Racism in the united states
Racism in the united states dates back since the colonial period when the white Americans were given more privileges than then rest of the other races considered less superior to them. They enjoyed rights such as access to education, voting rights, citizenship, right to own property, but these were enjoyed mostly by Americans of European descent, primarily white Anglo-Saxon protestants. It wasn’t the case for the rest of the immigrants, especially those non-protestants from other parts of Europe, such as in the case of Irish people, Italians, and of Polish descent (Brattain, M. 2014). The non-protestants as much as they came from the same part of the world with the ones affiliated to the Anglo-Saxon protestants, they continuously faced such as exclusion and other forms of discrimination. Different groups of people who also were met with the same kind of treatment include; Arabs, Jews, Asians, and African, especially those of whom were brought as slaves.
Racism brought about institutions that were racially and ethnically motivated, such as slavery, segregation based on skin color, reservations and boarding for the native Americans, immigration, and naturalization laws (Bush, R. 2006). It has only strengthened discrimination to be able to extend into all aspects of life, especially the lives of colored communities. Although it’s banning in the 20th century as being socially and morally degrading, it affects politically as well socioeconomically. It is being shown in the strata formed in today’s society in employment, housing, education, and also in the provision of government services. Institutions and culture have not aided but further added fuel to already dire situation by proclamation of white superiority and inferiority of other races (Brattain, M. 2014). Institutions such as the labor market and also health services that favor the white Americans compared to the different colored communities, who are more likely to be unemployed and get more indigent medical care than their counterparts.
References
Brattain, M. (2014). Anthony Q. Hazard, Postwar Anti-racism: The United States, UNESCO, and “Race,” 1945–1968. The American Historical Review
Bush, R. (2006). Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States. Science & Society