back to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after enjoying a night in Nashville. The city had been awesome at night, with lights illuminating the scene. Fort Campbell was only 45 minutes from Nashville, so we frequently traveled there. We were almost home but decided to stop to get something to eat. Since it was late, we chose to go to the Waffle House. We stopped at a Waffle House on the edge of Kentucky, and it was packed. Everyone inside had white skin. When they saw us walk through the door, everyone got up and left. I'm not exaggerating. We ignored it and went to have a seat. We sat there for twenty minutes, and nobody came to serve us. We finally decided to get up and leave. It was 2013, and racism was still around. Yes, men were created equal, but clearly not everyone believes so.
Race is an issue that probably will never go away. Although most people are not racist, racism still exists in some areas, particularly in the southern states more than northern states. Racism is still encountered in schools, which is why lots of bullying occurs in educational institutions. Racism also plays a huge role in public places. Additionally, stereotypes that result from racism persist throughout society. The fact that President Obama is in office has truly upset some people for no other reason than that he is black. Whether we want to admit it or not, when it comes to jobs, race is still a significant factor.
The definition of race according to Oxford Dictionaries is each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics. Consider these examples: Two students set off fire alarms in the same school district. One of them, an African-American kindergartner, is suspended for five days; the other, a white ninth-grader, is suspended for one day. An African-American high schooler is suspended for a day for using a cellphone and an iPod in class, while at the same school, a white student received detention for using headphones. Two middle schoolers push each other; the white student receives a three-day in-school suspension, while the Native American student is arrested and suspended out of school for ten days. These disparities demonstrate that race affects how discipline is administered in educational institutions.
Equality between the races is something that does not exist in the United States. There are several programs and laws that give civil freedom and are supposed to ensure that racism should not have a negative influence on life. In America, there are already some people who are trying to change the communication between people from different nations. Several groups are trying to give African Americans a better life in the United States.
Everyone, whether black or white, knows that conditions for many Black Americans have changed for the better. Many leaders tried hard for racial equality. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jackie Robinson in baseball are examples of leaders who fought for these changes. There were many things that have changed for them, but not all changes were positive. The problem is still not solved.
Racism is thought of in terms of skin color, but it is not only a problem of Black Americans versus white Americans. There is racism between Americans and Chinese, Japanese, and basically every race there is. The history of Black Americans in America is the history of America. We all have to learn and understand that we are all equal, that we all share this world. People and their cultures depend on each other. Racism is a kind of illness. Society cannot get rid of it because there are still too many people who do not understand that we all live under the same sun, breathe the same air, and share the same world.
Racism is a feeling that irritates us. It is something that people cannot seem to understand. It causes complications. These feelings are holding our world back from excelling. Many people do not see how much racism hurts the person being targeted, but also everyone around them. A person exhibiting racist behavior is seen as rude, inconsiderate, a bad person, and just plain stupid.
"Election of first Black president revealed persistent racial division"
"Name-based discrimination and workplace bias affect hiring and health"
"Family teaching and powerlessness perpetuate racial hatred"
The KKK influenced gangs, in my opinion. Now we have gangs walking the streets doing similar activities as the KKK. Though whites look at Black people as trash for doing what they began, I am against any gang-related activities. I have the same hard feeling for gangs as I do racism. Killing one another for no logical reason is sickening. When one feels powerless as a person, one seeks strength in numbers. There is strength in numbers. This is exactly why we as people need to come together regardless of skin color or language you speak.
Basically, racism is a never-ending battle for the world. We want to deny the accusations, so we turn our head when we witness it happening. There are several examples in this essay proving this nonstop battle. Racism has come a long way over the centuries. We will never be able to solve it because everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how immoral and stupid it can be. The world just has to be strong and not feed into the nonsense. Racism affects not only you but others around you, listeners, and viewers. To save America, we need to teach our younger generations to love one another no matter what. Lastly, racism is still around, and we should accept it and do something about it. Yes, race is still an issue.
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