Combat Racism
Let’s make Martin Luther King’s dream come true at last!
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Racism is a relic of the past and makes no sense in our global era.
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Martin Luther King, Jr. (August 28, 1963)
Racism Today Racism is a relic of past prejudice. It entails attributing predetermined qualities to people without knowing them. The source of racism is the diversity of human cultures and communities. That is why racism, xenophobia and ethnic intolerance are discussed in one breath today.
History of Racism Systemic racism arose in the European age of imperialism and the Atlantic slave trade. It was also a major force behind racial segregation, especially in the United States in 19th to 20th centuries and in South Africa under Apartheid. Racism played a role in genocides such as the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, and the genocide of Serbs, as well as colonial projects including the European colonization of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Indigenous peoples have often been subject to racist attitudes and persecution e.g. the First Nation people of Canada, the Aborigines of Australia.
The ideas of the superiority of certain races arose centuries ago. The Roman poet Claudius Claudianus wrote that in order to preserve civilization, the Romans must not be united with African barbarians. Orientalist and diplomat Joseph Arthur Comte de Gobineau (1816–1882) argued that mixing races leads to an inability to sustain progress because there are superior and inferior races
Difference between Races Some argue that there are no races, but only different characteristics of one human race. Racism is the belief that someone who has certain biological characteristics based on his origin, is more or less valuable than others, who do not have such characteristics. Sadly, there were times when Europeans considered Blacks to be animals that could be used for domestic work, a kind of monkey. Today, one would rarely encounter this extreme form of racism. However, racism is still alive.
The word "racism" is used to denote the degrading treatment of members of the "other race".
All humans are related. The map below depicts the way early modern humans (Homo sapiens) spread across the globe. The dates are approximations, as the research is ongoing.
Map of early human migration patterns. Source: viaGood
How did different races come into being? It is generally accepted that there are three main races (subspecies of Homo sapiens sapiens): African, Indo-European, Asian-Indonesian.
However, there is no satisfactory answer to this rather basic question - how did the differences we call “races” come about? According to Jared Diamond, the two most probable theories are:
1) Genetic development The theory of genetic development due to the environment assumes that differences between races occurred under the influence of different external conditions. However, the theory of the influence of the environment must be proved to be meaningful and justified separately for each difference.
2) Partner selection The theory of partner selection was formulated by Charles Darwin. Its essence is also the principle of selection and also the change of genetic information. This theory explains the differences better and can be evidenced by a number of courtship rituals in Nature. The driving force is that one often chooses a partner as close as possible to the people who surround one in one's own immediate family.
Racism Theory This theory claims that some people are superior and others inferior because of race. Racists defining groups of people according to their origin stress the physical characteristics, such as skin color and hair quality.
Racism therefore leads to a denial of equality among people. This belief can then imply any actions or rules of conduct, for example, harming someone due to his affiliation with a certain race. This belief that there are different groups of humans, while some are superior to others, is the cause of much historical injustice.
Regardless of the theory, it is obvious that all people are born equal, and there is no superior race.
Racial discrimination consists of limiting and oppressing certain groups or their members by denying them equal civil rights.
The U.S. is among 10 worst countries for racial equality, a study showed.
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” Martin Luther King, Jr. (August 28, 1963)
Discrimination against any individual on the basis of skin color, or racial or ethnic origin is unacceptable. Some people discriminate by refusing to do business with, socialize with, or share resources with people of a certain group. Governments may discriminate through policies of racial segregation, disparate enforcement of laws, or disproportionate allocation of resources.
The most visible racism is encountered in relation to Blacks, which some racists insult solely on the basis of their skin color. The current wave of protests over police brutality against African Americans in the United States has prompted action in the form of protests and calls for justice.
Unfair Attitude Amendment 13 abolished slavery in the US – yet 81 % of African Americans with a university degree have experienced racial discrimination and 17 % experience it repeatedly. Black people are still treated unfairly, not only in the United States, but worldwide. Here are just a few of the current negative attitudes toward Blacks:
- Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die in pregnancy than White women, even at similar levels of income and education.
- Black Americans are more often arrested than White Americans. Once arrested, they are more likely to be convicted and, after being convicted, are more likely to receive long prison sentences.
- In 2018 in New York, 88 % of Police checks were carried out on Black and Latin American people, while 10 % were on White people.
- White patients in the United States receive better healthcare than Hispanic, Black and Native American patients.
- Black Americans and White Americans use illegal drugs to a similar extent, but Black Americans are arrested for this crime 6 times more often.
- On average, Black men in the United States receive sentences that are 19.1 % longer than those of White men convicted of the same crimes. Employment Inequality One US study found that people with traditionally White-sounding names received 50 % more callbacks for job interviews than those with traditionally Black names.
In the US,** Blacks are twice as likely to be unemployed** than Whites (despite the same level of education). Once employed, they earn almost 25 % less than their White counterparts.
Unemployment of White vs Black US citizens. Source: viaGood
Did you know… in 2019, there were 46.8 million people who self-identified as Black, making up roughly 14% of the country's population.
Consequently, the household wealth of Black people is also lower than that of White people. This is shown in the following graph:
Household wealth of White vs Black US citizens. Source: viaGood
Social Discrimination is often based on prejudice and xenophobia, which are manifestations of racism.
Black students represent only about 15 % of the total number of students enrolled in United States. However, they made up 35 % of students whose education was suspended, 44 % of students were suspended more than once and 36 % of students were completely excluded from studies.
Asian and Latino Americans, Aborigines, Roma and other minority communities face racism, despite not being one of the three races mentioned above, but national groups. However, they are often distinguishable by their visible features and languages. They feel aversion, which is a mixture of prejudices, which sometimes grows into hateful words and actions.
**Anti-Semitism **is a special case of extreme racism. It is a radical form of intolerance directed against a particular nation. It is very sad how deep a tradition this intolerance has in Europe, and also in the Middle East. Anti-Semitism is a bias against Jews, based on a distorted image that they are completely different. The scariest manifestation of anti-Semitism was the Nazi ideology about the purity of the Nordic race after the rise to power of Adolf Hitler. During the Second World War, 6 million Jews were “exterminated” in concentration camps.
Contemptuous Attitudes This is the attitude towards foreigners from other countries, despite the fact that foreigners often contribute to the benefit of the host country. Xenophobia is literally the fear of foreigners. Like racism, xenophobia is a negative prejudicial opinion.
Intolerance is a lack of respect for other ways of behaving and acting, and a lack of respect for other people’s cultures and beliefs.
Religious intolerance. Contempt for another person because he/she professes a different religion, is a specific form of intolerance. It is no longer acceptable to despise others for a different faith, or even to show hostility. This category includes the often strained relations between Protestants and Catholics (e.g. in Ireland), as well as the increasingly tense relationship between western nations and Muslims.
Genocide is another reality of our world. Recently, it has involved the countries of the former Yugoslavia and nations in Africa (Rwanda, etc.). It is a racist attitude of national intolerance organized at State level, not an individual attitude. Such an organization of crime requires a concentration of fear and also a sanctifying myth (e.g. “Those people are to blame!”).
Did you know… even today, millions of Americans and people of all nations are experiencing discrimination.
Don’t be indifferent to racism! Let's fight for real equality!
Read the Solution section!
Equal opportunities in education and employment are a start to end racism.
Racial discrimination is no longer acceptable! Amendment 13 abolished slavery in the US – yet 81 % of African Americans with a university degree have experienced racial discrimination and 17 % experience it repeatedly. Racist attitudes persevere in other countries worldwide as well. We need to connect people, not divide them.
How can YOU help? Become an anti-racist role model. When you encounter racism in public interactions, at social or family gatherings, set an example by speaking up.
Record racist interactions. Your cellphone camera is a powerful tool. When you see a racially-charged interaction, record it. Try to de-escalate the situation, if it is safe. Spread the unedited footage on social media, with the victim’s consent, if possible.
Fight for equal medical care - Quality healthcare should be available to everyone, regardless of skin color.
Fight for equality in employment - There should be equal conditions and remuneration for equal work.
Promote citizens’ rights - Thanks to you, we can fight to ensure a fair and equal criminal justice system, regardless of skin color.
Do not hesitate to say, “That’s racist.” Call out racist policies and comments. While this small action may not immediately change systems or minds, it will open up conversations that lead to change.
Speak up against racism in the workplace.
Use your voice on social media. Publicly challenge racist opinions, and do it repeatedly, because changing minds takes time, and your online engagement can encourage many silent bystanders.
