(Solomos, 2005) There was racial prejudice in America which was the division between certain races because of conflicting ideas in spiritual, legal and linguistic traits and a lack of cohesiveness in society. (Solomos, 2005) Furtherly, the failure of rebuilding ideas in society meant that Negroes were not able to seize their opportunities because of the oppression they faced and still continued to face. Examples were slavery and post-emancipation structures such as the Jim Crow segregation laws in the Southern
Apartheid was an ideology for the segregation of distinctive racial groups that was introduced in South Africa in 1948. At first, its aim was to have an “equal development and freedom of cultural expression,” (South African History Online, 2017). However, the Apartheid established a social system that forced people of different colors to live and develop separately instead. It undoubtedly impaired the blacks, which took up most of the population, only because they didn’t have the same skin color as their rulers. The Apartheid was developed for several reasons, the major influence was the ideology of racial dominance and fear.
The American Heritage College Dictionary defined Racism as the belief that race determines the human character and the human ability. To me, racism is done or committed when one believes that one race is superior to other races. It brings division to races because of the issues and conflicts on who is to be the one who is superior and who is the one to be inferior. Racism in the form of discrimination is still grows and prevails in the society today. According to Avila (2014), the separation of people through a social division into some aspects for the purpose of discrimination but are not necessarily related to races is considered as Racial Discrimination.
The main character, Jackie Robinson, also showed the changes and abuse he received throughout the movie. He showed how black people were not seen as equals and how people reacted to a black person being in a white person’s territory. Both sources showed the challenge of being different. The challenge of what it’s like to live as a minority. How people can be cruel and condescending just by a person’s race and change is not easy to accept and achieve.
According to this approach the racist individual not only prefers his own race but aims to oppress and assert his superiority on individuals belonging to a different race other than his own. Cognitive Approach This definition of racism stems from historical predilection. “Unequal consideration out of a belief in the inferiority of another race.” (Nzimande, 2000) suggests that the problem of racism in South Africa can be associated with the problem of a class-based society. Dating back from the early days of colonialism to the present day, the evolution of institutionalised racism (apartheid) strongly impacts our cognitive psychology on perceptions about other races. Types of racism • Racial discrimination Discrimination based on race for the purposes of differential treatment.
Racism, defined in moderation as prejudice or discrimination towards another race, deeming one’s own race as superior, is and has been a very hot topic in today’s society. Racism can range from anything to refusing service because of the color of skin, to blatantly killing an African American boy who’s walking down a street with an Arizona Tea and a pack of skittles. Living in a post-Obama administration, Americans believed that this country was finally a post-racist society. However, actions, both consciously and subconsciously, show otherwise. African Americans, or any person of color, have to constantly be on guard against racists acts.
Social status is the position of a person, a group within the society. In racism, there have always been problems of social status and labeling. In a society or environmental culture, African-Americans were always positioned or ranked at the lowest level within the society, and they were always labeled as the criminals and the bad guys. Which is similar to the story of Killing the Mockingbird. Why would Tom Robinson be labeled as a rapist right away without strong proofs of his innocence?
Interracial marriages were not accepted. One race was considered superior to another and people were expected to stay with “their kind.” The color of one’s skin says, “ I belong” or “I’m an outsider.” Although today many countries have tried to teach acceptance and equality for all, there are still very racist societies. And even those countries who boast their society is not prejudiced, are still guilty. The theme of racism is repeated throughout history in literature around the world. The following examples depict racism of some societies in American culture, that has gone from very racially prejudiced to not so prejudiced (even though it claims not to be a racially unprejudiced society.)
For the past couple of centuries, racial stereotypes have been a problem that many have faced, and are still facing, throughout the world. Many people question what stereotyping is and how it affects people. Racial stereotyping is when a person judges another person based on their race’s fixed characteristics (Pickrell). To this day, racial stereotypes have gotten out of hand and continue to cause not only racism, but also segregation. People today use negative assumptions against African Americans, Latinos and other races.
The liberation struggle is defined as the need for equity, opportunities and resources on behalf of any group believed to be treated unfairly. During the apartheid era the black South Africans fought against the oppression of black people so that they can be liberated, treated with respect and also that South Africa may be a democratic state. The mind-set formed during the apartheid era was that South Africa is a jungle where majority of black south Africans are cruel, starving and are living with no hope hence, they have developed that apartheid mentality, that is the reason why they want to hold on to everything they have because they fear that all that will be taken away from them again. Black South Africans fail to unite with people from other countries. (Adejumobi, May, 2008).