1. The society is portrayed as a greatly unjust arena, where someone’s skin color bears his or her credentials. As observed by Dr. King, rampant inequality had infiltrated all spheres of society; furthermore, it targets the minority people of color. They were barred from carrying out specialized jobs, due to the perception that they were unqualified.
A significant majority were of them was hence restricted to service as unskilled workforce. Dr. King employs the analogy of a blank check in reference to broken promises and unfulfilled dreams. He then shares hi vision with the people, where he envisions an equal and just society. This is a society that will allow children all children to associate freely and provide a level playing ground for all, regardless of their heritage (Berry, Reynoso, Cruz & Carl, 155).
In his final submission, he urges the populace to press on with the quest to achieve this vision, albeit peacefully. They are to desist from all manner of violent confrontation and retaliate peacefully when accosted (Martinez, 306). He mentions a number of states which were grappling with issues of inequality. He identifies Alabama governor for his inflammatory remarks. Summarily, Dr. King implores the minority groups to press on while reminding those in power of their plight and how the situation should be.
2. The fact that modern society is segmented provides all the requisite evidence of institutional discrimination, which is defined as segregation within public and private institutions. This explains the existence of different residential areas, different shopping malls, different schools, and many other institutions (Martinez, 2010).
From the early 30’s to early 60’s, people of color did not qualify for houses bought under the government subsidy scheme. The property evaluation laws established back then disqualified them from those schemes. This implied that black neighborhoods were given low-appraisal ratings hence disqualifying them from state funded loans (Berry et al., 2004).
The American government has been on the spotlight for its sluggish reaction to the HIV/AIDS pandemic among minority groups. It is noteworthy that misrepresentation of minority infection rates, when performing statistics can also be an attribute of institutional prejudice. When the social securities act was formulated, all races were included in the benefits scheme (Berry et al., 2004). During implementation, the same rules allowed majority whites to amass wealth at the expense of the minority.
Cases of racism have been reported in schools around San Francisco, California. Students from minority groups are mostly wrongly represented in figures of students on the wrong side of the law. They feature mostly in suspension or expulsion figures, as opposed to their white counterparts who are always noted for exemplary behavior and outstanding grades. This move sets them ahead of their peers from minority groups during consideration for bursaries and other state sponsored grants (Martinez, 2010).
3. It is noteworthy that most forms of racial bias may go unnoticed hence the need for vigilance when confronted with such situations. It is important to look out for the effects of this vice, as opposed to remote instances, since some may be systematic hence easily overlooked.
We are advised to be considerate to others in all we do. Members of the society should be allowed access to equal opportunities, for example, education, medical care, sports and in many other spheres. Communities should coexist with others peacefully, sharing the resources at their disposal equally (Berry et al., 2004).
Political events have been a platform for racial bias. When this happens on such a platform, there are great risks of polarizing the nation (Martinez, 2010). This move may have adverse effects, like civil strife and gang-related violence. It is noteworthy that mass protests may also arise thus culminating in police brutality. The national should assess personal qualities and abilities, as opposed to his or her heritage (Berry et al., 2004).
References
Berry, M. Reynoso, C. and Anderson, C. (2004). Racial And Ethnic Tensions In American
Communities: Poverty, Inequality, And Discrimination – A National Perspective. Washington D.C.: DIANE Publishing
Martinez, R. (2010). On Race and Racism in America: Confessions in Philosophy. Pennsylvania: Penn State Press