The Evolution of Racism: Origins and Impact

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Racism is a phenomenon that we have all witnessed. Many people do not believe that race is a biological category, but rather an artificial classification of individuals with no scientifically verifiable facts. In simple terms, the distinction between races does not stem from genetic characteristics. Rather, it is a social construct created based on how people perceive unfamiliar ideas and faces. The meaning of race varies depending on the context and time in which the term is used. Throughout U.S. history, the definition of "white" has evolved and encompassed additional groups such as Italians, Irish, and Jews. However, other ethnic groups, such as African, Latino, American Indian, Pacific Islander, and Asian descendants, have faced more difficulty in achieving global social acceptance. The uneven distribution of ethnicities impacts opportunities in education, economics, political representation, income, health, and social mobility for individuals of color.

The origin of this type of behavior, racism, remains a subject of discussion. Many theories exist regarding its inception, but the truth lies in human history.

In earlier times, when travel and exposure to diverse groups were limited, individuals mostly resided in homogenous communities. Fear of the unknown and different prevailed, as we lacked the ability to confront such circumstances. However, with our progress as a species, this changed. Nonetheless, the fear endured. It is a fact that racism emerged from encounters with individuals of different races, fueled by our inherent fear of change and the unfamiliar.

It appears that racism has persisted throughout our species' development, despite the expectation that we would have overcome it.

Contact with those whom we fear frequently results in conflicts, which over time has caused racism to evolve from mere personal dislike to a lasting and unchangeable basis of collective racism and prejudice.

The concept of contemporary racism is believed to have various origins, with one prevalent notion being the influence of upbringing. During childhood, individuals depend on their parents to shape their identity. This process includes adopting the parents' distinct viewpoints, which children lack the maturity to develop independently. Consequently, children rely on their parents for guidance, and this is frequently where the issue of racism arises.

The perception of Asians as sneaky, Whites as evil, or Blacks as criminals has a significant influence on our perceptions of these groups. According to an anonymous quote, upbringing plays a crucial role in the development of racism. Despite our efforts to personally know individuals from these groups, stereotypes may continue to exist in our subconscious minds.

The media has a significant role in perpetuating racism by influencing our thoughts and beliefs. As we get older, the media becomes an integral part of our lives regardless of our preferences, contributing to the continuation of racism. Crime shows like "Law and Order" and "CSI" have been crucial since the 1970s in assigning racial labels, reinforcing biases. When it comes to crime, people of color are often categorized as the "other," while white individuals are portrayed as virtuous and law-abiding citizens. Additionally, minority groups are frequently targeted without substantial evidence as directors and writers rely on racial stereotypes to create complex storylines with multiple suspects.

"The Power of One," a novel written by Bryce Courtney, portrays a society where racism is the core of the government, the country, and the world. Amidst the conclusion of World War II, in South Africa, animosity between whites and blacks is mutual. Under adverse circumstances at home with his mentally ill mother, a young white African boy named Peekay found solace in his caring black guardian, nicknamed "Nanny." Growing up alongside his black best friend, Peekay was oblivious to the existence of racism.

The author, Bryce Courtney, did not plan to write a book completely focused on racism in South Africa. Instead, he subtly introduces traces of apartheid through Peekay's experiences as a white boy, slowly infusing it into the fabric of South Africa like a toxic substance.

"Adapt, blend…develop a camouflage." This idea crossed Peekay's mind after experiencing racism at a boarding school where he was surrounded by larger, darker students. Even as a five-year-old in Chapters One and Two, the intelligent protagonist already recognizes the importance of adopting disguises to survive the oppressive environment. In order to avoid physical or verbal abuse, Peekay frequently alters his behavior to better assimilate with individuals of varying skin tones.

Peekay experiences his first encounter with racism on his very first night at the boarding school. A boy, referred to as "The Judge", who is much older, stronger, and darker than Peekay, gives him the derogatory nickname "PissKop" due to Peekay's bedwetting issue, which is a result of The Judge, along with several other older black students, physically assaulting Peekay and spitting in his face. The Judge also manipulates Peekay into believing that Hitler has plans to force all Englishmen in South Africa to march into the ocean, and even coerces Peekay into consuming human feces.

Upbringing plays a significant role in shaping individuals' inclinations towards racism or even holding subtle racial biases. In the case of Peekay, his experiences took him from one extreme to another. Within his home, besides his mother who was often at "The Mental Breakdown Place," Nanny and his best friend were the only family he had. However, when he was sent to a boarding school, he never expected the animosity from black students solely based on his skin color. Initially, he viewed them as mere bullies and did not anticipate their tendency to gang up on him simply because they were black. This experience contributed to Peekay's neutrality in a society with racist tendencies. He believed in giving everyone a fair chance and recognized the goodness present in different ethnicities, a perspective that many stubbornly refused to adopt.

The concept of the power of one, or how an individual can make a significant impact, is explored in relation to challenge within the novel. One example of this is Giel Piet, one of Peekay’s boxing coaches, who secretly supplied tobacco to all the prisoners. Sadly, he was subjected to eating feces by Sergeant Ballman, a racist prison guard. Giel Piet felt compelled to comply in order to protect the other prisoners from being punished if the tobacco was discovered. As Peekay witnessed this horrifying act towards his coach, he felt a deep sense of anger towards the situation and his own inability to intervene.

Racism has a profound impact on society, particularly on racial and ethnic oppressed groups who face numerous challenges in achieving equal access and opportunities. This is especially evident during times of economic hardship when finding well-paying jobs or housing becomes increasingly difficult for these targeted races. Despite some progress, significant disparities persist in the labor force status of racial minorities. Racism permeates all aspects of employment, resulting in economic disadvantages for many individuals from exploited racial and ethnic communities.

Extensive research shows that people of color are often the last to be hired and the first to be fired. Consequently, budget cuts, downsizing, and privatization disproportionately affect people of color. For instance, statistics from February 1995 reveal that the unemployment rate for African Americans was 10.1 percent compared to 4.7 percent for white Americans (Berry, 1995). Moreover, adolescents of color experience an unemployment rate approximately four times higher than that of their white counterparts.

In America, black men constitute the majority of unemployed individuals while Blacks and Latinos have significantly lower average income levels compared to other races.

The process of finding and maintaining a home can be challenging for people of color due to difficulties in finding employment. Despite laws prohibiting discrimination based on ethnicity, housing segregation in the United States is a nationwide problem that requires new government policies to address. Landlords who hold racist beliefs can hinder families of color in their housing search, even though they have the responsibility to rent homes to reliable individuals or families. These regulations may be unclear because racism is not always easily visible. Evidence shows that blacks and Hispanics face higher rates of rejection and less favorable terms when obtaining mortgages compared to whites with similar credit characteristics (Ross & Yinger 1999). Furthermore, it has been reported that regardless of income level, purchase date, or buyer's age, blacks pay more than 0.5% higher interest rates on home mortgages than whites.

In his book, "Whitewash Race: The Myth of a Colorblind Society," Michael K. Brown uncovers how racial stereotypes during the Great Depression resulted in heightened financial difficulties for people of color. During the late 1930s, black individuals experienced unemployment rates that were two to four times higher compared to their white counterparts. Additionally, many black individuals did not have savings to alleviate the impact of the economic downturn. Those who were already grappling with finding stable and well-paying jobs encountered even more hurdles and an increased likelihood of failure. Mrs. Roosevelt expressed specific concern about the economic challenges stemming from racism.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a novel by Mildred D. Taylor that depicts the challenges faced by the Logans, an African-American family living in the southern United States during the Great Depression. Despite being black farmers at a time when resources are scarce, the Logans work hard to protect their small farmland. The scarcity of money is also prevalent among their community and neighbors.

In this society, Cassie, Stacey, Christopher-John, and Little Man - the children of the Logan family - are subjected to the authority of white children who freely intimidate those they see as inferior or physically harm individuals who associate with black children. T.J., a close friend of the Logan children who often goes to school with them, regularly experiences discrimination firsthand at great personal cost.

On the first day of school, Cassie and her brothers experience a chaotic moment when a bus full of white kids passes by, engulfing them in red dust. However, they later retaliate by sabotaging the bus. This incident reveals the deplorable treatment of black kids by their white counterparts, as well as the necessity for black children to walk long distances to school. In fact, some black kids are forced to drop out due to the exhausting walks. Cassie, a fourth-grade student, attends a school exclusively for black children. To their astonishment, on their first day back to school, they discover that they now have books in their classroom, which was a rare luxury for an all-black school at that time. Yet, Cassie quickly realizes why they were given the books. The books turn out to be old and dirty, with a label reading "Nigras" clinging desperately to the inside of the front cover. This discovery infuriates Cassie, leading her to refuse taking the book and ultimately resulting in her being whipped as punishment for her defiance.

The Logan kids realize the danger of living in a racist, white community when a group of white men kills a black man without facing any consequences. Racism becomes a central problem for the Logan family. Cassie is confused about the differential treatment they receive and refuses to back down due to her skin color. On the contrary, Stacey opts to maintain a low profile in the white community to avoid raising any red flags that may lead to problems.

This novel effectively portrays how racism perpetuates itself by showing how it impacts a specific race. Despite facing numerous challenges, the Logan family emerges stronger by the end of the book, largely due to their ability to see beyond skin color, an ability that the rest of the town lacks. The incident with the school bus, although a minor act of retaliation, demonstrates the close bond formed among the children as a result of their shared experiences with racism from white children. Racism forces races to come together, creating a sense of unity and making it easier to discriminate against them.

Throughout human history, racism has been present. It is commonly defined as the hatred or belief that someone is inferior due to their skin color, place of birth, and cultural practices. However, these arguments are based on a flawed understanding of race. Some contemporary scientists argue that the current classification of races is inadequate and that there are more accurate methods of categorizing humans. What may appear as significant "racial" disparities, such as skin color, hair, and facial shape, do not hold much scientific importance. In fact, there can be greater biological differences between individuals of the same race than between different races. One philosopher explains that the genetic characteristics found in the population of England are also present in similar proportions in Zaire and China. Therefore, the differences that primarily impact our interactions with one another are not largely determined by biology.

Often, fear is concealed with racism, leading people to act racist. Many individuals respond with fear towards those who appear different from them, causing discomfort and pain to the person or object of fear. Instead of addressing these differences, a wall remains, preventing unity and agreement.

Unfortunately, there is no solution to the issue at hand. It is a sad reality of this era that people are diverse by nature and tend to react negatively towards unfamiliar entities or individuals. According to scientists, animals also exhibit a similar tendency to protect their own species, even if it means disregarding others. This innate behavior is the root cause of racism and prejudice in society.

As humanity progresses, our thinking grows more complex, mirroring the evolving world around us. While our previous values are not forgotten, they are replaced by new ones as our former ways remain in the recesses of our minds. Though they may resurface if circumstances change, they no longer hold dominance. This is truly the desired outcome in our battle against racism. If we can overcome the triviality of racism to the extent that it goes unnoticed, we will be on a positive path. To commence this transformation, as Morgan Freeman suggests, we must "Stop Talking About It."