In broad spectrum, racism refers to a belief that a particular race is superior to another because of their skin color, place of origin or religion. It may also be termed as discrimination against a particular groups on grounds of color, cultural believes and religion. People tend to believe that a particular race is more important and superior to others both biologically and intellectually and therefore should never be treated as same (Berg 12).
Racism is a vice that has existent since time immemorial and practiced widely in many nations. It is ugly, unwelcome and unacceptable vice that divides a nation in two or mare groups, by treating some people as more important a that other thus creating hatred and enmity on racial backgrounds. This paper will strive to explain the causes of racism in societies and its impacts on people’s lives. The paper will further attempt to presents areas where racism is highly evident with bias on sports and other related activities.
Causes of racism
As noted earlier racism has been part of human being since time immemorial and in many incidences, it grows as result of human beings’ tendency to create stereotypes on basis of color origin and religion. The seed of racial discrimination was planted by our forefather long before we could make our choice whether to adopt or to dispute racism. In fact we practice racism without our consciousness (McGuire 26) The German holocaust that left millions of Jews dead was a fruit of racism. In addition the emergence of second class citizenship in United States was as a result of existence of racial discrimination in the country. Therefore existence of racial discrimination in the world could be attributed to the following factors:
The Essay on Institutional Racism and Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Health Care System
Institutional racism and racial discrimination in the U.S. health care system has been part of a long continuum dating back over 400 years. After hundreds of years of active discrimination, efforts were made to admit minorities into the “mainstream” health system but these efforts were flawed. Colin Gordon in his book Dead on Arrival portrays a very strong stance towards this issue ...
History is the major cause of racism witness in the past and today across the world. It is with no doubt that the course history shapes and determines our course of action. If for instance history is misinterpreted and we do not correct the mistakes done by our predecessors, history is bound to repeat itself taking a retrogressive form (Kwate, 23).
The current racial discrimination stems back from ancient racism in German which led to killing of Jews by Adolf Hitler and the emergence of second class citizenship for American blacks. The races that were then treated as superiors have always strived to maintain the status quo (McGuire 33).
The media has also been a causes of racism in the world especially with the numerous advertisement made on television. It is a common occurrence to see the new fairness products being advertised by an individual from the world popular cultures and tribe such as Americans and people with UK origin. In the world of sport advisement are made by famous players from developed countries especially white, clearly signifying why less developed countries usually perform poorly in world sport events such as world cup.
It is worth noting that societal stratification has got its share in enhancing racism in communities. People have argued that a society without social class is likely to encounter disorganization since order is what propels a community to achieve more. However to its disadvantage, societal hierarchy works to encourage racial discrimination in a community. The people at the peak of hierarchy such as religions leaders are the major perpetuators of racism. The misguided perception that black color is evil is perceived as the sole cause of racial discrimination against blacks in United States and South Africa (Kwate, 34)The has for long time been associated with decay devil and evil. In addition the image of Lucifer is view as incomplete without black color. In fact, religious groups wear black clothes when attending a burial ceremony. Such superstition were cause for racial segregation in United States where the African Americans were viewed as unworthy human beings who should be exterminated hence imposition of restriction of any sexual relation between blacks and whites in America
The Essay on The Racial Contract White People
In The Racial Contract, it is argued that contemporary structures of white domination in the United States operate by means of an epistemology of ignorance for white people. White people inadvertently suffer from cognitive dysfunctions such that they cannot understand the racially (and racist ly) structured world in which they live and, indeed, helped create. For Mills, while no person of any race ...
For a long time, politics of divide to rule have been common in our cultural and social discourse. In many world countries politics are done in social and cultural lines. A look at United States politics, McCain once asked people to vote him because he was white like other Americans. In an interview actor Clint Eastwood revealed to have voted McCain in 2008 presidential elections because he was a white. This clearly indicates how voting in tribal lines encourages and causes racism in a country. Such acts bring false impression of differences that trigger people to act and think in manner that is racist.
Areas where racism is manifested
As earlier argued that racial discrimination has existent for a long time, its existence is evident in many places such as schools hospitals eateries and in sports activities. With reference to racial segregation against African Americans, there were specific school and hospitals set for each group. Blacks and white were not supposed to mingle as blacks were viewed as a worthless race that needed to terminate (Kwate 45) No sexual relationship between black and white was allowed hence the two races could not marry. Blacks were assumed to be inferior both genetically and intellectually. Today, racial segregation continues to manifest itself in different forms, sports being among the major areas. In sports racism has worked to the disadvantage of the blacks who and races from less developed countries (Jarvie, 107) In fact looking at the most prestigious football clubs there is white dominance despite the blacks possessing equal talents and skills to the game.
The Essay on Black man and white women
The story "Black Man and White Women in Dark Green Rowboat”, written by Russell Banks, is about an interracial relationship on the brink of disaster. The story opens up on an extremely hot day in August at a trailer park that is right next to a lake with a variety of people who live there. I was not immediately aware that the black man and the white woman were the focus of the story, but those ...
In addition, there is lot unfairness when teams from less developed countries compared with their counterparts from highly developed countries. The existence of discrimination in sports presents the inferior races as less qualified and unable to favorably compete. Their presumed genetic and intellectual inferiority largely contributes to their segregation due to presumption that they are incapable of competing (McGuire 49).
In high school and colleges the level of participation in sport activities is quite varying and characterized with great disparity. Blacks though willing and capable of participating effectively face resistance based on race and color. Their color, which is associated with evil and incapability acts as the basis on which participation in such events is denied.
Conclusion
Racism is evil, unworthy and unwelcome in any society that aims to prosper politically socially and economically. It divides a society creating hatred and enmity and in the processing hindering any significant progress. Development in a society requires concerted efforts which cannot be achieved in the light of racial segregation.to address inequality government policies should be reframed to address the dignity of all people and eliminate the stereotypes that common on our society. Human right activism is the best path to follow in search of social justice and equality as indicated by the life of Martin Luther King. And his famous speech “I have a dream”
References
Berg, Manfred, and Simon Wendt. Racism in the Modern World: Historical Perspectives on Cultural Transfer and Adaptation. New York: Berghahn Books, 2011. Print.
Kwate, Naa Oyo A. ‘“Racism Still Exists”: A Public Health Intervention Using Racism “Countermarketing” Outdoor Advertising In A Black Neighborhood’. J Urban Health 91.5 (2014): 851-872. Web.22 November 2014.
Jarvie, Grant, ed. Sport, racism and ethnicity. Routledge, 2003.
