why do YOU think racism is so prevalent in America?

[Boog's one]

There are a couple of "racism threads" flying around and I started to wonder, why is it that there is racism in America?

Its supposed to be a melting pot of various diverse cultures, a mainly migrant nation. Supposedly with hight racial tolerance.

So why?

I can't understand it as well as a born and bread American, so please help me understand

Ps: I'll have to leave for class in a hot minute but I'll be back in a jiffy to check on the thread

TIA

[danyell]

Oh I don't know......

SLAVERY might have something to do with it.

There has been a LONG, LONG history of the White man domineering over other races. From that, stems bitterness for the White man, anger, etc....

[Boog's one]

Originally Posted by danyell Oh I don't know...... SLAVERY might have something to do with it. There has been a LONG, LONG history of the White man domineering over other races. From that, stems bitterness for the White man, anger, etc....

So this addresses the Caucasian and African American Issue.

Do the African Americans feel victimized from that?

[Songtan Sally]

Racism seems to be everywhere, not just in America. Koreans hate Japanese and Americans.

[Darth_Vader]

Racism is not just in America. Wherever people are different, there will be those who are prejudiced.

[JRal]

Because segregation was legal up until 1954. That means a lot of people alive today, experienced segregation. IMO, it will become less of any issue as that generation passes on.

[BubblesofBeer]

Race and racism are social constructs. It is something we as a society have defined and labeled. I think a lot of the aggression and negative feelings that show up in outwards actions such as hate crimes, are caused by the institutionalization of racism. It shows up in education with issues such as poverty and the quality of a school system and the demographics who make up that group. It's in government, our government is historically rich white christian men.

As much as we think of our Nation as one with equal rights and opportunities the proportion of those who actually reap the benefits equal rights and opportunities is incredibly small.

Also most people feel powerless and are powerless to change our society. I think it's just a long brewing issue of not just race but class.

[Marley]

Racism was the foundation of nation building. American Slavery. American Freedom. Racism co existed with the melting pot and all that. Moments of amazing tolerance and interracial cooperation coexisted with moments of deep hatred and intolerance. Racism has been part and parcel of almost all aspects of American life for hundreds of years. It's not some contradiction or anomoly.

I just picked up this book. It's short but very good: OUP: Rattansi: Racism: A Very Short Introduction - Oxford University Press
It looks at race and racism in the Western world so it provides some international context as well.

[DakotaCowgirl]

You are going to deal with Racism. It is part of life. All sides are racism. I don't think it is just about slavery. I think it is all around. You can bring in the Japanese from WW2 that were in camps here in the US. You can bring in the Irish coming over. You can bring in so much more...and it goes on and on.

Some people are just that way. They have a chip on their shoulder and you can't git rid of it.

[ForeverYours]

Originally Posted by Boog's one So this addresses the Caucasian and African American Issue. Do the African Americans feel victimized from that?

As much as black people would like to move on and for the most part a good majority of us have...there was an undertone set from slavery and as Danyell said the "white man" has or seems to have always had the upper hand.

So yes I would say people do feel victimized by it. Until some ignorant people can stop being in denial or saying something doesn't exist because they have never experienced...I really dont see to many major advancements being made.