Race is a category of individuals who are believed to share common in born biological traits, such as skin color, color and texture of hair, and shape of eyes, nose or head (Newman 2007 p g 40). In the United States, the black and white color line has historically been rigidly defined and enforced. White is seen as a "pure category". Any racial intermixture makes a person "nonwhite" (Ore 2011 p g 21). Skin color prejudice dates back to thousands of years. In 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified and outlawed slavery. However, this did not end the brutality that the African Americans continued to experience. The concept of race has been a major topic which has varied over time. Racism began with the European explorers of the New World. The European explorers discovered that people looked different from themselves; therefore, they questioned if all human species should be considered from the same family. Racial social construction varies in comparison with the United States. In the United States an African American is defined as anyone having a drop of black blood or one thirty second "negro blood". Throughout the years, there have been many initiatives instituted in an effort to dissolve racial discrimination. African Americans for many years have experienced cruel and unjust treatment and have take many initiatives throughout the years in an effort to achieve equal rights. However racial discrimination continues to challenge the African Americans. The Affirmative Action plan was developed in the 1960's. The Affirmative Action plan is a program that seeks out to provide equal opportunities to members of ethno racial minority groups and women for educational or occupational positions in which they had previously been under represented (Newman 2007 p g 294). According to Newman (2007), the protections and remedies embedded in affirmative action policies have been used successfully in several areas of social life (p g 294). The Civil Rights Movement was another initiative that has achieved some notable successes for the African Americans. According to Newman (2007), the "sit-ins", a group of black male students that sat at a counter to be served where normally only whites sat, proved to be one of the most effective tactics of the Civil Rights Movement (p g 321). Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are just a few African Americans that still get acknowledged today for their impact on racism and discrimination. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech that impacted the way of many individuals thinking. "I Have a Dream" is a famous speech that is still known and talked about today. In his speech he talks about how the nation will eventually rise and live out the meaning of creed. He also talked about how sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down at the table of brotherhood. Racism is based on a person's perception. Many times, people do not realize that the things that are said many times have an impact on someone else's life.
References:
Newman, D. M. (2006) Identities and inequalities: Exploring the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Ore, T. E. (2011) The social construction of difference & inequality: Race, class, gender and sexuality. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill.
