Racism in America exists today just as much as it did fifty years ago and the different sides vary greatly. There are groups of racists who base their views entirely on their uneducated assumptions. A great example of this would be President Obama's presidential election. There were many people who used derogitory terms and spoke about how ignorant Obama is without knowing any of the facts. Many people acted negatively towards Obama for the only reason of skin color. At the same time there were people who supported Obama without knowing what they were supporting. In the CNN commentary:'No racism in the Election?,' put together by Ruben Navarrette Jr. on May 14, 2008, it is said that "Some want to know why it isn't racist when 70 percent of African-Americans vote for Obama but it is when 70 percent of whites vote against him." Racism takes place everywhere you look and it comes from all sides; no one group of people can be blamed for racism but it is the world population as a whole who has taken part in the war on racism.
Another group of people taking part in the war on racism in America are the people who believe in racial equality such as W. E. B. Dubois who was a black activist who fought for equal rights in the early 1900's. People like this are still around today. In a CNN article written by Liane Membis, posted on September 6, 2010, Timothy Askew is quoted saying, "I know people will probably think that I'm a sellout, but I think it is important that African-Americans nationally understand that we should be moving towards racial cohesiveness." The debate was over a song that has been labeled as the 'black national anthem.' Askew, a professer at Clark Atlanta University, says that by labeling a song as the 'black national anthem' African-American people are seperating themselves from other Americans. Askew is one of the many people who are currently fighting to create racial equality in America.
One of the most destructive forms of racism we have in America is in the work place. People are passed over for promotions, treated poorly and at times even threatened simply because of their racial backround. In the CNN News article, 'Former employees allege racism at Allied Aviation,' written by Jason Carroll and printed on March 6, 2006 says, "Eric Mitchell, a former employee, described how white workers and managers used a demeaning racial slur to describe blacks. He says his immediate supervisors did little to stop it. One day he went to work and saw his name, as well as the names of several other black employees, on something called the 'n----- hit list.' The list was written on a bathroom wall." Although there are laws protecting racial minorities, the racism and bigotry still exists in the work place.
~Posted by Ellie P.
