The history of Racism, and why it's still a problem today
- Seoyun LEE [11N1]
- Mar 22, 2021
- 3 min read
![Writer: Seoyun LEE [11N1]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/AOh14GiSpCLe1x3Q4l03IVnIYJw2ygXb5g0HrQ91BL7t=s96-c)
Updated: Mar 25, 2021
Racism has been an issue for centuries and it has made no changes in today's world. African American people are still getting harmed for no reason because people are discriminating stereotyping them but also receiving different treatments from the whites. These should be fixed as it is poisoning today's society. Here are some examples of the past and the present history of racism.
To start off, there will be some flashbacks of Americans' history of racism and the discrimination African American went through. Back in 1955, there were rules when African American had to follow through, such as the bus. This meant that African Americans were required to sit at the back and the whites sat at the front. But also the rule stated if the front of the bus have no space, African American were expected to give up their seat to the white. An American activist, Rosa Parks, sat on the bus and refused to follow the bus drivers instructions in giving up the seat to the white. Rosa Parks was then arrested as a punishment. It was stated she was found guilty. On 5 of December, Rosa was found guilty of violating segregation law and she was fined $10 and extra $4 for court cost.
In the past, Afrian Americans were used for slavery. Harriet Tubman was an African American slave who managed to escape looking for freedom. Harriet and her family was also physically abused leading to have physical injuries. She was lashed 5 times before breakfast and from this, she resulted in having scars. Harriet also encountered a man whose slave escaped and informed her to help capture the slave but she was then punished by the man by dropping a 2 pound weight onto her head. This left her to have health issues such as seizures, headaches and narcoleptic episodes for the rest of her life.
To this day, racism is still a worldwide issue. It is hurting our society. There is still a connection of African American people are still not getting equal treatments like the whites. For instance, African American still have challenges in getting a job. They face the struggles in having higher unemployment rates, fewer job opportunities, lower pay, poor benefits, and greater job instability.
From history, African Americans get more arrests than white people. Similarly from the past with the bus segregation, Blacks were more imprisoned than whites and still connect with today's world. Judges gives less thoughts towards black people than the whites. Even when the judges reduces prison time, they reduce it in smaller amount than white people. This is unfair treatment as although black people are imprison for the same crime as the whites, but they are given more prison time by the judges instead of the whites. Linking to this, the police brutality still exits today towards black people. For instance, Yanez a police officer, killed Castille after pulling him over for a broken taillight. During the civil era, many movements were in peaceful protests. However one of the deadliest riots occurred in Newark occured in 1967 when police officers severely beat a black cab driver in the traffic stop.
As seen, history repeats itself. There has been no changes to racism in today’s society and is harming the community. It is unfair that the treatments are not equal and should be equally treated and is disrespectful to discriminate their race and skin.
Resources helped:
25th March: Lily M edited the title.
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