Introduction
The United States is a very diverse country since it has people from different regions across the world. Nonetheless, different minority groups continue to encounter numerous challenges and problems in this country, such as discrimination, racism, and violence.
Most of the initiatives implemented to deal with these issues have failed to deliver positive results. Racial discrimination is still prevalent in modern American society since many citizens experience it at the workplace, in their educational settings, and also in their daily lives. The purpose of this paper is to present convincing reasons to support the argument that racial discrimination is still common in the United States today.
Prevalence of Racial Discrimination in America
Racism remains a major problem in different societies and states, including the United States. Molnar identifies it as any form of antagonism, hatred, or prejudice directed against an individual or a group of a different background or origin (71). Those who perpetuate this kind of malpractice tend to believe that their race is superior of great importance to that of the victim. Those who experience these challenges are usually unable to pursue their goals and eventually lead troubled lives.
Daily Life
One area where racism is observed in American is in people’s daily lives. Firstly, many individuals of color in America usually encounter difficulties when trying to get certain services, such as medical support. This malpractice affects people from specific racial backgrounds, such as African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans (Molnar 71). Secondly, some people will be called “negroes” or “niggas” since they are from a race perceived to be inferior.
Such victims feel disempowered and incapable of pursuing their objectives. Thirdly, some citizens will be unwilling to associate with their counterparts from specific backgrounds. This means that they would be unwilling to intermarry, start businesses together, or pursue their common goals. Those who are privileged in society will be unwilling to support the less fortunate.
Fourthly, intra-ethnic racism remains a common challenge whereby successful members from specific races treat others negatively. They might abuse or even fail to associate with them. These developments arising from racism have continued to trigger stress and disillusionment in this country. Most of the predicaments have affected many Americans for centuries. When a crime occurs, chances are high that more individuals from minority groups will have increased chances of being arrested as potential suspects (Rodine-Turner 21). The government has failed to implement powerful policies that can support citizens’ welfare equally by providing adequate resources and opportunities for all. These gaps explain why racism remains a major challenge that many people have to experience in their daily lives.
Workplace
Racism in the workplace remains a major issue that many American citizens have to go through in their daily lives. According to Akhtar, 42 percent of workers in the United States have either observed or experienced racism in their working environments. The first kind of racism recorded in different companies is that they only select very few individuals with diverse backgrounds. This challenge makes it impossible for the affected racial groups to get promotions and better salaries (Akhtar).
They find it hard to interact effectively with those from majority races. The second one is that some employees of color are abused verbally or fail to receive the necessary incentives. Such victims will also fail to get fair resolutions for such complaints from those in leadership positions.
The third form of racism in the workplace occurs when people from specific races are left out when new training programs and career improvement opportunities arise (“The Black and White in America”). The result is that such people will find it hard to receive better salaries and compete successfully in the job market. The fourth type occurs when some races tend to be considered whenever there are career openings in giant and government-sponsored organizations. This kind of malpractice creates a scenario whereby the Latinos and African Americans find it hard to get adequate jobs in this country (Khoo 20).
The fifth type of racism recorded in the workplace is when employees are interacting with one another. The affected groups will be ignored by their counterparts, thereby being forced to work in troubling or discouraging environments (Legend 60). Some leaders engage in favoritism when assigning specific tasks or assigning responsibilities. The sixth form of racism witnessed in the workplace occurs during compensations. More often than not, those from the minority will find it hard to receive the necessary promotions, allowances, and more challenging tasks. Such individuals will be unable to pursue their career objective s and might even decide to look for better opportunities elsewhere.
Education
The ultimate goal of the U.S. education system is to provide high-quality education to its children and empower them to become productive, responsible, and responsible citizens. Unfortunately, this aim has been a mirage for a significant percentage of this country’s population. This is the case since the existing policies do not support or empower individuals from minority backgrounds to pursue their goals. For instance, African American students tend to be suspended from school due to unfounded or insubstantial grounds (Legend 61). For instance, around 50 percent of all suspensions recorded among preschoolers are black students (Legend 61).
This happens to be the case since the current system has been developed in such a way that boys from minority races are believed to be more violent and capable of engaging in inappropriate behaviors. This kind of suspicion continues to haunt such individuals throughout their lives. The school-to-prison pipeline phenomenon has become instrumental in outlining the issue of racism in this country’s education system. The number of security guards in different learning institutions had also increased significantly. These developments reveal that diverse measures have been put in place to discipline students from minority races.
Another aspect revealing the nature of racism in this country is that of segregation with the K-12 education system. The current situation is that most of the schools continue to face the problem of segregation. Learning institutions associated with students from minority races are underfunded. These malpractices continue to affect the experiences and outcomes of many learners. Most of the targeted institutions are forced to employ inexperienced educators. The result is that the level of academic performance reduces significantly, thereby making it impossible for the affected students to pursue their aims in life (Rodine-Turner 21).
Many schools in the United States have gone further to formulate and implement zero-tolerance laws and policies. These measures have continued to put many black youths and those of underprivileged backgrounds into criminal or juvenile justice systems. The opposite is true in many schools that are a preserve for the elites and whites in this country. White students who engage in violent behaviors are usually provided with counseling or guidance opportunities within their respective systems.
Counterarguments
Some analysts and thinkers have argued that racism is not a problem in the United States. For example, people should be on the frontline to take others for who or what they are (Razzetti). This means that human beings will always experience diversities and differences in the way they think, behave, or solve their unique problems. Razzetti goes further to reveal that many leaders are to blame since they fail to accept the presence of racial differences in achievements and pursuit of personal goals. Instead, they have manipulated their followers to view this situation or reality of life as racism.
Consequently, they have encouraged more people to take advantage of such differences and promote this kind of argument. These issues have been expanded further to explain why learners in a given class will record different scores. Those who treat racism as a social construct that remains a myth continue to consider such arguments.
Rebuttal and Suggestions
The living conditions of many people from minority racial groups indicate that racism is a reality in American society. Poverty, inequality, homelessness, and mistreatment within the criminal system are some of the challenges different African Americans and Latinos have to go through. The reports and statistics reveal that racism is a major predicament that affects the outcomes of many citizens. In different companies, leadership, supervisory, and decision-making opportunities are usually available to citizens from specific cultures (Akhtar). Those from minority backgrounds find it hard to be promoted or earn competitive salaries.
The education system fails to meet the demands of the greatest number of children from underprivileged communities. The majority of them become victims of this country’s juvenile and criminal justice systems.
Such individuals find it hard to pursue their aims in life. These issues explain why poverty, drug abuse, and lawlessness have become common in different societies across this country. The absence of counseling opportunities for juvenile delinquents from minority backgrounds makes it impossible for them to become successful and responsible citizens. These facts explain why there is a need for the American government to implement evidence-based policies to meet the needs of all people without focusing on their racial backgrounds (Hobson). Superior laws are also needed that have the potential to promote diversity in different workplaces and ensure that abusers are punished.
Those who discriminate against others in the community should also be disciplined accordingly. Policy changes within the field of education will ensure that these issues are addressed. Rodine-Turner indicates that all races share the United States and “it would be only fair if all people felt like they were a part of it and were treated equally” (21). This understanding can empower all citizens and make it easier for them to achieve their potential.
Conclusion
The above argumentative paper has supported the fact that racial discrimination is a major predicament affecting any people in the United States. Those from underprivileged backgrounds face different forms of racism from their neighbors, workmates, and strangers. The education systems failed to meet the needs of all learners equally. Many African American and Latino children encounter diverse obstacles when pursuing their academic aims, thereby being unable to become successful citizens in this country. These facts explain why there is a need for the government to accept these realities and present superior policies that can address this challenge and make this country a better place for all.
Works Cited
Akhtar, Allana. “42% of US Employees Have Experienced or Seen Racism at Work. It’s the Latest Example of how Diversity Efforts are Falling Short, Especially in America.” Business Insider, 2019. Web.
“The Black and White in America: Views on Race and Inequality, Worlds Apart.” Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies, vol. 10, no. 3, 2017, pp. 397-406.
Hobson, Mellody. “Ted: Ideas worth Spreading.” TED, uploaded by TED Talks, 2014. Web.
Khoo, Tseen. “Asian Women Breaking Free of the Stereotype Straitjacket. Eureka Street, vol. 27, no. 5, 2017, pp. 19-21.
Legend, John. “Do You See Me?” Time. 2016, pp. 60-61.
Molnar, Alex. “Racism in America: A Continuing Dilemma.” Educational Leadership. 1989, pp. 71-72.
Razzetti, Gustavo. “Why Racism Is About the Color of the Mind, Not Your Skin.” Liberationist. Web.
Rodine-Turner, Jane. “Black Lives Matter.” Skipping Stones. 2017, p. 21.