Introduction
The United States of America is one of the most diverse nations in the world, as different people reside in it. As one of the most flourishing democracies on earth, with a human rights-centered constitution where every person is encouraged to pursue happiness, noting the rising cases of discrimination in the region is astonishing. The class lessons underscored how racial discrimination had been a perpetual problem in the nation. The reincarnation of the Jim Crow policies witnessed in slavery set the pace for a detailed analysis of prejudice, discrimination, and how blacks were used as scapegoats in the fight against drug abuse (Schaefer, 2021).
A scapegoat is a person who is to be blamed, especially for the mistakes of a group. The whites have been privileged, while the blacks and the people of color have always struggled to be treated with dignity. A privileged society or people are given undue advantage over other people. The US is yet to attain racial equality, as minorities are disadvantaged and cannot access efficient services.
The concept of discrimination has been rampant in different state institutions, which jeopardizes the quality of services. It is rampant in the criminal justice system, where blacks feel unsafe since they are the primary targets in the fight against crime. Most blacks have become pessimistic about their future as they know they may not get some privileges because of their race.
A pessimist is a person with a negative mental attitude about oneself, as portrayed by others, and is associated with low self-esteem. Blacks and other people of color in the US must learn about their rights and work towards attaining equality. Since the paper talks about discrimination and how it can be eliminated in the US, the lessons in class on prejudice and discrimination formed a roadmap to the research.
Video 1: The Future of Race in America
Reason for Selecting the Video
The selected video was presented in a TED talk by Michelle Alexander, who talked about racism in the criminal justice system in the US. The video was selected because it shares how the concept of racism and discrimination has been presented in various institutions. The speaker is shocked that instead of offering justice to the people, the courts have been turned into areas of racial discrimination.
The concept of ethnocentrism is practiced in the courts, as the privileged whites believe that only blacks are targeted for crimes (TEDx Talks, 2014). Ethnocentrism is a moral principle that makes one group judge others based on their principles and is likely to cause discrimination (Schaefer, 2021). Mass incarceration affecting black people in the American courts is an essential depiction of how racial discrimination is far from being eliminated. Incarceration is the process of confining or imprisoning people, as witnessed during the slave trade (Schaefer, 2021). The number of black offenders and why they are targeted in the war against drug abuse shows how important it is to develop affirmative action to end discrimination in the country.
Key Lessons Learned from the Video
The video offered numerous lessons on the concept of discrimination in American institutions and the fact that the country has a long way to go in promoting racial equality. Despite the numerous policies set aside, discrimination against people of their race is still rampant. Blacks, for example, are the critical targets in a war against crime. It is imperative to note that even though people of all races break the drug laws in the country, the main targets in the search for criminals are in black neighborhoods because they are stereotyped as criminals (TEDx Talks, 2014).
Stereotyping is grouping people and associating the group with a negative trait. The increased number of blacks in American prisons shows that the fight against racial discrimination is yet to be won. However, incarceration and the crime rate have been moving in different trajectories, meaning that blacks are always imprisoned regardless of the crime rate in the region. A group of people defined by their race is considered cursed and lacking the basic amenities.
Main Takeaway Points
The criminal justice system in the United States is one of the most racially biased institutions in the US, as it uses race to determine criminals, with blacks being the main targets. Despite being used as a system to prevent crime by punishing offenders on the periphery of justice, the court systems discriminate against blacks and imprison them without trial. Systemic racism has been practiced in different institutions, like schools, where the searches at the gate are done thoroughly compared to their white counterparts.
In cases where there are police searches in the streets, the whites are given time to explain themselves and are then released. The blacks are, however, not given similar treatment, making the justice system biased and failing to offer justice to the people. Between 1985 and 2002, the number of blacks imprisoned increased, signaling that the Jim Crow era was returning to the US (TEDx Talks, 2014). According to Jim Crow, discrimination against blacks and other people of color was legalized.
Interesting Facts
The video provided exciting facts on the fight against discrimination in the US. The speaker says that the fight against racism in the judiciary is not allowed. As she was appointed to head an essential section of the criminal justice system, she realized that most Americans were not ready to overcome the racial discrimination that is meted out to blacks, depriving them of their fundamental rights. There is more bias in the criminal justice system than people thought it could be. The Supreme Court of the United States of America has not been willing to fight the beast of racial discrimination and prejudice in the country.
Video 2: Why Ethnic Studies Matter
Reason for Selecting the Video
Ethnicity is an essential factor in American history that must always be considered to end the beast of racism, which undermines national unity and promotes instability. The video was selected because it sheds light on the importance of ethnic studies in liberating the nation from discrimination. Engaging the students in ethnic studies will help empower them to overcome all forms of prejudice by helping them understand history (TEDx Talks, 2015). The story of the speaker’s grandmother, who overcame all odds to become a bilingual teacher, shows that numerous opportunities can arise from ethnic studies.
Key Lessons Learned from the Video
The key lesson from the video is that ethnic studies can help people overcome implicit discrimination and racism. When people are given a chance and empowered, they can become whatever they want and fulfill their dreams. The importance of ethnic education was long undermined in the United States. However, it led to positive results after it was embraced, and bilingual teachers would interact and work with others. One crucial lesson that emerged is that people must always respect diversity and other communities, and that diversity is beautiful when people can use their differences more positively.
The current state of discrimination in the country has introduced an inferiority complex, where a specific minority group is considered inconsequential (TEDx Talks, 2015). The speaker, however, states that when ethnic studies are promoted in the region, people will be proud of their culture and productive in the various spheres of life. Ethnic studies must, therefore, be promoted in both state and federal schools to increase people’s understanding of their cultures and differences for diversity and not discrimination.
Main Takeaway Points
Ethnic studies are the antidote to the fight against racism and discrimination in the US. When people learn about the different ethnic groups living in the country, they will be able to appreciate history and respect the communities’ struggles. The nay-sayers have argued that teaching ethnic studies will make the students revolt after learning about their past suffering.
However, introducing ethnic studies in all schools is likely to make people understand the beauty of diversity and, therefore, overcome the inferiority complex. The feeling of being less privileged compared to the other group may be replaced with pride when people learn about ethnicity and the role of each ethnic group in creating American history (TEDx Talks, 2015). American history is likely to be improved when people learn about their different cultures, origins, and features, which are likely to prompt research on the detailed history of the groups. Consequently, it is likely to foster cultural awareness, making people coexist without discrimination.
Interesting Facts
The video provided exciting facts that one could never imagine existed in such a prosperous nation. The video showed that the Latinos and the blacks had conflicts, with both being on the receiving end of the white supremacists in the nation. People of color must come together to fight for equality. The conflict between minorities jeopardizes the unity required to fight discrimination. Improving the use of ethnic studies is likely to liberate Americans from the threat of discrimination.
Chapter 2: Prejudice and Discrimination
Reason for Selecting Chapter
Chapter two of the book on prejudice and discrimination has been selected because it offers an overview of the different terms used to express racism. The chapter provided a background for understanding the difference between discrimination and prejudice and the impact of each. The chapter further consolidates the essay on institutional racism and how it can be overcome.
The historical context of discrimination is covered, making the chapter important for understanding the nation’s history and what has been achieved so far in the fight against racism (Schaefer, 2021). The theories of prejudice empower the learner to understand why blacks and other people of color are subjected to discrimination. Understanding the historical context of prejudice is critical to understanding why some people in the US have undergone perpetual discrimination.
Key Lessons Learnt
The primary lesson from the chapter is the difference between prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice is the attitude against a person that may undermine the relationship. For example, the belief that blacks are inferior and therefore not considered for an appointment is regarded as prejudice. However, discrimination is outwardly showing negative behavior towards a particular race. For example, in the fight against drug trafficking, blacks become the primary target.
Although the display of prejudice in public has declined, blacks are still experiencing discrimination in significant places of engagement. Prejudice and discrimination affect the blacks as they are denied essential services such as employment and other educational opportunities. Prejudice and discrimination can only be eliminated when people are willing to take responsibility in the institutions and deliver justice.
Main Takeaway Points
The critical point from the chapter is that discrimination is still being practiced in the US despite the different affirmative actions being put in place to maintain equality. Racism not only exists among the minorities in society, but the majority are also affected, as they are deprived of skilled workers based on their race. The main implication of prejudice and discrimination leads to inequality and a poor quality of life.
Blacks have lived in dire conditions because they have been deprived of equal medical attention and constantly suffer due to racism (Schaefer, 2021). Further, institutional discrimination undermines the distribution of resources, impacting the complete fulfillment of people’s needs. Another critical point to note is that the challenge of racism is deeply rooted in American culture and requires a multifaceted approach to be overcome.
Interesting Facts
The chapter presented exciting facts, such as the failure to be part of a prominent person’s life because of prejudice. The persona in the story writes about how she failed to be friends with Michelle Obama when they were in college because of the prejudice she felt. She did not want to befriend her based on her race, but she will become the First Lady of the US in the future. Interestingly, despite strong social movements in the country and influential leaders like W.E.B. Dubois, the fight against discrimination still needs to be won.
Conclusion
The class has been instrumental in understanding the issues of prejudice and racism affecting the United States. The concept of discrimination and the fight for equality have existed for ages, as people are grouped into social clusters. The inferiority complex of blacks makes them unproductive in the long run and facilitates scapegoating, as they have become prone to being discriminated against compared to any other race. Further, the fight against racial discrimination has not been successful in the US because it is present in significant institutions, and people are not ready to overcome the challenge. The primary source of relief in the fight against discrimination is the introduction of ethnic studies that are likely to offer cultural awareness and make people realize the challenges they have faced.
Taking this class has enlightened and helped me change the way I think about other races because discrimination and its origins became clear through the theories. Further, understanding how several institutions promote institutional racism helped in the realization of the roots of racism and the strategy that can be used to overcome it. The culture of prejudice and discrimination is deeply rooted, and people hate each other without even understanding the history. When ethnic studies are introduced, people will understand the complementary role played by each race in creating a beautiful American history.
The videos and the chapter were, therefore, a wake-up call to the realization that the state promotes racism, discrimination, and ethnocentrism, and can be eliminated when people know their roots and what is needed for unity to prevail. The way people think about each other’s races can only be demystified through proper ethnic education for them to coexist with each other effectively.
References
TEDx Talks. (2014). The future of race in America: Michelle Alexander at TEDxColumbus [Video]. YouTube. Web.
TEDx Talks. (2015). Why ethnic studies matters | Ron Espiritu | TEDxAmherstCollege [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Schaefer, R. T. (2021). Racial and ethnic groups (13th ed., pp. 61–88). Pearson Education.