Racism on the Rise-What This Generation Needs to Know

Racism is a Topic Many Americans Would Love to Leave Behind, However it is Still Very Active and is Currently Impacting Millions of Lives

Penelope, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Dec 19, 2006 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Racism in the United States is a topic that has sparked controversy and fumes within millions. While the civil rights movement and civil war seem to be far behind us, it is evident that there is still a long ways to go.

According to a recent informative article posted on CNN, there are currently 80% of Americans who have racist feelings that they may not even recognize. Often, these feelings are exhibited upon certain situations and can be the cause of ugly conflict.

For example, Michael Richards, the co-star of the 90's hit comedy shows, Seinfeld, was recently slaughtered in the headlines for his inappropriate comments in response to African Americans' criticisms. While Richards certainly would not have openly confessed to being racist prior to this incident, it is clear that many underlying feelings were exhibited and displayed for the whole world. The source of the feelings was racism that had most likely been passed on to Richards through various people and events in his life.

A University of Connecticut professor, Jack Dovidio has been researching racism for the past 30 years. He has found that racism has certainly changed in the past generation, though it has not by any means become extinct.

Current Racism is often not depicted in as obvious ways as it has in the past. For example, rather than open feelings of hatred and dislike, racism has reared its head in a mutated and possibly more subtle form.

One example involves the selling and leasing of Real Estate. Agents have purposefully shuffled whites and blacks into distinctive and separate neighborhoods.

Racism also makes its appearance through the job market.

Even a name makes a difference. A name like Emily O'Leary or Neil McPherson is much more likely to get a phone call than a name like Tamika Johnson or Darius Jackson.

This type of racism is also evident in the situation of hailing a cab. Cab drivers are often more likely to stop for a white or affluent looking person than one of color or low income. This is most likely because the cab driver is looking to earn extra money through its rich guests. However, the fact that they are looking more to whites to provide that extra income provides another segment of the cycle.

Interestingly enough, a racism pole revealed that blacks and whites certainly disagree on how they feel about each other.

Forty percent of blacks responded that all or many whites disliked blacks.

Only twenty six percent of whites thought the same.

Also, half the black respondents reported that they had been victims of discrimination. Over ¼ of whites responded that they had been victims of racial discrimination.

The poll was conducted through phone interviews on December 5 of this year. 1,207 Americans were polled. The numbers included 328 blacks, 703 and non-Hispanic whites.

Another article posted on the Badger Herald in 2004 also had much to say concerning America's current state of racism.

Again, though many Americans would prefer that racism and prejudices are behind the nation, it simply isn't the case. One only has to look at headlines over the past several years. It is clear that there are still several incidents involving crime authorities where people are treated unequally due to their race and ethnicity.

The Herald article pointed out that another aspect of current racism includes the blame campaign. Welfare cheats, tax cheaters, and immigrants are often blamed for much more than necessary. For example, if the job market is down, it is typically the minorities who either take the blame or lose the jobs. It is concerning though, whether or not the jobs that are going to immigrants are really sought after by resident citizens.

Also, it is not uncommon to blame unemployed for unemployment and the uneducated for being uneducated. The homeless are blamed for not having a home and so on.

Rather than deal with the conflicts or look at it from a equal rights mindset, blame is set and people move on.

Also, income and employment still tend to be in the favor of whites. Unemployment for African-Americans in 1999 was twice the rate of whites. Income was also nearly 40% less concerning the median income.

Another unfortunate statistic is that young blacks are 48% more likely to spend time in prison due to drug charges, even though the rate of use is almost identical.

Although this report was coming from a college campus in Wisconsin, it is important to realize that the upcoming generation is facing just as much discrimination as the one that raised it.

While the solution to racism may seem to be slowly working, it is important to give everyone a chance and for employers to truly stand behind their "Equal Opportunity" statements.

Published by Penelope

I love the Lord and am thankful and amazed at His provision and redemption in my life through Christ alone. View profile