Cultural imperialism is the practice of imposing the culture of a dominant nation over a less powerful society. The term was introduced in the 1960s and has been used to refer to cultural hegemonies throughout the history of mankind, as well as the modern-day spread of Western cultural influence. In the USA, the term is associated with the problems of “white privilege” and discrimination against African Americans, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups. Although the USA is believed to be a multicultural society built around the idea of a “melting pot,” prejudice, discrimination, and racism are still present today, reinforced by the international dominance of white culture.
Being a white person, I have never paid particular attention to discrimination problems. And I think that this is the case with most members of the white population. Tim Wise is his speech “The Pathology of White Privilege” claims that, according to a recent survey, only 6% of white people acknowledge that racial discrimination is a significant problem (Tim Wise 00:13:50–00:14:35). In every generation throughout the history of mankind, members of the dominant group have denied the problems that racial minorities have encountered because they have not experienced them themselves. However, with the recent protests and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, more and more people start to believe that discrimination exists.
In modern America, cultural imperialism manifests itself in a multitude of forms through mass media, politics, law enforcement, employment and social policies, business culture, and entertainment. Many people die because of their ethnicity due to health care disparities, lower quality of life, racial conflicts, and police violence. My African American friends claim that they experience discrimination, and their families have been encountering problems in almost all areas of life: employment, education, law, and health care.
People of color are generally believed to commit more crimes. The study conducted in 2004 by the Department of Justice showed that Black and Latino males are three times more likely for their car to be stopped and searched for drugs than white males (Tim Wise 00:07:45–00:08:10). According to the Sentencing Project report, “African Americans are more likely than white Americans to be arrested; once arrested, they are more likely to be convicted; and once convicted, and they are more likely to experience lengthy prison sentences” (The Sentencing Project). My friends say that even shop assistants sometimes would follow them around the store as they shop being concerned that they might steal something.
I think that the question of whether our society has become more tolerant in recent years is controversial. On the one hand, racial equality and multiculturalism are promoted and encouraged on the government level and in all areas of life. An increasing number of companies, organizations, and institutions become concerned with discrimination issues and reinforce diversity initiatives (Strauss). On the other hand, the problem still exists, and, as shown by the recent events, the situation is complicated. According to the Pew Research Center survey of 2019, “more than eight in ten black adults say the legacy of slavery still affects the position of black people in America today, and the country has not made enough progress toward racial equality” (Horowitz 4). Denial is one of the main reasons for conflict escalation, and until the members of the dominant culture start to acknowledge that the problem exists, no sufficient actions will be taken to resolve it.
Works Cited
Horowitz, Juliana, et al. “Race in America 2019.” Pew Research Center, Web.
Strauss, Becky. “Battling Racial Discrimination in the Workplace.” D.C. Policy Center, 2019, Web.
“Tim Wise—The Pathology of White Privilege.” YouTube, uploaded by Black Goliath, 2018, Web.
The Sentencing Project. Report to the United Nations on Racial Disparities in the U.S. Criminal Justice System. The Sentencing Project, 2018, Web.