Racism is a stereotypical outlook or view of some-ones racial or ethnic background. A form of discrimination is racism and can be seen in everyday society, especially during the Martin Luther King Jr. era. In today's society, many believe that racism is no longer prevalent, however, if one looks between the lines, one would notice that it is still an issue. The simple discrimination of one persons background is not only wrong and unethical, but it is also beyond measure of one's personal competence.
It may not necessarily be one single persons fault for the racism we see in modern times. It is an evolution of growing from not allowing black children to play with white children, to killing someone from the color of their skin. "We are naturally predisposed to notice height, weight, eye color, skin color, facial features, hair texture..." (Wise) Family influence is a large role in how children will grow up to see the world. What we learn from our own parents, we carry throughout our lives, and if we don't change anything about it, we pass it to our kids in a sort of vicious cycle of racial discrimination and beliefs. Where does it end?
In America today, race can be constructed as the view and judging of what one person may think of another person, or a group of persons. These ideas are usually passed, and in the process, followers are made, groups constructed, and cults eventually born. For example the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) is a assembly of white supremacists that are under the sole belief that white people hold supremacy over non-whites. This group started with the simple idea that if you aren't white, you shouldn't be treated fairly. This group only took a few to start, so conversely it should only take a few to start a anti group. however, as stated by Tim Wise, "Another reason few people speak up is that we have a learned helplessness around social change" (Wise) Basically stating, that as long as it doesn't hurt them, they don't feel they are in the place to change it.
We can honestly say we do not hold any sort of racial discrimination against non-white people. We all have that Asian/Black/Mexican friend that we look at their actual personality and skills, rather than the color of their skin. Wise says "The people of color who get attention in the media are either dangerous criminals or superstar athletes, politicians, and entertainers... If I'm like most whites, the criminal scares me and the superstar elicits envy" (Wise) I particularly liked this quote, because it gives the general statement that we can't look at other races all in the same way which is a good thing. Just because a person is black doesn't mean they are the fastest sprinters in the world, or if their Asian doesn't mean they are super smart.
Works Cited
Wise, Tim. "By the Color of their Skin: Tim Wise on the Myth of a Postracial America." Interview by David Cook. The Sun July 2009: 4-12. PDF file
