Is America really a free country? Technically, yes, but then why are people of different races still treated like they are inferior to the white man? Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Jordan, Beyonce. These are all familiar names to the average American; these are also all people of color. So why are black people looked down upon when these people are all legends in the eye of most people? Almost fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out trying to gain more rights for black people, and as we know he was successful. However, fifty years have passed and we have found ourselves still living in a racially prejudiced world. Many American legends are black, and are making history and achieving goals, yet are still undermined by about 51-56% of America (The Majority of America is Racist, Politi 1). If police officers continue to shoot and kill innocent people and children continue to receive a lesser education, action must be taken.
Although police officers officers shooting people may be necessary at some points, studies have shown that innocent black deaths are much more frequent than deaths those of white citizens. According to an article found on Thegaurdian.com, “Young black men were again killed by police at a sharply higher rate than other Americans in 2016, intensifying concerns over the expected abandonment of criminal justice reforms by Donald Trump’s incoming administration” (McCarthy and Swaine 3). Making a rude comment regarding someone's race is definitely not right; however, it has no comparison to actually killing someone over something they can not control. The number of black deaths is almost double the number of white deaths caused by police shootings. One does not choose one’s race, so people being killed for it is unacceptable in today’s society.
Racial equality rights are obviously widely known throughout America yet education is still provided at different levels based on your ranking, or standing in society. According to bookings.edu, “The school system remains highly segregated by race and economic status: black students make up 16% of the public school population.” Bookings.edu later stated, “The average black student also attends a school at the 37th percentile for test score results whereas the average white student attends schools in the 60th percentile”(Bleak Facts on Black Opportunity 2). Present day America is recognized as a place of opportunity; however, if this is true then black students should not be receiving a lesser education. This is basically limiting their chance of success, as if society’s general racism isn’t enough of a limit. Better education leads to a better chance at success. By putting the futures of children in jeopardy, systemic racism is being practiced.
Obviously America has come along way from where we were fifty years ago, but racism is still an issue today, and should not go unaddressed. How far will America go? How many more tragic events have to take place for this to stop? This needs to end quickly before we all end up paying the price for this horrible treatment.
May the nation find peace and remember that we are all equal, so we should be treated equal, in hopes to regain the mindset that people of color deserve the same opportunity as those of lighter complexion, because looking beyond their skin they are exactly like everyone else. They are people with families to support, goals to achieve, feelings to protect. They too have one beating heart, it is important to never give anyone the reason to want to make it stop beating.
Works Cited
Swaine, Jon. McCarthy, Ciara. Young Black Men Again Faced Highest Rate of US Police Killings in 2016. 8 Jan. 2017 . 26 Oct. 2017
Rodrigue, Edward. Reeves, Richard V. Bleak Facts on Black Opportunity. 15 Jan 2015. 26 Oct. 2017 <https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2015/01/15/five-bleak-facts-on-black-opportunity/ >
Politi, Daniel. Majority of Americans are Racist. 27 Oct. 2012 26.Oct. 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment