Is there an end to the racial slur? To deal with this issue we have to define it first. Websters Dicrionary defines slur as a disparaging remark thus making the racial slur a disparaging remark that underlines the racial belonging. The roots of any racial slur are in the racist feelings of those who use it. So, racial slur and racism are inseparably linked together. And as there is no end to racism so there is no end to racial slur. Racism has always been a concern of the United States. The forefathers saw this early on as a problem that will face future generations; however, they gave into the racist attitudes of the south with the three-fifths compromise in the constitution.
This is only one example of past discrimination based on race. Today we have racial gang wars and violence that harm and kill people each year. Activists call for an end to white racism; however, it is not only the whites fault. It is the tweaked white and minority racist attitudes being expressed today that is the real problem. To understand this issue though, it would be necessary to understand the racist attitudes of the past. To understand the link between racial slur and racism we must define racism. Websters defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
By this definition, a racist would be anyone whose beliefs discriminate between races in traits or capacities. Racists might keep their thoughts to themselves, or they might not – but the fact that these people hold those opinions, which join biological race and human ability, are what make them racists. Al this mean that racial slur is just the verbal/written expression of the racist beliefs. Dictionaries are not much help in understanding what is meant by the word. They usually define it as the belief that one’s own ethnic stock is superior to others, or as the belief that culture and behavior are rooted in race. When Americans speak of racism they mean a great deal more than this.
The Term Paper on Racial Discrimination 2
For as long as history can remember, there has been racial discrimination between one or more kinds of people. But how far back does this history go? Racism exists when one ethnic group or historical collectivity dominates, excludes, or seeks to eliminate another on the basis of differences that it believes are hereditary and cannot be changed. The reasoning behind this thought came to a unique ...
Nevertheless, the dictionary definition of racism is a clue to understanding what Americans do mean. A peculiarly American meaning derives from the current dogma that all ethnic stocks are equal. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, all races have been declared to be equally talented and hard – working, and anyone who questions the dogma is thought to be not merely wrong but evil. It seems to be that racism is quite a natural thing in multinational and multirace country like the United States. It is impossible to make everyone believe in the absolute racial equality, thus stopping racism and racial slur. The good reverse example is Japan.
There are no racism problems in Japan because 99 % of population is Japanese. Moreover, the US government does not consider all races to be equal. Affirmative action laws are the proofs of this opinion. Another proof is the existence of governmental organizations like National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP).
Such actions of the government boost reverse discrimination and promote racial hatred and slur. Having discovered the origins of racial slur we can easily conclude that it is absolutely impossible to put an end to the racial slur as it is impossible to put an end to the racism itself, fighting it is useless until more than one race is present in a given country.
Bibliography:
1) Dudley, William. Racism in America Opposing Viewpoints.
San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1991. 2) McClenaghan, William. American Government. Needham: Magruders, 1998. 3) http://www.stormfront.org/affirmat/bias20.html.
