Educating about race When we talk about American history, the first thing that comes into mind is racism followed by civil rights movement and slavery. Racism has always been an issue which reflects in politics, movies and may be in our surroundings. Racism has created groups like ‘majority’ and ‘minority’. The main idea of this paper is about “increasing bigotism in children”, “isolation of blacks in the society” and “white-dominated society.” Richard Cohen’s “Our children are our future – unfortunately they are bigots” summarizes the opinions of different ages of people. American society – “whites” are ready to accept African-Americans but not the fact that there still intend to discriminate. Opinion poll conducted by ADL (Anti-Defamation League) finds out that older people and youngsters have nearly same thoughts about what blacks prefer to do.
Cohen points out that something has to be done to save our future (children) from “bigotism.” One of the things could be that the children have to be educated about how to come over the discrimination in their schools. Cynthia Tucker’s “Double standard on drug sentences” talks about how blacks are isolated from the rest, after they join the society to lead a decent life. Laws are created to keep the neighborhood safer by sending young men to jails. They want to reform the nation by stopping drug abusers but in turn they make it tougher day by day. Crime conducted by whites and blacks is approximately same but still black men are five times likely to be arrested. Talking about alternative sentences for non-violent drug abuses may help resolving their problem.
The Essay on African Americans Racism Society People
The color of skin is not a reason for difference, but instead it is a chance to celebrate diversity. I have seen racism in action throughout my life. My friends have been hurt by it... physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a child, prejudice was never an option to me... hating someone that was different than I, simply was wrong. As an individual, I was encouraged to learn about the differences ...
Locking people in the prison may be for good but it may increase rage in prisoner’s minds against the majorities. Joan Ryan talks about diverse views of people of different ethnicities, races and religion in her “Home truths about race.” Parents explain their kids how they were discriminated in the past. According to Joan Ryan, “color matters” – this is the core of the problem of race relation. She explains that parents have tried their best to educate their kids by moving into racially diverse neighborhood and sending their kids to diverse schools. Ryan has also mentioned about racism. She mentions that explaining the children about racism can change their depth of relations with everyone.
Talking out to the children will help escaping from bigotism. After 9/11, many have become “xenophobic.” It had become, in some parts of country, very severe to the extent that some immigrants were burnt live. Initially blacks were discriminated, but now Muslims are. Not only Americans, but rest of the immigrants lives in fear and try to avoid Muslims. Awareness about the past, in relation to recovery and racism, can help our future kids to understand the problem in depth. New ways should be introduced to deal with drug abusers.
Although opinion polls just give a general idea about the problem, it should be kept in mind that we can bring lot of changes in our society and their thoughts.
