Racism is the conviction that some groups of people with different inherited attributes such as the color of skin or shape of eyes possess certain behavioral traits that make them inferior to the representatives of other races. Racism is not exclusively the US’s problem; it prospers all over the world. However, in the US, this issue remains extremely topical nowadays. The present paper argues that in spite of the fact that a lot is being done to eradicate racism, American society could hardly ever become anti-racist.
To begin with, it is necessary to define the concept of anti-racism. In an anti-racist society, there is no place for racial bias and oppression of racial minorities and specific racial groups. What is more, in such a society, all people, regardless of their race, have equal employment opportunities, access to various social services, and education. In other words, in an anti-racist society, no one pays attention to your race because skills, knowledge, and personal traits tell more about a person than his or her skin color. To become anti-racist, it is not enough not to “use the N-word or accept minorities as their friends” (Hoppe 1). Instead, to become virtually anti-racist, a person should undertake some profound actions to fight racism and should constantly be self-aware and self-critical (Hoppe 2). From what is written above, it could be inferred that anti-racism is not about simple politeness because sometimes it might be feigned. Anti-racism is about being free from prejudice towards people of other races and being active in fighting racism.
Currently, numerous American activists do a great job of eradicating racism. The most well-known illustration of modern anti-racist social movements is Black Joy and Black Lives Matter. It is curious to note that even artists and singers significantly contribute to this fight against racism. For instance, according to Kim Pham, Kendrick Lamar’s song “Alright,” which was released six years ago, could be regarded as a powerful and creative form of activism (Pham 6). In addition to that, more and more commercial companies and non-commercial organizations implement diversity policies and do their best not to attract candidates of various races. The same tendency could be noticed in schools, universities, hospitals, and even cinematography. The White House has adopted a range of policies directed at advancing racial equity in the government. What is more, the US administration even promotes its anti-racial agenda on an international scale via the United Nations Human Rights Council. Without a doubt, it is a positive sign because these actions mean that at least some people in the country are concerned with the existing problem.
At the same time, it could be noted that in spite of all the actions taken, the issue of racism remains immensely topical, and people of color keep on suffering from prejudice and even hatred. The answer to the question of why it is so hard to eradicate racism lies in the fact that the majority of people remain unconsciously biased. This preconception of people who differ from them is not their fault but the fault of the system where they were raised and where they live. What is more, it is normal for human nature to divide the surrounding people into potentially dangerous strangers and familiar or similar people who can be trusted because that is the survival mechanism set by evolution.
In addition to what has been already told, it is possible to assume that some anti-racist actions exacerbate the present situation. For example, all of us remember the disastrous consequences of the Black Lives Matter Riots of 2020. The initial purpose was to claim racial equality and force people to eliminate their fears and bias. Ironically, the vandalism and murders that followed the riots make people skeptical of the idea of anti-racist movements per se. Besides, it could also be suggested that diversity policies implemented, for example, by universities might be interpreted as racist. That is because the message of such policies is that some students need help with being admitted to university because they are incapable of doing it by themselves. Finally, when an employer rejects the application of one qualified candidate because the company requires employees of some race, not another one, this lays the groundwork for racial hatred.
To conclude, without a doubt, every person should strive to liberate the mind from racist prejudices and treat everyone equally. Nonetheless, it is arduous and nearly impossible to create an entirely anti-racist society for the reasons described above. Still, it is possible to educate children, youth, and adults to be polite and tolerant of people who differ. It seems entirely wrong to criticize classical writers such as William Shakespeare because they lived in another reality. It is also wrong to re-write the national history to emphasize the role of minorities in the historical process because people should know what life looked like centuries ago. Instead, it is suggested that the large-scale change begins with minor changes in the mindsets of every individual. The creation of an utterly anti-racist society requires the hard work of every individual because there are no policies and regulations that could alter the thoughts and attitudes of people.
Works Cited
Hoppe, Claire. “Learning The Differences Between Anti-Racism Versus Being ‘Not Racist’.” Iowa State Daily, 2021, Web.
Pham, Kim. “Celebrating Black Joy as an Alternative Form of Resistance and Reclaiming of Humanity.” Voice of OC, 2021, Web.