Types of Modern Racism

Racism

When people believe that the people of a particular race are inferior to another, it is referred to as racism, and these beliefs have taken on different forms throughout human history (Anti-Defimation League, N.d.). When people of a particular ethnic group or historical collectivity are tried to be eliminated by another or dominate or exclude another based on the differences that the dominant group believes is hereditary in nature and unalterable, it is called racism. Broadly, racism is identified on the basis of two characteristics. When a dominant group of people believes that another race or group of people are morally inferior and hence such people deserve less respect and concern, it is racism based on moral considerations.

However, Hoon the other hand, when a dominant group of people believes that another race or group of people, on an average, is genetically inferior and hence based on this assumption, tend to consider them less intelligent or less capable in the general sense, it is racism based on genetics and has actually been supported by previous generations of scientists (Colman, 1972). Despite the fact that the basis of the two form of racism is logically distinct and it is possible that one form of racism can be subscribed while ignoring the other, yet these two forms of racism tend to usually go together. However, more modern DNA techniques suggest that not only is race or ethnicity a poor predictor of most genetic traits, it is very hard to define as there are no sharp distinctions in evolutionary paths (Schoofs, N.d.).

The general characteristics that are used to or that tend to generate racial behavior include personal aspects like color, nationality, citizenship and ethnic or national origins. In many countries, being racial or acting in a manner that amounts to denying someone his or her legal rights on the basis of racial discrimination is illegal. For example, in many countries including the United States, it is illegal to deny any individual their right to employment and training and education on the basis of race or any of the elements of racism. Even denying an individual the rights to any form of goods and services like in the banking, entertainment or the transport and housing sector is also illegal and can be punishable by law. Denial of services provided by public authorities like the government health services and other government departments and local authorities and the police etc. is on the basis of an individual or a group's race or racial bias is also not acceptable within the law in many countries.

The conduct of racism can happen in two ways - direct and indirect (Morrisey, 2015). Actions can be described as or constitute direct race discrimination when in individual or a group of people belonging to a particular race is treated less favorably compared to how someone else would have been treated in similar same circumstances, on the basis of his/her racial background. Examples of direct racism include racist abusing and harassment. When an employer refuses to appoint or denies promotions or opportunities for training and development to someone due to the fact that that individual belongs to a community from a different race constitutes direct racial discrimination.

On the other hand, when members of a racial, ethnic or national group are denied or are made less likely to meet certain conditions of rules or regulations or practice, and which are to be easily fulfilled by members of another race, so that the former is put at a disadvantage is described as indirect racism and racial discrimination. Insisting that candidates applying for a particular job should have a degree from a particular country or university or the banning of wearing a special type of dress that is customary for or usually worn by a certain ethnic group are examples of indirect racism. Laws in many countries also cover indirect racism where individuals who feel they have been discriminated against can file complaints either with government agencies or with the concerned department within an organization that is believed to have set up the rule, or practice.

However, most often it is not possible to clearly distinguish indirect racism even though it is the most common form of racism practiced even in the most developed societies and countries. In the modern period, racism has taken a deep ideological basis for debates and social upheavals in the Western world. In Americas, racism became an issue only in the modern era during the early nineteenth century which saw huge social struggles by so-called minority groups in the country to fight against racism and which ultimately led to the passing of the historic Civil Rights Act in 1964.

In Europe on the other hand, there seems to be no historical reference to or evidence of racism or racial bias before the Middle Ages. For example, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the Jews were associated with devil and witchcraft and the belief gained popularity and which perhaps noted the first sign of racism anywhere in the world. There are also historic traces of racism in Asia and the middle east but historically they do not seem to be as profound as in the western countries.