The term "racism" is not new to this world. It has its inception since the early human history. Racism can be defined in simple terms as a hatred that exists in a person for the other. Because this kind of hatred can vary, as a result of a difference in "language, color, place of originating, skin" or any other personal reason relevant to human nature. As discussed, racism is an ugly practice and usually divides population in terms of "them" or "us" based on various personal attributes. As a result of this indecent practice, wars and slavery have been promoted and resulted in the division of nations and formation of legal codes (Jackson, "Stormfront: What is Racism?").
Although racism is against the public interest and a discouraged practice, it still does happen all around the world, every day. There are various ways and types of practicing racism. It includes making joke of another person to undermine him or passing negative comments about certain person or group of people to pass a discriminating expression. Calling out racist names, inducing in verbal abuse, intimidating other on the basis of their race or cast are some common everyday practices of racism. Another example of racism can be a damage to the property of another person namely "graffiti" (Jackson, "Stormfront: What is Racism?").
The main constituting factor of racism among the general community comes into place when a specific ethnic community comes to believe that they are in some way better or superior to other communities. This feeling of being exceptionally better than the other leads to a combative and insulting attitude towards other community members. It was the basic principle that gave rise to slavery and trade of slaves many years ago in old times (Nittle, "Race relations: What is Racism?").
A racist person goes through a feeling of threat when he comes across any person who is from a different race, culture or religion. As it is not a by birth attribute to be a racist, it does not come into one's genes. It is a part of one's own judgment and beliefs that this thing comes to inception. Some notable inspirational sources include social circle, family, media, and society as a whole. If a young person grows up in a racist environment or has a close company that promotes this concept, he is going to develop similar beliefs and norms by default and consider racism; a normal and generally acceptable practice. An animosity of any type comes into being, as a result of some threat or bewilderment (Nittle, "Race relations: What is Racism?"). There are many instances where people pass judgmental statements and synthesis regarding matters they know too little about or maybe not at all. Such matters include people, casts, rituals, culture or religion, etc. However, there is no way such a practice can be justified.
Racism may not always be expressed or obvious. It can take the form of an invisible racism. It can be well illustrated using example of employment. Often while going through a long list of applicants for a job, an employer may reject any or all of them on the basis of differences in language, casts, religion, race etc., without going into any further details. For instance, a potential applicant may be rejected from being considered for a job role on the basis of being from an "African" background when the employer is looking forward to people with similar to Arabic surnames (Shah, "Gloabal Issue: Racism"). This sort of racist activity is much difficult to locate and address as it is a bigotry that is not much widely talked about or discussed.
Another form of this activity is called systematic racism. Here, groups and organizations can develop systems and rules that may sound to be well developed and justified for everyone, however, they may call upon obstacles for various people from specific culture or community. A close example for this can be a bank policy to fill in the registration form in "English" before opening an account with the bank that can be pretty challenging for people who do not have English as their first language or can't understand it. It is also known as systematic or structural racism (Shah, "Gloabal Issue: Racism").
This practice has a deep impact on people against whom it is practiced. The effects of racism can vary from feeling lonely, sad, tormented and the people affected may start to avoid situations where such kind of behavior is seen. For instance, an employee may call in sick at office where he is under serious mental stress of a racist attack or a child may avoid attending classes at school where other children call upon and make fun or discriminate in any regard. Therefore, impacts of racism can be deep and horrifying such as in the form of invisible barriers that may not let them perform in life just because of reasons of personal background or attributes (Jackson, "Stormfront: What is Racism?").
There are many laws intact that prevent this kind of behavior. For instance, it is considered an offence under "Public Order Act (1986) - Section 18" if a person makes use of threatening behavior or speech against another to spread racial hatred, etc. Also, under "Equity Act 2010" any discrimination with regards to the provision of goods and services or employment has been declared as illegal (Nittle, "Race relations: What is Racism?").
Works Cited
Thomas Jackson. Stormfront: What is Racism?, n.d. Web. 12 June 2014.
Anup Shah. Gloabal Issue:. Racism, 8 August 2010. Web. 13 June 2014.
