Fear of a Black President Essay Example

prevalent. To support this claim, the author mentions a Bureau of Prisons report indicating that 40% of prisoners are African American - a statistic influenced not only by race but also factors like clustering into small ghetto communities with high crime rates and limited opportunities for progress beyond criminal activity. In addition, inadequate education systems within these areas further hinder chances for improvement without sufficient community support. This illustrates how racism profoundly impacts American society as it traps African Americans in the prison system from birth. Racism doesn't only affect the African American community; it is also present within the Hispanic community, particularly fueled by discussions surrounding immigration reform. Nick Valiance, a national news desk editor, shares his personal encounter with racism at a festival where a white woman angrily shouted at people from Mexico City to go back home and supposedly ruin the country as they did to their own homelandFrequent occurrences of similar incidents can be observed in predominantly white neighborhoods whenever there is a presence of a Latino individual. Although not explicitly stated, this underlying atmosphere of hatred persists. The deep-rooted disdain towards Hispanics is evident in American society through Arizona's passage of a bill that permits police officers to check the immigration status of anyone based on "reasonable suspicion," effectively targeting individuals with brown skin who may have recently crossed the border. This law represents the challenges faced by Hispanics in their pursuit of the "American Dream" and their desire for acceptance as valued members of society. Living within an ongoing cycle of oppression, people of color are confined to de facto communities where education holds less value compared to affluent

areas. Consequently, it becomes socially acceptable to assign low-status jobs to people of color, perpetuating predetermined limitations on their success. As a result, social mobility is greatly hindered and communities of color become trapped in an unbroken cycle. Only a small group manages to break free from this daunting pattern by pursuing higher education and escaping perpetual stagnation. Paradoxically, Hispanics often find themselves in undesirable jobs with meager wages while unfairly shouldering blame for damaging the American economy—despite being its backbone in reality.As a result of powerful racism directed towards us, leading to judgment based on stereotypes associated with being Hispanic, we must acknowledge and accept the challenges that come with our ethnicity and heritage – such as low wages and lack of representation. Contrary to common belief that racism only targets people of color, it is important to recognize that white individuals also face racial prejudice. Although this discrimination may not be as harmful or oppressive, it still exists. It is increasingly acknowledged that racism can work both ways, even affecting the white population who are no longer the majority in some areas and may experience oppression as a minority group. An article by John Blake on CNN titled "Are whites racially oppressed?" delves into this concept; however, I personally find it absurd. Nevertheless, it does draw attention to a valid idea: white individuals are often perceived as discriminators but they too encounter discrimination. Many people of color hold all white people responsible for the challenges we face in life and our socioeconomic status. Brazilian educator and philosopher Pablo Firer has described this situation as "the oppressed becoming the oppressors." By adopting this mindset,

people of color can also become judgmental and prejudiced, imitating those who have oppressed them. This societal stigma stems from the belief that white Americans are inherently privileged and do not have to work for their wealth.
It originates from their perception of minorities as inferior beings. However, it is important to acknowledge that like any stereotype, this generalization does not apply to all white individuals; it only applies to some of them. People of color should recognize that white individuals also face stereotypes, although not to the same extent as Hispanics or Blacks. The severity of these stereotypes may be less significant because a white person is unlikely to be denied job opportunities solely based on their race. They do not experience concerns about being accused of unearned success while walking through affluent neighborhoods like Beverly Hills. While the racial discrimination experienced by people of color cannot be compared, it does not justify persecuting white individuals.

Racism remains prevalent in society despite progress towards equality, such as having a Black president in America. True racial blindness has yet to be achieved. Opportunities and social equality should never be influenced by skin color; everyone deserves equal treatment regardless of race. People of color, including the Black and Hispanic communities, have experienced prejudice and missed opportunities due to their melanin levels.Despite efforts, both communities lack adequate representation and often end up in low-paying jobs.Similarly, members of the White community face unfair judgment despite many individuals supporting equalityDespite advancements made since the eras of slavery and segregation, achieving true equality remains a distant goal. True equality entails avoiding the categorization of an individual's power or value solely based on

their skin color or surname.