Racism and Its Effect on Society

Throughout world history, governments have violated and ignored the human and civil rights of their citizens. In some instances, they demonstrated this disregard through customs, etiquette, and racial caste systems that denied dignity and respect. In most cases, in addition to these customs, segregation rules and laws were established. Governments have also endorsed the extermination (ethnic cleansing) of entire classes or races of people. Racism is devastating to a country and its culture. Racism causes tremendous moral, cultural, and economic suffering to a country. When the seeds of hatred and ethnocentrism are planted and fostered in society, it negatively affects every area of life.

In a relevant example, white supremacy in America extends over centuries, and even the abolition of slavery could not end racism. Instead, it permeated throughout society in other ways in a racial caste system known as Jim Crow. More than a set of laws, it was a way of life that kept people of color from exercising their rights as full citizens. Jim Crow sent a message that whites were superior to other races, particularly the black race, in all ways, including behavior, intelligence, morality, and social status. The laws were so pervasive that they regulated every aspect of life, including socialization, sexual relations, marriage, housing education, entertainment, use of public facilities, and voting rights. Those that took a stand against white supremacy risked threats, intimidation, violence, and murder. Legalized racism from the federal government continued in the United States until the late 1960s; however, states continue to pass racially discriminatory laws. (See my Hub entitled "The Current Status of Black America.")

Racism does not allow for a collective contribution of its citizens, which I believe to be a critical component of a country’s development and success. If a class of people is not allowed to be educated, they cannot make important contributions to society in technological and medical arenas. The denial of quality education to certain groups of people only serves to obstruct the economic progress of a nation.

If a class of people is not allowed to participate culturally, we fail to understand and appreciate our differences and similarities. We become increasingly ethnocentric. We fail to develop socially, unable to get along with our fellow man. No matter how hard a society might try to separate classes or races, the bottom line is that, eventually, we will, at least on some occasions, share the same space. Therefore, it is imperative that we are accepting, not merely tolerant, of other ethnicities. The connotation for tolerance is that one must acknowledge the other, whereas acceptance encourages complete participation and fellowship.

Racism destroys our morality. No matter what a person’s culture or religious belief, racism is based on hypocrisy. To illustrate this point, the Christians have a commandment, issued by Jesus, to “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Most religions have similar philosophies governing their social morality. Yet, there is the hypocrisy in going out into the night to burn crosses or participating in hate crimes. Racism is powerful enough to undermine their Golden Rule and turn it upside down.

Many times we, as societies and individuals, think that racism will dissipate on its own, so we ignore it repeatedly. Something I read while in the process of developing a research paper made a significant impact on me. In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., made a profound statement in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”:

"When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see the tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people, you will understand why we find it difficult to wait (for change)."

His message is so clear that racism is most damaging to the children in the society in which they live.

I do not have an answer to or a cure for racism. Evidently, neither does the world around me since racism raises its ugly head more times than I will ever find tolerable. One cannot regulate thought or feeling through legislation. Only certain actions can be regulated, like the assurance of voting rights and punishment for those who perpetuate violent attacks. I might even be so bold to say that sometimes legislation serves to hide racism. People will find a way to practice it. For example, an employer could still feasibly say one person is more qualified than another but could be, in reality, favoring one race over another. Laws cannot force people to allow their children to play with the children of a race they may feel is inferior. Laws cannot stop people from cursing and shouting racial slurs at one another.

Despite this somewhat negative view, I have hope that one day, little by little, humanity will learn from the many tragedies that have been perpetuated in the name of racism. The rise of multicultural education is a great way to start. We need to understand the psychological, historical, and individualistic dynamics of racism first and then encourage others to take a stand against it publicly.

It serves no purpose to claim to believe in something and not have the courage to practice it. It serves no purpose to limit anti-racism to one’s refusal to participate in racist acts because it shows a lack of responsibility and ownership in one’s community.

We must be bold and persistent. We must take a stand and make a commitment to ourselves, our children, and our society to oppose racism when we see it and to seek for ways to eliminate it. The human community cannot afford to lose one more member to the evils of racism.

By Liza Lugo, J.D.

Works Cited

George, Charles. Life Under the Jim Crow Laws. San Diego. Lucent. 2000.

Letter from Birmingham Jail. (n.d). The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. Retrieved 06 July 2009 from http://mlkkpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/resources/article/annotated_letter_from_birmingham/

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