Racial Relations
             How well do black and white live together? To be totally honest blacks and whites don't really live together even today. Blacks and whites segregate themselves in society today. People are bad about stereotyping different races in many different ways. If you drive by a trashy neighborhood the likely assumption you would make is, it is most likely the black part of town. Same with Mexicans and trailer parks. Stereotypes stretch much further than housing, types of food races eat, even the clothes they wear. The assumptions that people jump to are the result of many years and decades of slavery and racial hostility. Americans act like there is equality among all citizens; it is easier to turn your back on the problems we still face than to deal with them the right way, which would only better the situation for everyone, individually and as a nation.
             A common white assumption about racial relations today holds that discrimination is no longer a serious and widespread problem, which in reality it is both a widespread and serious problem. Whatever blatant racist hostility remains is mostly that of isolated white bigots and Klan-type organizations is another misconstrued white presumption. "Racial stereotyping, prejudice, and hostility still operate indiscriminately, despite the actual identities and achievements of the black indiciduals." (Sikes ix) People may not claim that they are a racist but inside their mind they are judging blacks every time they come into contact with them. For example, a teenage middle-class white male goes into the store to buy clothes, you may pay attention to them for shoplifting, primarily because of their age–not race. Same situation, except it is a black teenage male this time, the store clerk is much more likely to watch the black teenager over the white teenager for shoplifting. This is an example of institutionalized racism that has been passed down th...