The modern age is considered to be the era of democracy, tolerance, and humanism. People all over the world are supposed to have equal conditions for living and, moreover, should be treated equally, no matter what their religion or race is. It should be said that humanity needed two world wars to appreciate the price of human life. One can admit that society has already done a great number of steps, which helped people all over the world to obtain their rights and freedoms. International organizations like the United Nations also watch the situation and try to guarantee the stable development of humanism and tolerance.
However, there are still problems that could not be solved. The thing is that very often these problems had been topical for hundred years and humanity accepted it as an integral part of the world. That is why, it is so difficult to get rid of them nowadays. It is hard for some people to change their beliefs and to accept the idea that every person has the same rights and, moreover, he/she is the same as the man who believes in his/her superior character. That is why, unfortunately, some problems still remain, and something should be done in order to solve them.
Racial bias is the problem of this sort. The modern world is inhabited by representatives of a great number of different cultures and nations, and they all have their unique mentality and beliefs. All these people are worth admiring, and, nowadays, humanity is supposed to understand it. Thus, unfortunately, not all people like it and adhere to the policy of double standards. However, the problem is so old and complicated that it is very difficult to deal with it. The thing is that for centuries certain groups of people were treated as inferior, and the issue of slavery prospered.
Especially difficult was the life of black people. From ancient times they were just good for white people only because of the color of their skin. Being deprived of any rights, for the centuries, they had to serve people without any chance for freedom. That is why the image of a slave is so strong in the conscience of white people. Only the events of the first half of the 20th century were able to change this image; however, it still exists, and unconsciously some people adhere to the ideas of the past.
Especially the topical this issue is for the USA. The thing is the historical peculiarities of the development of this state influence the attitude towards representatives of some other nations greatly. Being discovered and colonized by Europeans, America became one of the greatest consumers of slave labor. Giant plantations demanded a great number of workers, and black people were delivered from Africa here. It is obvious that the attitude towards them was horrible, and they were not taken as people. However, the USA managed to obtain independence, though the situation had not changed for slaves. Society developed, and ideas of humanism became more popular, and the position of slaves improved.
The civil war was supposed to finish segregation and discrimination; though, it was just the beginning of the long road to equality and tolerance. Slaves were proclaimed to be free, and, moreover, they were supposed to have similar rights with white people. However, in sober fact, black people still suffered from racial prejudices and were discriminated against. Lynching and mob justice was usual practices at the beginning of the 20th century, and only after WW2 things became to change. Nowadays, constitution of the USA guarantees equal rights to all citizens of the country and proclaims tolerance. However, the situation is still not ideal, and the latest events in the state can be taken as the best evidence of this statement.
The thing is that the modern mass demonstrations and a great number of organizations that main aim is to guarantee equal rights to representatives of different races show that the problem is still topical and, moreover, every year it becomes more and more complicated. The level of aggression increases, though people still try not to break the law and use peaceful ways to show their position. The current situation can be compared with the mass movement for equal rights in the middle of the past century (Kelley 61). Being tired of the policy of segregation and double standards, millions of discriminated people decided to show their dissatisfaction and anger.
However, society supported them, and a great step to solving this problem was made. Tough, nowadays, it is possible to speak about the next wind of the same issue. The level of dissatisfaction grows, and very often, people face manifestations of the unfair attitude of racial prejudices. Resting on these facts, it is possible to admit that the current situation can be taken as a direct threat to the security of the USA. Being a multicultural state, the USA depends heavily on the level of comfort which every citizen of the country feels as only satisfied people can bring benefits to the state and contribute to its development. That is why the latest events could not but scare the government and should be given as much attention as it is possible.
The whole world witnessed the events in Baltimore, which became the peak of the dissatisfaction of people with existing orders. Thousands of people, who came to streets, can be taken as the evidence of the existence of racism and double standards in the USA. Being often called the home of democracy and the most tolerant state, the USA, however, is not deprived of inner problems connected with racial bias. Traditionally, the most discriminated group is black people who still feel the burden of stereotypes. According to statistics, black people still have poorer conditions for living and worse quality of life (Nolan para. 4). The majority of poor people belong to this category, and, moreover, police reports testify that the percentage of crimes committed by black people is much higher than the same numbers that are connected with white ones.
That is why it is possible to suggest the idea that, nowadays, American society is divided. It is obvious that some problems with crimes and poverty can be taken as the aftermath of long discrimination and damage, which was caused by the conscience of black people. However, at the same time, there is another thing, which can be taken as evidence of a prejudiced attitude towards this group of people. The thing is that sentences of blacks are, in general, 15.2% longer than the sentences white people (Nolan para. 7). This fact shows that the system of justice in the USA, which is supposed to be fair and help people to protect their rights, is corrupted and also influenced by racial bias. No wonder that people feel this attitude and do not want to be observers anymore.
Turning to the already mentioned situation in Baltimore, it is necessary to add some facts in order to be able to analyze it. The thing is that the cases of police excess are not new. In the last decades, the number of these accidents become extremely high, and it is possible to speak about thousands of situations in which police brutality took place (Pynchon para. 11). It is obvious that white people also suffered from it. However, this number is pale in comparison with the cases when black people become the victims of police and even were killed. The accident in Baltimore became just the next tragic event in a row. However, cynicism and weak reaction from the government triggered the wave of peoples dissatisfaction.
Additionally, the police officer who murdered a black man was not punished, which was taken as another sign of discrimination and double standards. Situation veered out of control, and even the forces of the United States National Guard were needed to calm down the people and patrol the city. Thus, surprisingly, these events were not taken as a sign of crisis by the government. The president proclaimed that in the USA, people are equal, and that situation will be controlled. However, there were no steps whose main aim was to analyze the state of racial affairs in the country and think about the possibility of some changes. That is why the situation repeated. Another policeman murdered a black man though it another city. With this in mind, it is possible to say that in the USA, the endemic problem of racism exists, though its manifestations are now hidden.
Another sphere situation in which can be taken as the evidence of the existing gap between representatives of different races in the USA is education. There is no use denying the fact that the majority of graduates from the most prestigious educational establishments in the USA belong to white people. Moreover, the level of progress in the study is also higher among the same group. This fact can serve as the background for discussion. There are several reasons which are now suggested as the main factors which prevent black people from entering college or university. The poverty of a great number of representatives of this race and their criminal inclinations take the first place among the most plausible reasons. However, these reasons can also be taken as a good example of bias-based thinking, which supposes that all black people are criminals.
Besides, there is another explanation for this problem. The thing is that education was traditionally taken as the privilege of the noble class, and black people were not supposed to obtain it. Needless to say that it is a very conservative environment and people, who work in this sphere, still have some prejudices, and it is very difficult for them to get rid of them. Some professors remember the time when black people were not allowed to attend schools and colleges; that is why it is very difficult for them to change their minds. This attitude can be taken as the root of problems connected with the state of black people in educational establishments. According to the latest investigations, education is still separate and unequal in the USA (Bonilla-Silva and Dietrich 193), and there is no tendency for its improvement.
Finally, the last sphere where the manifestations of segregation can be seen is the sphere of job. Being the main source of income of a common person can guaranty respect and appreciation from society. Additionally, it is the guaranty that a person will not live on the breadline. However, it is still problematic for representatives of some races to find a job. According to some research, racial names like Jamal or Lakisha can serve as the obstacle for a person to find a job (Francis para. 5). With this in mind, it is possible to say that the only possibility for black people to avoid poverty is not available for them. Additionally, very often, they are suggested not qualified and low paid jobs while white people are preferred when employers look for top managers or people who will perform a qualified job. Taking this fact into account, it is possible to assume that there is no wonder that black people very often have worse conditions for living.
Additionally, discrimination can be seen on another level. There is no use denying the fact that modern society proclaims equal rights for representatives of all genders and races. It is supposed that women managed to achieve their purpose and have the same rights as men. Though things are not so ideal. The thing is that women are still deprived of a great number of possibilities that men have. They still have much lesser representatives in the governments of different countries. Moreover, there are still manlike professions which remain unobtainable for women. Additionally, in a coherent society, more and more men start to think that womens classic role is to be a good housewife and satisfy the demands of her husband. That is why this tendency can be taken as a very threatening one as it can lead to the degradation of society. Needless to say, the situation with black women is even more complicated. Being discriminated against because of their race, very often, they also face gender discrimination. Nowadays, in the USA it is very difficult for a black woman to find a good and well-paid job even if to compare with a black man.
Resting on all these facts, it is possible to assume that the situation is very complicated and even critical. Society of the USA is divided according to racial and gender issues, and things get only worse. However, it is also silly to deny some progress that has already been achieved. The thing is that being rather complicated, the current situation is still better than in the great number of other countries. The USA is one of the most developed countries in the world and, that is why. Conditions there are not so horrible as it could be. Moreover, being the democratic state, the USA gives an opportunity for representatives of discriminated groups of people to show their dissatisfaction and suggests different variants for it. People are able to use means of television or the Internet for these purposes.
Thus, according to statistics, the USA is one of the leading countries in the world which has a relatively high percentage of black people in the government and in some huge international companies (Miah para. 12). These facts can be taken as evidence of some progress which has been achieved in the USA. Being one of the countries which had the greatest number of slaves in its past, the USA had obviously managed to improve the situation. Nowadays, black people have an opportunity to get an education and to obtain a job, though, as it has already been stated, it can be some obstacles on their way. Nevertheless, there are also some governmental programs nowadays whose main aim is the improvement of conditions of black people and the attempt to guarantee equal rights for them.
Besides, having analyzed information connected with this issue, it is possible to make a certain conclusion. First of all, it should be said that the situation is very complicated nowadays and the latest events can be taken as the best evidence for this statement. Police officers murdered representatives of black people without any hesitation, being sure in his danger. This police officer made the decision basing on the stereotype connected with the race of this man. With this in mind, it is possible to say that, unfortunately, society still adheres to some ideas of the past though much has been done in this direction. It should also be said that nowadays, people who are discriminated against prefer not to hide their feelings and emotions and situations like in Baltimore happen. Thus, it is impossible to mention the level of progress that has already been achieved. People have the possibility to study, to find a job, and even to work in the government. Resting on these facts, it is possible to say that the USA moves in the right direction, though, problems still remain and need to be solved.
Works Cited
Bonilla-Silva, Eduardo and David Dietrich. “The Sweet Enchantment of Color-Blind Racism in Obamerica”. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 634.1.(2011): 190-206. Web.
Francis, David. “Employers’ Replies to Racial Names“. The National Bureau of Economic Research. 2015. Web.
Kelley, Robin. Race Rebels. New York: Free Press. 1996. Print.
Miah, Malik. “Race and Class: Blacks Still Taking the Hit”. Solidarity. 2015. Web.
Nolan, Hamilton. With or Without Sentencing Guidelines, Black Men Get Screwed. 2015. Web.
Pynchon, Thomas. A Journey Into The Mind of Watts.The New York Times. 1966. Web.