The problem of race and racism in the United States dates back to the days of slavery. Despite many years of anti-racism movement, the country continues to report incidences of racism through the development of hate groups and attacks on the skin color. A couple of years ago, a white police in Fergusson, Missouri, shot dead an innocent black man on the account of his skin color. The white police officer was acquitted by the jury in a move that sparked protests across the State of Missouri. Incidences of racially-instigated gun violence have been reported across various parts of the country. On April 1, 2016, a black student at East Carolina University was assaulted by his white colleague (Ono & Amir 94). It is reported that one of the white officers at the scene handcuffed the victim instead of arresting the villain. This incidence confirm that racism is problem that confronts universities and colleges in America.
My view of this problem is rather objective. At the Declaration of Independence, the United States of America underscored its commitment to enhancing liberty and equality for all persons irrespective of their skin color, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation. This declaration was meant to guide America as the young nation waded through the post-colonial era. In his farewell address, the founding President, George Washington, placed emphasis on the need for unity among the diverse peoples of the young nation. Washington relied on the golden words that all Americans recite in the nation’s founding documents, “all men are created equal.” In this regard, unity can only prosper in an equal America. When all people have a sense of belonging in the country they fought so hard to liberate, unity can prevail. Thus, the construction of racism in America began when some race regarded itself as being superior to all races.
The racial discrimination in the greater American society has had profound effects in the colleges and universities in America. There is a subtle feeling that some races are superior while some are inferior. This feeling has triggered several incidences of racism in the Universities. I believe that people deserve equal treatment. Despite the differences in skin color, no research has discovered genetic variation in the composition of our blood. As non-white, I feel for the victims of racial slur and assault who have been discriminated on the basis of their skin color. The white race has dominated every aspect of the United States economy. The criminal justice system has been openly biased towards non-whites in the country (Ono & Amir 95). It is the reason many white offenders go scot-free as their black and Hispanic counterparts are incarcerated in the United States’ prisons.
Action Plan
Step 1: Formulate anti-racism legislations to curb societal racism. Stringent legislations and policies would put an end to the wanton racial discrimination that has threatened peace in the greater American society.
Step 2: Reform the criminal justice system. As long as the criminal justice system is weak, or seem to lean towards the Whites, other races would not have a sense of justice. Fixing the criminal justice system would end discrimination.
Step 3: Carry out vetting to determine the most suitable officers for various positions in the justice system.
Step 4: Encourage the public to report incidences of racism and candidly dispense justice to both victims and perpetrators.
Work Cited
Ono, Ken, and Amir D. Aczel. "Triumph over Racism." My Search for Ramanujan. Springer
International Publishing, 2016. 93-96.
