The term, “Racism” refers to some prejudiced opinions of one community about others. These prejudices are based on some biological differences and social perceptions. People who consider themselves superior on the basis of their race are often indulged in discrimination against other communities. Racism has affected American society for a long time. There are various causes and effects of racism. This paper intends to discuss racism, along with discussing its various causes and effects.
The colonial mindset is one of the biggest reasons of the racism. White people had captured the resources of African and Asian nations and became rich and influential. They used to enslave Asian Americans in medieval times. This is difficult for white people to digest that African Americans are given equal rights by the American constitution. People with racial mindset cannot tolerate African Americans and see their progress in different areas. Such discrimination hampers the social structure of a society because of distrust between communities. Such distrust and lack of co-operation between two societies is harmful for the present and future of a country. A society that involves in discriminatory practices against their own people cannot remain intact in a longer term (Levine and Pataki).
A basic tendency of human beings is to live with the people of own type. White people have a tendency to consider themselves as superior and others as inferiors. White people promote whites, and at the same time, they discriminate against African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics on the basis of their race. Such discriminatory practices by one community against others affect the psyche of other community. These people become disinterested from the society and do not contribute in the development of a nation that discriminates against them. Such people are often indulged in negative and destructive activities because of their psychological negativity and abhorrence that they have towards the society (Bhui).
One important factor behind racial discrimination is unwillingness of dominating community to share the power that they enjoy. White people have control over all the resources of United States of America. They are in very good position in every sector right from politics to police and corporate to services. They have developed a nexus to keep African Americans out from power. White population does not digest African Americans anywhere in the politics, police, corporate or any other sector. Some brilliant African Americans also face discriminations in various steps of their life. They are humiliated even if they have achieved some position after hard struggle and on the basis of their talent. Due to selfishness and discriminatory practices of some people, nation is deprived of some good and talented people. It is a fact that if talent is not used in a positive direction, there are chances that it will be used in a negative manner (Bhui).
Having observed an overview, causes and effects of racism, this paper concludes that racism is an evil and has caused enormous damage to social fabric of our society. Racism has made certain people of American society to suffer and affected various communities in a substantial manner. There are various causes why racial discrimination is still continued in American society. These reasons are social, psychological and traditional. There are a number of effects of racism that negatively affects the society in different ways.
Works Cited
Bhui, Kamaldeep. Racism and Mental Health: Prejudice and Suffering. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2002. Electronic.
Levine, M.P., and Pataki, T. Racism in Mind. New York: Cornell University Press, 2004. Electronic.
