Racism in the 21st Century
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Racism in the 21st Century
Introduction
The American racial and ethnic politics’ course will be determined by the relations between African Americans and other racial groups. It is important to argue that this will be difficult to predict. However, the Black communities’ key question revolves around the unfolding connection between material success and their relationship with American polity. The imponderable in ethnic relationships focuses on the increasing ethnic and racial coalitions, and ethnicity-based policy issues, which affect American politics. In the 21st century, it is evident that the American society comprises greater disparity between African Americans and other racial groups where the former is the disadvantaged group. A discussion of the inequality is more focused on important factors such as income, education, violence victimization, poor occupational status, and lack of motivation in participating in electoral politics. The discussion focuses on the nature of race in the United States in the 21st Century.
Presenting the Issue of Racism in the 21st Century
Herring & Henderson (2016) provide more than enough evidence that the majority of both White and Black Americans think that it is important to have laws that prevent discrimination. According to their interests, American society should encourage programs that facilitate an aspect of minorities getting ahead. However, when it comes to using the term affirmative action, White Americans tend to sharply drop programs and laws that either assist or protect blacks. The percentage of Americans perceiving the criminal justice system as biased against blacks has doubled in the last few years. Even the Black communities believe that the criminal justice system discriminates against them, posing a question regarding their lower position as citizens. In terms of policy and law enforcement, racial profiling, and prejudice are some of the main issues that continue to affect African Americans (Black communities). Police departments and officers are seen to be tougher on blacks than the White Americans, influencing racial profiling to become widespread. African Americans have a negative perception regarding the relationship between the law enforcement system and their communities. Most African Americans believe that police would treat them worse compared to other racial groups.
When it comes to focusing on different racial and ethnic groups’ socioeconomic status, it is important to note that their increase in status would gratify the Black middle class. Persistently poor blacks would continue remaining frustrated and embittered by their worsening conditions. Despite this, the current middle-class African Americans are raged because they are not treated equally with their colleagues from other racial groups, mostly the White Americans. For example, in the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans who were well-off experienced less discrimination in their lives than those who were considered poor. Poor and poorly educated African Americans were possibility than affluent to agree that White Americans were the reason as to why African Americans remained underserved and vulnerable rather than just helping them. However, by the 1980s, African Americans with low status perceived the less White America’s hostility than their higher-status counterparts.
Evidence from the 21st century shows that affluent African Americans have greater mistrust of white society. According to statistics, it is evident that more college-educated blacks compared to black high school dropouts believe that it is true that the government continues to investigate black elected officials deliberately. The main reason is to discredit them. Racial discrimination among African Americans in the 21st century creates a perception that the government deliberately makes sure that drugs are easily available among African American communities to harm black people. Discrimination serves as a key reason for the social and economic ills faced by blacks.
Ironically, in modern society, most poor and working-class African Americans have continued to remain committed to the great national suggestion associated with the American Creed. The creed is instrumental in suggesting that since the 1960s, African Americans’ livelihood and social classes continue to improve in the country. Since the 1980s, most African Americans have remained optimistic about their next generations’ eventual success in terms of wealth and other key opportunities. The situation has also seen significant agreements motivating hard work among people for the production of success. Improving the lives of their future generations is seen as a gratifying point in initiating growth among current generations. It motivates African Americans to continue fighting for their rights.
Assume for a moment that there are two significant patterns in terms of the relationship between African Americans and the issue of racism. The first pattern includes African Americans succeeding more and enjoying their success less. This pattern is applicable when it comes to the lives of affluent African Americans. The second pattern revolves around African Americans remaining under the spell of the great national suggestion. This is for the poor and less-educated Africans who continue to believe that things will be well. The above patterns are instrumental in suggesting several questions for political actors on how to deal with racial discrimination in the 21st century. It is virtually unprecedented for successful groups of Americans to continue experiencing feelings of alienation in their motherland. The mainstream polity should not be the reason as to why individuals remain demotivated to pursue their dreams and success in a country that they have built with their sweat.
The 21st century’s issue of racism has not started recently, and it will not stop soon. It is one issue that will take time to eliminate, and probably everyone will not be in a position to deal with its implications. However, historical evaluations are significant in ensuring that people can understand where and how they have been treated as racially minority groups in the United States. Levernier (1981), in one of his poems, reiterate that “’Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,” showing the negative perception the whites had against African Americans and the reasons for their mistreatment. With this, it is evident that the pagan land in Africa.
Hence, African Americans came to the United States as slaves and worked in the plantations for more than 400 years, which has influenced other racial groups to mistreat them. Their slavery status has influenced other racial groups to see them as being vulnerable and below their standards. Hwang (1999) defines the aspect of Chinese immigrants trying to find Chinatown, a supposedly accommodative home outside their original homeland. It depicts some confusing aspects of developments among different racial groups, with Chinese being among the society members considered to be foreigners and vulnerable groups in the United States. With this, the situation motivated African Americans and other minority groups, such as the Asians and Spaniards, to look for possible ways to fight for their rights and independence. A good example is the formation of the secessionist movement by slaves in the 1840s and 1850s while working in South Carolina’s plantations.
The 21st century comes with its own challenges that need to be evaluated from an in-depth background. The focus should be on how African Americans will find themselves in positions that allow them to feel equal to other racial groups. Judith Ortiz (2020) argues, “But the day President Kennedy was shot there was a profound silence in El Building; even the abusive tongues of viragoes.” The quote shows that racial discrimination is somehow compared to the shot undertaken to kill President Kennedy. It is unjust, but fear promotes quietness among most members of society. An evaluation of racism is one that raises the question of whether it may conclude any time. The main reason is that people are afraid to speak about it when it does not affect them, but others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the paper has shown that the United States has a thriving economy, but tenuous, which looks into benefiting the black middle class. Using income, education, and occupational conventional measures, at least one-third of African Americans may be described as holding positions of middle class compared to about half the White American population. The trend is astonishing and shows the unprecedented change from the 1960s. During this period, African Americans, Chinese, Asians, and other immigrants experienced “perverse equality” with uniform poverty, which means that best-off blacks were limited to pass on their status to their younger generations. The 21st century continues to facilitate racism due to the perception individuals have towards each other.
References
Herring, C., & Henderson, L. (2016). Wealth inequality in black and white: Cultural and structural sources of the racial wealth gap. Race and Social Problems, 8(1), 4-17.
Hwang, D. (1999). Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays of David Henry Hwang. Theatre Communications Group.Hwang, D. H. (1999). Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays of David Henry Hwang. Theatre Communications Group.
Judith Ortiz, C. (2020). American History. Pottstown‘s 1-14. Retrieved from https://www.pottstownschools.org/Downloads/American%20History.pdf
Levernier, J. (1981). Wheatley’s On Being Brought From Africa to America. Explicator, 40(1), 25.