Discrimination in America Essay - 646 Words

Discrimination in America Prejudice is the negative attitude based on false generalizations about members of different racial and ethnic groups. From prejudice, discrimination is born. We all are guilty of discriminating other people, but one can only speculate the factors that bring about this hatred towards one another. Although a single cause cannot account for the presence of racism, factors such as socialization, self-justification, and competition are a few human attributes that lead to acts of racial discrimination. At an early age, children begin the process of socialization. In order for one to be able to communicate with others, it is essential for one to learn to socialize with the people around them. One cause†¦show more content†¦A child’s upbringing lays the foundations for their social skills and the way they interact with other ethnic groups. Another attribute that leads to racial discrimination is the way that people find means to justify their actions by degrading the actions of others. For instance, during the Vietnam War, American soldiers assumed that civilians of small villages were aiding the Vietcong. Based on presumption, the soldiers felt justified to torture the villagers and destroy their homes. â€Å"If we are able to convince ourselves that another group is inferior, immoral, or dangerous, then we can feel justified in discriminating against them, enslaving them, or even killing them†. The American soldiers deemed the torturing of the village people reasonable by convincing themselves that it would help destroy the Vietcong. Self-justification is apparent even in today’s society. Humans are always searching for excuses to justify our actions towards one another. The need to compete for possessions, jobs, and status causes people to feel animosity towards other ethnic groups. For example, during the 1800’s the Chinese occupied many of the jobs building railroads; this made the Anglo-Americans angry, they felt as if the Chinese were taking over the job market. In turn, this led the Chinese to become â€Å"victims of open discrimination and hostility†. Although the Chinese were already barred from schools and the court system, the Anglo-Americans felt that the ChineseShow MoreRelatedEssay Discrimination in America835 Words   |  4 PagesOur world has always been faced with the problem of discrimination. It is one of the most discussed topics nowadays and throughout history. In all countries there is most likely at least one type of discrimination that affects different groups of people. The definition of discrimination is the denial of opportunity or equal rights for a specific group of people that may be differentiated by things such as their religion, color of skin, or gender. The world we live in has been struggling withRead MoreIs Discrimination Killing America?1092 Words   |  5 PagesIs Discrimination Killing America? Eric Brene once said, â€Å"The moment a little boy is concerned with which is a jay and which is a sparrow, he can no longer see the birds or hear them sing.† This quote is not only powerful and alarming but it too can shed some light on the situation here in America regarding discrimination. Discrimination is a plague of society that has cast a shadow over this country and has caused tension among us in the process. The question remains: is discrimination killingRead MoreRacial Discrimination in America1439 Words   |  6 PagesDate: August 16, 2010 Racial Discrimination in America Abstract The framers that wrote the Declaration of Independence intended for this country to be founded on the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. To an extent, this has been true, but our country still has a long way to go. 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Certain people areRead MoreAmerica Still Divided : Racism And Discrimination1091 Words   |  5 PagesParker Soc206 April 30, 2015 Final/Research Paper America Still Divided Racism and discrimination inequalities have become a major discussion throughout the years in our society. Inequalities has impacted every level of humanity on this earth. Education, tolerance and acceptance can be used to challenge one another in attempt to change the negative traditions that continue to exist in our culture. Racism and discrimination inequalities continues to be passed from generation to generationRead MoreGender Discrimination Against Bank Of America876 Words   |  4 PagesAct, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and many state laws. Even with these laws, discrimination still occurs within the workplace. This paper will investigate a case of gender discrimination against Bank of America and what could have been done to prevent this from happening. Calibuso et al. v. Bank of America Corp. et al. In 2010, a group of female financial advisors filed a national class action lawsuit against Bank of America and Merrill Lynch under gender discrimination. The main plaintiffRead MorePrejudice and Discrimination in America Today Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pagesblack professionals in all arenas of work has risen to the point where seeing a black physician, attorney, or a college professor are becoming more a common sight. More and more black people are holding positions of respect and authority throughout America today, such as Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Condelezza Rice and many other prominent black executives. As a result of their apparent success, these black people are seen as role models for many Americans, despite their race. However, these groups ofRead More Discrimination and Civil Rights in America Essay701 Words   |  3 Pagestheir rights, but in reality, they are not now equal, nor have they ever been. African Americans, women, Hispanic Americans, the disabled, Jews, Ame rican Indians, Catholics, and members of nearly every other minority group have been victims of discrimination in fact and in law.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The nation’s creed- â€Å"all men are created equal†- has encouraged minorities to believe that they deserve equal justice and has given weight to their claims. Inequality is built into almost every aspect of our society