Introduction
Contemporary social issues are often associated with racial inequality as a historical remnant that negatively affects the well-being of millions of people. In his reasoning, DuBois (2018) suggests the total dominance of the white population over the black and refers to the historical prerequisites for the formation of class inequality based on ethnic differences. Some thoughts expressed more than a hundred years ago have not lost their popularity to this day. Despite significant shifts in mass consciousness, individual problems associated with racial inequality have persisted. Ignoring the special needs of the black population and the corrupt nature of social institutions still makes Black peoplevulnerable in 2023.
Social Ignorance
Although society has advanced significantly in the perception of human rights, the Black population still feels oppressed, which is caused by ignoring specific needs. According to DuBois (2018), Blacks had to put up with the fact that their interests were not taken into account when shaping the public agenda. If earlier this was expressed, for instance, in the absence of the right to vote, today, such a gap can be correlated with indifference to cultural identity. Modern African Americans are forced to defend their rights at rallies and protests. Moreover, as Kinloch et al. (2020) state, the persistence of indifference at the highest level, such as racism from policymakers, exacerbates the situation.
Undoubtedly, the modern legal field provides Blacks with significantly more freedom. However, even in the context of social empowerment, African Americans are not perceived as people with a unique past and distinct cultural heritage. This unification is contrary to the natural formation of social bonds and complicates the assimilation of Blacks in a dominant white society.
Corrupt Nature of Social Institutions
The problem of the corruption of social institutions, expressed in the tacit encouragement of White dominance, is another issue that has existed for decades. DuBois (2018) describes the hardships that Black women faced, namely the humiliation and lack of recognition of their honor. Today, any manifestation of open violence is impossible without appropriate administrative or criminal liability.
Nonetheless, even in modern times, representatives of racial minorities cannot count on complete social security. Numerous cases of unjustified police brutality against African Americans prove the existence of bias. Even in formal settings, for instance, in the corporate environment, Black men and women face prejudice that manifests itself in career barriers and other constraints (Sisco, 2020).
Being black today means overcoming social stereotypes, which, although they have been smoothed out over the past century, have not been completely erased. The difference is that White dominance has acquired less open forms. Modern representatives of racial minorities have to prove their cultural identities and strive to become full-fledged members of society, not counting on unconditional recognition. Thus, one cannot talk about justice from the standpoint of ethnic equality.
Conclusion
Being Black in 2023 means putting up with social barriers and bias. While the issues described by DuBois (2018) have abated by today, the ignorance of the hardships of the Black community and the ongoing corruption within social institutions continue to make racial minorities vulnerable. Both black men and women experience bias, which manifests itself both in everyday life and in the work environment. Social stereotypes, deeply rooted in the mass consciousness, do not take into account African Americans’ identity. For these people, protest movements have become the only way to assert their rights.
References
DuBois, W. E. B. (2018). Of our spiritual strivings. In T. D. Gupta, C. E. James, C. Andersen, G.-E. Galabuzi, & R. C. A. Maaka (Eds.), Race and racialization (2nd ed.) (pp. 219-228). Canadian Scholars.
Kinloch, V., Penn, C., & Burkhard, T. (2020). Black lives matter: Storying, identities, and counternarratives. Journal of Literacy Research, 52(4), 382-405. Web.
Sisco, S. (2020). Race-conscious career development: Exploring self-preservation and coping strategies of Black professionals in corporate America. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 22(4), 419-436. Web.