Racism

Essay by blackboomboom February 2003

download word file, 5 pages 3.8

Race relations are becoming increasingly important in our civilization. Despite this increasing importance, the question, 'Is our society racist?' is commonly debated, and my answer for this question is "yes". I notice the racism in America is so clear that people can see right through it. I can catch many actions, which can be considered discrimination, in our daily live, but it was neglected or was seemed to be normal. I remember the time when I caught a bus in the public. The bus driver embarrassed me, as an Asian, by asking cruelly my age to make sure that I paid the right fee. Because the adult fee, which is for over 18 people, is much more than the under 18 fee, he thought I juggled with him. Fortunately, I had my ID with me to show him. However, the depression brother me was that he had ignored other people before me and let them came in the bus easily.

They were also students at my age, but they were Whites. In finding the answer for the question, "Why only me?", I figured out the reason is that I am a minority.

"Racism" is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race" or "racial prejudice or discrimination". According to this definition, isn't the action of that bus driver discriminated? However, it seemed normal and no such a big problem in our society. In fact, racism was acceptable and often the normal way of life in our society. An obvious sign of this was that slavery was growing in this country. In "The Awful Truth" by Michael Moore, which I have seen in class, the Mexican workers were hazed...