A democratic political body works for the people it has been elected by, and it ensures to work toward fulfilling the hopes and expectations the public places in them. Undoubtedly, a country is being run with the amalgamated efforts of public and private institutions, individuals and groups living in the country. On the surface, it is clear that the minority is protected and cared for by the majority ruling the country, but the matters are different on the inside. Majority rule in a democracy is established after the people place their confidence in a certain candidate and propose him as the best candidate for the job. A democratic state believes in freedom of the individual irrespective of their color, creed, race and religion. Therefore the elected leaders, political bodies, and influential groups are needed to work under the same consideration (Ait). The Constitution of America has clearly identified the steps by which individuals enter into the Congress and thereon the elected candidates would hold administrative, judicial and legislative power in the country.
However many times the elected bodies earn power with their position, and the minorities can be faced with pressure and suppression of their rights and liberty. Examples of such nature are present against the African Americans discriminated on the basis of their skin color or hair texture and style, or the Muslim minorities who keep a beard or women who cover themselves up. It is the rhetoric and thought imposed by the superior race, holding power and authority, which establishes the liberation and rights of the minority in the country. The majority becomes the superior race in the country which can make them believe they have the greater right to access the resources, privilege and respect in the country as opposed to the minority. The freedom of an individual living in a country with diversity is linked to their constitutional right as well as their individual right (LawTeacher.). However, when a difference of beliefs and thinking can interfere with the general public and this may create dissent between the majority and the minority.
Racial profiling stands as a major threat to the liberty and rights of minorities because they are targeted by institutions such as the law and enforcement, where a black man will more likely turn out to be a drug addict or dealer, a Muslim man with a beard will be assumed a fundamentalist and these are only a few of the multitude of stereotypes that these people are exposed to in the country. The minorities place their trust in the government however it is up to the judiciary and legislative bodies to ensure their liberty and protection of rights. On the other hand, discrimination is a major problem because skin color and language make them more likely to be suspected and even accused of any mishap.
Discrimination can occur in a democracy because of the need of the hegemony to maintain their status quo. The majority will preferably select a person who belongs to the majority as their elected candidate and will make them win. Sadly, when a majority such as a white person, also a male, enters the office, he happens to favor the people of his race and upholds their hegemony to the fullest (Annenberg). This discrimination seems innate and unchanging and has been observed over the years in many ruling parties of the world. However it is the structure of discrimination that has been prevalent since the beginning of political systems, which has tended to place importance over one of the races against the other, and this pattern has simply been followed by the coming generations.
Conclusively, minorities living amongst a majority are deprived of their rights due to the existence of a more likely favored majority. Even a democratic state cannot solve this issue due to the elected representative, who is also an individual who favors his own race, gender or people of the same sexual orientation. While the public institutions work toward eliminating discrimination against minorities, there are places where they can be deprived of their liberty and rights. Discrimination against the minorities in a majority is a widely debated topic, and the public is working towards eliminating it.
Work Cited
Ait. U.S. Government > introduction to the U.S. System > principles of democracy.
Annenberg. Glossary terms - majority-rule-and-minority-rights. Annenberg Classroom,
LawTeacher. Majority rule and minority rights. 2003. Web. 6 Jan. 2017.
