Racism

Introduction

Racism dates back to the beginning of human existence, when small, isolated communities feared those who looked different or practiced different customs. Among the first civilizations, economic success and technological prowess incited a sense of superiority and the characterization of other population groups as "savage" or in some way inferior. The Roman Empire's active expansion over the rest of Europe, for example, involved subjugation of fierce, war-ready Germanic tribes that it deemed "barbarians." The ancient Greeks also harbored negative stereotypes of foreign peoples, such as the Persians. This paper discusses racism and its current situation.

Discussion

The extent of the problem of racism for some races especially African Americans in contemporary society is a topic of heated debate, especially given the election in 2008 of Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States. The Economist magazine claims Obama's election “provided solid evidence that race matters less in America than pessimists suppose”. (Wise, 12-20)

The extent to which race still matters is relevant to determining the extent to which racism is a serious problem in the United States, whether racism is institutionalized in society and culture, whether affirmative action programs should be pursued, and what—if anything—needs to be done about racism. By presenting different views on the extent of racism in the United States and proposed solutions for combating racism, Current Controversies: Racism sheds light on this complex and sensitive issue. (Williams, 63-65)

1. Is Racism Still an Issue Today?

The extent of the problem of racism for African Americans in contemporary society is a topic of heated debate, especially given the election of Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States.

The concept of 'racism' has received a great deal of attention in recent years and attempts to define it have focused on racism as practice (institutional and 'everyday' racism) and racism as prejudice or belief (individual and psycho-social racism), even theorizing the idea of the authoritarian personality, prone to racism. Underpinning the practice and belief are assumptions that human attributes are determined by 'race', defined biologically or culturally. In the post-1945 period, racist theories have tended to shift from a focus on biological characteristics to cultural characteristics, although there have been recent attempts to revive the biological components through the use of genetics and psychological tests. (Barndt, 42-46)

Racism is a specific form of discrimination within civil society. Such discrimination, although it still occurred, was outlawed in Western societies in the twentieth century, signaling that no one should be disadvantaged on grounds of cultural background or skin color. Modern racism evolved in the Renaissance amid claims that some specific peoples were worth less than others. Europeans cultivated the art of supremacy and, in the process, looked upon most other cultures and their people as "inferior." (Cose, 15-50)

Although racism in one form or another may have existed as long as recorded human history, accurate accounts of it have not always survived. Another term may have been used for what came to be called racism. Some writers ...