Contemporary Racism...Does It Exist?
Race is a socially constructed biological categorization of peoples with regard to heredity, and physical characteristics. Racism, as defined by Webster, is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. In the year 2005, do we believe that this kind of discrimination still exists? Absolutely! Racism is undoubtedly the root of the many trials and tribulations of the United States and we believe that it only involves the issue of black vs white. In a semester's worth of reading and research, it is safe to say that racism covers a much larger spectrum than "race". In this day and age, racism can be categorized with that of gender, income, background, and even sexual orientation. Frankenberg said it best: Any system of differentiation shapes those whom it bestows privilege as well as those it oppresses. Racial profiling is a prime example of contemporary racism in the United States. For example, in Montgomery County, Maryland, African Americans make up only 15% of the population, but were involved in 26% of the more than 40,000 traffic stops between April and September of 2001. In Bronx, New York, Amadou Diallo
, but a realist would realize that the white impact will never fade. Women of color were the first to advance frameworks for understanding the intersection in women's lives of gender, sexuality, race, and class. There may be an invisibility of whiteness if the Latino birth rate continues to flourish, but the white lifestyle will never go out of style. With the report of these three very minute representations on racism, how do we build on it in a positive way? According to Charmichael and Hamilton, black people must redefine themselves and no one can do that for them (Charmichael, 37). Latino stereotypes include living in close quarters, having many children, and are predominantly starch Catholics. The area that one controls can function however they want it to whether it be quality amongst all females, or all Asians and African-Americans. With these three incidents alone, it is very hard for one to deny the presence of contemporary racism amongst us. Surprisingly, in each of these cases, all police officials involved were acquitted of their crimes. White women lacked an awareness of how their positions in society were constructed in relation to those of men and women of color (Frankenberg, 453). ,age 22, was shot several times and fatally wounded in front of his residence by four, Caucasian, plain clothed police officers because they believed he fit the description of a serial rapist who has since been captured. "According to Frankenberg, when defining whiteness, she develops three definitions: a) whiteness is a location of structural advantage of race privilege, b) it is a "standpoint", a place from which white people look at themselves, at others, and society, and finally, c) it refers to a set of cultural practices that are usually unmarked and unnamed (Frankenberg, 447). Contemporary Racism not only affects African-Americans and Caucasians, but other ethnicities as well. She represented the wants and needs of the female population as well as their effect on the United States.
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Acceptance Essays
