Racism” is from the root “Race” which is an invention of white supremacy.
It is now obvious that only a very small number of genes determine our physical appearance and they are not in any way connected to genes that influence our abilities or qualities.
In the post-Civil Rights era, there is a temptation to assume that racism is no longer the pressing social concern in the United States that it once was.
According to the authors, in 21st century, skin color has come to replace race as an important cause of discrimination. This is evidenced in the increasing usage of the term “people of color” to encompass people of a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.
In order to disclose this topic we addressed a few questions to Ronald Hall who is a professor of social work at the Michigan State University and an expert in racism and diversity.
Where does the word racism come from?
Racism” is from the root “Race” which is an invention of white supremacy.
Many years ago people believed that it was possible to categorize human beings into groups that were called ‘races’. And that such categorization could establish some physical characteristics (for example skin colour or facial features) as well as qualities or particular abilities.
The belief that by looking at a person’s physical characteristics one can draw conclusions about them, and that some ‘races’ are altogether inferior or superior to others has come to be known as racism.
A very small number of genes determine our physical appearance and they are not in any way connected to genes that influence our abilities or qualities.
Research confirms that there are more biological differences within any one so-called ‘race’ than between any two. It comes out that there is only one race, The Human Race, to which we all belong and that people of all colours and appearances can have similar potential.
What Can We Do to Fight Racism?
The more people who stand up against racism, the less likely it will be that it takes hold.
At root racism is economic. The first thing to do is to eliminate “Race” from discourse.
Also i would suggest to fight racism:
By getting to know everyone around you and making friends based on personality, not skin colour.
Do not tolerate racist jokes or conversation in your presence.”
You should also refuse to support shops or companies that you feel are racist.
You can also organise an anti-racism campaign in your neighbourhood.
Do you agree that “Racism is taught”?
No doubt racism is taught. In the book “The history of white people” by Nell Painter, the author stresses that we are human beings and we are prone to learn everything that is happening around us.
Scientifically speaking, children are like sponges, they absorb everything in their path. Researches have shown that between the ages of 0 and 5 years the brain grows at a critical rate. It absorbs more information in between these years than any other.
From the moment of birth, an infant is making connections with the world. Racism is learned like anything else in the world.
Parents have a large influence on how a child deals with other people socially. The experience of interaction with the society begins at home.
I don’t believe that someone just is a racist to be racist. Children listen to how there mom and dad talk about others. Most of the time, adults use hateful language around children unaware of how they are affecting them. Children will often repeat what there parents say. They offend someone and they might think it’s ok because mommy and daddy said it was. The responsibility lays on parents to admit their mistakes and correct children.