A Turning Point for America: Local Governments and Schools Must Lead the Fight Against Racism
A Turning Point for America: Local Governments and Schools Must Lead the Fight Against Racism
One evening at work, I witnessed an incident that revealed the reality of racism. A customer entered and without hesitation, he blatantly made a racist remark about my colleague. He looked at me, assuming I would agree with his views. He appeared worn down and irritated, but that wasn't an excuse for the remark he made. Bounded by professionalism, I was unable to address his behavior directly. Though he exited the store, he left an everlasting disgraceful memory. It served as a reminder that these attitudes still appear all around us, even when we'd like to hope they are fading away from daily life.
The Washington Post / Staff
Across the United States, individuals are still judged and mistreated because of their race. This is alarming and raises difficult but necessary questions. What current issues are tied to racism, and how do these issues affect the people who experience them? These concerns raise the central question of this discussion: Which factors contribute to racism, and how can we prevent and overcome it in the United States? Local government agencies and education institutions should provide more education on racism to help prevent and overcome it as a society.
The issues tied to racism today have significant and lasting effects. Nearly 1 in 4 of the Latino Americans experiences discrimination or unfair treatment, a number far too high for a nation that values equality. As Roberts notes, people are still viewed as inferior, denied basic rights, judged before they are known, and subjected to harassment. These experiences generate strong emotional responses like anger, fear, discouragement, and a sense of not belonging. They can correlate with fear of police or authority and anxiety entering public spaces. This often leads people to be hesitant to speak up for themselves or others. No one should fear leaving their home or applying for a job because of their skin color or hair texture. Nationwide, the imprison rate for African American women is two times more than white women. This affects families, children, and financial stability. Arthur further explains that institutional policies established decades ago continue to influence segregation and poverty in certain communities. America is known for making something of yourself from nothing and where inclusivity is valued except for when it comes to people who are "different".
This chart examines how Black and Hispanic populations are treated unjustly. It shows how they are more likely to be under parole supervision compared to the White population.
Education remains one of the most effective tools for addressing these inequalities. Roberts notes, learning about the origins of racism, they ways it was once justified by law, and the impact it still has today helps prevent history from repeating itself. While the nation has made significant progress over the past half-century, racism continues to exist all around us. Schools and local governments should expand programs and courses that encourage understanding and awareness. Greater access to information allows people to reflect on their actions and recognize the importance of empathy and fairness within our society. This can be completed through guest speakers or other representatives. Many people often forget the golden rule and with the help of education we can reinforce that value.
There are effective steps as a society that we can take to prevent and overcome racism. One of the most important steps is ensuring that harmful attitudes are not passed down to children. Young people display the behavior they observe and are surrounded by. When guardians or other adults express racist views around them, even subtly, they learn to imitate those attitudes. Adults can help break this pattern by being mindful of their actions that children may witness. It is also crucial for individuals to examine their own thoughts and behaviors. Moving beyond rigid thinking and approaching others with openness rather than judgment can help tremendously.
Arthur suggests that educators can support long-term change by introducing more cultural diversity into the classroom. Also, Arthur suggests that recognizing different holidays or hosting cultural food events as a lesson can help students understand perspectives beyond their own. Exposure to different cultures has been shown to encourage respect and reduce racism. Local governments can also strengthen community programs that focus on diverse cultural backgrounds. This can be done with better advertising and making the events more inclusive by introducing multiple ethnic groups.
One common argument is, "We already have plenty of government and education programs, why should we be worried about adding more?" Though taxpayers want their money spent wisely and adding more programs may increase costs, it is still very important to add more programs. Some locations around the country still don't focus on it as much as others do. You can come to the assumption that those locations are more predominantly racist. Those areas should be the primary focus for government improvement. Also, some of those programs only mention one or two ethnicities; they need to expand and educate further.
I believe that, as a society, we are fully capable of overcoming racism if individuals are willing to make a sincere effort. No one wants to tolerate being treated unfairly on the basis of race or ethnicity. Kindness costs nothing and can brighten someone's entire day. It has the power to counter acts against ignorance and disrespect.
Racism functions much like a social disease, spreading harm and ignorance. Taking intentional steps to educate oneself not only promotes personal growth but also contributes to a more informed and understanding country. It is important to not participate when others are making racist remarks but instead speak up when such behavior is displayed. By acting out of harm's way individuals can help create an environment where respect and dignity is upheld for everyone.
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