Racism Can Be Stated as the Attitude

Racism can be stated as the attitude or practice of recognizing authority/supremacy of one group over another. It is either founded on race, color, ethnicity or cultural heritage. It is, if truth be told, a global tradition and is not only limited to a particular area or group of people. One can notice racism at all individual, group or institutional levels. Racism is spread and conserved by the introduction of planned activities and policies in economical, societal, political, educational, religious and cultural aspects of life. It is not a difficult thing to distinguish the narrow-minded, dogmatic and prejudiced people who shape up their way of thinking, philosophy, traditions, attitudes and practices on the basis of racial ideology. This picky set of thought is not only possessed by the general public. Even those hold powerful positions demonstrate the same beliefs and practices of racial discrimination ("Racism" 2012).

Racism has continued to be one of the biggest issues of the American society today. Unfortunately, the non-white population in the United States of America has been over and over again subjected to individual and institutional discrimination. Despite the fact that a number of civil rights groups and political leaders have put all their efforts to stop racial discrimination practices, they have continued. There are innumerable non-white citizens in America who are living their lives in a state of depression, dejection and melancholy due to the prevailing biased ideology (Crocker 2007).

Racism is affecting the American society in a number of ways. Our society is now functioning in such a manner that the people of color are always bothered, mistreated and troubled. Unluckily, the prearranged unfairness towards the subjugated colored-people/groups has become a critical part of the communal behavior. The racist and prejudicial thoughts have permeated in just about every prime area of life whether education, employment, legal system, finances, housing, politics, religion, and communal relationships. The bitter truth is that a large number of people including poor, wealthy, educated and unlearned encourage and support this negativism ("Racism" 2012).

Thus, prejudice has clouded the reality for majority of whites. For them, the past, cultural expressions, personal relationships are laughable, mediocre and sham. They regard themselves superior to the colored. These thoughts of supremacy have, therefore, produced false hopes. Racism has also encouraged the white men to physically assault non-white women due to which the molested women are devalued in the American society. Racism has also distorted the democratic ideologies. It has motivated whites to destabilize the theory of merit. For them, it is their birth right to be treated as the most honored of all beings. Racism has also contradicted the provision of equal opportunities. Not only this, the white psychology has also been affected by racism. They fear, detest, suspect, blame, disgrace and dislike blacks. The majority of whites enjoy spending their wealth, time, energy and emotions in humiliating the colored people. This waste of energy, finances and time is done only in the name of social discrimination. Moreover, racism has intensified the issues of poverty, transgression, joblessness and connected problems in society. To cut a long story short, racial discrimination has beleaguered our general effectiveness as a consequence of biased unfairness. The blinding ideology of racism has made most white people unable to understand and figure out the off-putting impacts of the thoughts, actions and words to people of other races (Seldon 1991).

The practice of discrimination has also restricted and lessened the contributions that many colored citizens can provide to the American society, institutions and businesses. Many colored individuals are unable to showcase their talents just because they have a different complexion or are related to a non-white community. Racism has also given birth to an undependable, dilapidated and unfair judicial system that has failed to deliver mutually-acceptable, equal justice to the people of color. To cut a long story short, racism has incorporated a harmful and pigeonholed thinking into our minds that is endlessly concaving our society. Racism has also become a causative factor in deteriorating our relations with other nations of the world. It has perplexed our responsibility and position in the world and has unluckily led us to actions which promote chauvinism (Seldon 1991).

What Can Be Done to Eradicate Racism?

A lot can be done to fight racism in the community. I am a resident of Phoenix and I regularly observe that the whites humiliate and detest non-whites every now and then. However, being a non-racist, I think it is my responsibility to fight against it. I believe that this is, in fact, the responsibility of every dutiful citizen to combat racism in his/her community. Moreover, the society as a whole must play a positive role in eradicating racism and prejudice from American culture. It is not an untold secret that our forefathers have done a lot to inculcate in our minds the ideas of ethnic and racial differences. However, this is exceedingly important for us to take the beginning step in order to fight racism.

No one is born with an intention to become a racist. Therefore, it is one's own responsibility to assess his/her character and get rid of the racist ideas and regard others as an equal human being. Having racist ideas is not only harmful for the oppressed but also diminishes one's own humanity. It is, therefore, very important to stop being "hard, cold, and unfeeling to the plight of the oppressed" (Sue 2003, p. 198). It is necessary to conquer the apathy and the feeling of helplessness on a personal level if one wants to change. One can grow if he is personally desirable of confronting and unlearning his/her racist training. To get rid of racist thoughts, the best way is to be in contact with the different groups of the community and gain information about them. It is also important to be in association with the strong people of the culture to learn from them. In short, a person must learn from his/her own commitment to individual action against racism. Above all, one must feel a sense of unison or interconnectedness with the entire human race. One should cooperate with others rather than competing to eradicate racism and related ideologies (Sue 2003).