Racism occurs all over the world and can happen to anyone and will always exist, because people will always be prejudice. For some it may not be their fault, it may be the way they were brought up, or perhaps they had bad experiences themselves. Whatever the cause, it will continue through their children and through the generations. Some black people themselves are unable to give up the past and continue on forth, and so use the oppression their ancestors went through as an excuse to be racist towards whites.
Racism can be broken down into three different forms, open racism, violent racism and secret racism; these forms of racism have the same main purpose, to encourage and promote hate towards ethnic groups.
Open racism is the freedom of racial thought and speech. In America this has been allowed due to the First Amendment that protects political views on racism. The British National Party and National Front also come under this protection. Open racists Promote their views through propaganda, but soon this type of racism may stop, as it becomes socially unacceptable.
Violent racism promotes racism through violence and fear. This form of racism is not allowed because it uses violence to promote its ideas. Unfortunately many violent racial groups claim they do not promote violent, and therefore they are allowed. Such groups are the Ku Klux Klan.
Secret racism is when ideas of racism are shown in hidden ways and sometimes, secret racists are not aware hat they are racist. People today do no show their dislike of minorities and are not prepared to show a feeling that could be called racist. Avoiding people of certain ethnic backgrounds on the street and low pay to an employee of a different race to you are examples of secret racism. This for of racism is the most common today.
The James Byrd tragedy July 14th 1998 is a firm example of violent racism today and shows just how far some people can do to prove their point. A black disabled father of three was on his way home when three men offered him a lift. They proceeded to beat him unconscious and then him with a chain to the back of their pick-up truck and dragged him alive for nearly three miles down Huff Creek Road until parts of his body littered the roadside.
When James Byrd’s body was found his face had been spray painted black as if to say, unless you didn’t already know, we did this because he was black. A lighter was also found by the body inscribed with the Ku Klux Klan symbol on it. A reference fro the Turner Diaries (a book which fantasises about a war between white’s and black’s for white supremacy) was thought to have been made during the course of the killing.
On 20th April 1999 two students armed with semi-automatic handguns, shotguns and explosives conducted an assault on their classmates at Columbine High School. They chose this date specifically because it was Hitler’s birthday. Because of hate twelve students and one teacher was killed, 24 students were transported to six local hospitals and 160 students were treated at the scene.
Both of these crimes happened for a reason, and that was racism and hate. Many ask why these exist, why are some people racist today? Many of the answers lay right in front of us, we just have to look.
In my opinion, I feel that racism only exists because it has been passed through generations; some people are unable to look past themselves and feel that the pigment of skin can affect someone’s abilities. Racism and racial discrimination is any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, religious beliefs or his or her ethnic background.
See Newspaper articles for examples of racism happening totday.
