Racism | Racial Influence

Why are people racist?

A collection of mugshots showing multiple races.

Image via Wikipedia

There is clannishness everywhere in the Animal kingdom. Even among animals you would have seen how animals from other tribes are repelled by other tribes. Clannishness is a biological tendency of animal kind. In human beings, this tends to be a serious problem. Clannishness is not the domain of the sophisticated human being. Yet it still exists. We don’t know why.

Human beings are fundamentally the same. It’s just that they are presented differently to the world. A race can have a very strong influence on a person. If you are a black, you are expected to be big, strong, and athletic. If you are Nordic, you are expected to be rugged, sophisticated, and charming. If you are Asia, you are expected to be accommodating, good-natured, and hard-working.

A race does tend to carry a psychological and physiological attributes. A person in a race tends to behave the same way as others of the same race. So you can say that the behavior of a person in a race is in no way connected to the race. We can safely segregate behavior from racial characteristics.

A race is a beautiful concept. But has gone terribly wrong. A race actually brings a lot of variety to the world. Unfortunately, some races have fallen back on certain things, while others have advanced with certain things. If Africans were born in Europe, you would have seen Africans dying on parched Earth. You would have seen them enjoying themselves amongst beautiful meadows, and green plains.

The race concept might be a divine concept. But somehow we have placed hierarchies on it and classified it.

Filed Under: General, Racism Today Tagged With: Black people, race, Racism

Are Americans cured of Racism?

In 2008 when Baraq Obama, former senator in Illinois was elected President of the United States many applauded this monumental victory of an African American. For he is the first-ever African American President.

Considering all that has happened in the history of the United States with slavery, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and other national events, this historical election is greatly applauded.

One does have to wonder if racism still exists in the hearts of Americans. While it is definitely not politically-correct to make racist comments or display discrimination, is it possible that maybe Americans hearts have not entirely changed?

Now in 2011, a couple of years after the election, Obama is still identified as the first ever African American President of the United States. If race did not truly matter to Americans or if they viewed whites and blacks as equal as why is this huge deal?

It would seem that constantly pointing out Obama’s heritage and race is a sign that the national public still differs races and distinguishes heritages. It would seem that the amount of celebration and recognition focused on this one fact is an indicator that may be the country’s heart is not quite where it needs to be.

All Americans would agree both whites and African Americans that a President should be elected on the basis of skill and ability. The public votes a person in to this prestigious office because they feel that this person is the best one suited to the job.

It would be completely incorrect to vote someone in to the role of President of the United States based on skin color. If a white person were voted in on basis of skin color, it would be racism.

While President Obama campaigned on the chant of change and making Washington better, it is interesting to note that many media sources and critics emphasized his race. If racism and discrimination were truly obsolete in America, the media would not have made such a huge deal of this issue.

Filed Under: History, Racism Today Tagged With: Barack Obama, Illinois, Racism

Why Is Knowledge Of Racial Heritage Important? Read Ahead To Find Out

: Image by ThinkVegan via Flickr

Many persons feel that learning more about black heritage and racial history will not help tackle racism. Well, there can be different opinions on this issue. However, there is no denying that racism has its roots in myths and unreasonable fears in the minds of those who practice it.

Many persons considered colored individuals as inferior. This is merely an expression of fear that perhaps colored individuals might be more powerful and more influential. Over the years, racism has adopted different methods and techniques to stay alive.

In some cases, politicians have made use of racism to stay in office. In other cases, a society that did not have the courage to face social issues sought to hide things under the carpet of racism. There is no doubt that history repeats itself, especially in case of social evils like racism.

That is the reason why knowledge of racial history and black heritage will be very useful. In fact, one should not stop at merely learning more about black heritage. It is important to give equal emphasis to all races. As on date, colored individuals have suffered more from racism. Hence, efforts to know more about black heritage may make more sense today. However, if racism is to die, society will have to reach that stage where all races are considered equal and all individuals study all races in detail.

The biggest advantage of adopting this approach is that even you can become an expert in tackling racism. Mere black heritage knowledge and racial history may not suffice. However, there is no denying that it is a start. You have to start somewhere and it is best to begin with gaining more knowledge.

If you want to do your bit to tackle the negative racial influence present in our society, you can start by learning more about others. As you learn more and as you pass on more, the fight against racism will automatically become easier.

Filed Under: History, Racism Today Tagged With: African American, Racism, United States

Are You For Or Against Racism? There Is No Middle Path

: Image via Wikipedia

What steps should you take if you want to stop instances of racism from happening around you? The first step is to find out whether you are, even inadvertently, promoting racism. This often comes as a shock to many. However, the truth is that most of us indulge in some form of racism without any conscious thought. Call it racial influence or call it influence of behavior seen in childhood and accepted without question but it is the truth. There are instances where we resort to certain negative practices and have negative thoughts attached to certain races for no rhyme or reason.

Most persons deny that they may be supporting racism. However, you should understand that it is possible for even a perfectly educated and civilized individual to unconsciously tilt to effects of racial influence.

Just find out how people react when they take a look at crime statistics. The fact that the most criminals happen to be black is what will stand out in your mind. Some persons might even mention this in casual conversations. However, the fact that the individual who commits crime also happens to be
- poor
- from broken families
- without any social support and
- invariably without any opportunity to become somebody in life
will never get the same importance.

If one is to tackle racism, one must adopt a completely sterile approach towards issue. If you do not bother to learn about black heritage and understand racial history, you may not be the position to counter the problem.

If the best that you can come up with is sympathy and empathy, then you must understand that this is nothing but a positive form of discrimination. Effects of affirmative action is a debatable issue. However, it is pertinent to note that the current President of United States did not enjoy any advantage over his opponents irrespective of whether the advantage would have been justified or not.
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Filed Under: Racism Today Tagged With: Racism

Is Lebron James the Victim of Racism?

: Image via Wikipedia

Unless you have been living under a rock in the recent months you should be aware that Lebron James is a basketball villain. After 7 productive but ultimately disappointing seasons as a member of his home states Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron James took his talents and the hopes of many Cleveland fans down to South Beach to team up with fellow free agent superstars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

The backlash for the other two players wasn’t even a tenth of what James felt. Jerseys were burned, angry hate mail flew to local and national columnists. Every seemed to have an opinion and the consensus was that Lebron James was a bad guy. So the question remained: was Lebron James a bad guy because of what he did or because of the color of his skin?

The truth is that Lebron didn’t do anything that hadn’t been done before. He isn’t the first high profile free agent who signed with a different team. He’s not the first player to want to play with his friends. He’s not the first guy to leave his team for a more attractive city(at least from a national perspective). And he isn’t the first guy to go somewhere where he thought he could win a title with much less stress.

So then race had something to do with it? Well, maybe not. It’s true that LBJ wasn’t the first to do those things but it might be the manner in which he did it that set him apart. Having aired a special on ESPN called the decision he effectively chose his another city over his hometown on National television. This couldn’t have gone over well and it seems to be that and that alone that is drawing the ire of the fans. It may not have anything to do with race, but to rule it out completely would be ignorant in it’s own right.

Filed Under: General, Racism Today Tagged With: Lebron James, Racism

Racial Influence

: Cover of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In today’s society, when we think about racial influence, our minds immediately move to life struggles and victories of African Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, Fredrick Douglas, and Wilma Rudolph, (to name a few) have contributed to the changes made in America and around the world. Were these influential leaders targeting at a small range of individuals or where their intentions much grater then we recognize? If times have changed, why is there still racism today?

If we look at the meaning of being a racial influence, it is to simply look at ones culture or tribe letting that impact the way we view each others lifestyles. Since the beginning of time, civilization has always voiced and expressed their heritage. Influencing is not about competition, but educating to teach others about identity. This could be a key to why so many countries, including the United States, are still pledged with racism. When we choose not to accept ones social class we divide ourselves creating a discrimination hedge. Refusing to comprehend originality causes us to be limited to what we have to offer humanity.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as a Civil Rights Leader to assist with equality. Even thought the 1960′s was a pivotal time for African Americans, Dr. King believed that all should be equated. Regardless of where a human being originated, no one should be excluded from having opportunities to strive for a comfortable life. Freedom marches and speeches that were organized by King and the Montgomery Improvement Association proved that this was a concern that needed to be altered. A prime example of how racial influence is to address awareness to others abroad.

Understanding who we are and where we come from, will enable us to have a stronger since of pride. Thus, charging us to become influential and holding each other accountable.

Filed Under: Racism Today Tagged With: Racism, racism today