Racism (120-160)

Summary: In the twenty first century, racism is still a problem. To some countries , racism is used to describe discrimination directed towards a group. Racializing people usually refers to an individuals ethnicity.   A person's ethnicity is based upon a myth, a myth of collective ancestry, that usually carries its traits. Language, religion, customs, and physical characteristics is what is usually related with ethnicity. Difference or diverseness of a person can cause, hatred, discrimination, and violence. Xenophobia is literally the fear of stranger, it is an ancient phenomenon. While racism is a historical construction covering the time from the fourteenth century to the twenty first.

What has been called a new racism in the United Stated, Britain, and France relates to culture rather than genetics. The arrival of numerous amounts of immigrants has changed the way France thinks of racism. It is more of a way to distinguish their culture as welcome or unwelcome. In Britain skin color and culture remain close to one another. While in France the color is not as important, in fact dark skinned may be acceptable or welcome. However, many of the most bloody and bitter ethnic conflicts have not been completely racialization. Most minorities are discriminated by cultural or religious belief, rather than genetics. There is temptation to expand the term racism, and even add xenophobia and persecution based on religious and cultural differences. Even though, it is not time to give in to that, specially since racism in a sense refers to the enslavement and colonial domination. Society might also fail to realize that religion and genetics are not similar.

Quote: "As has been suggested, religion easily becomes race in the twisted minds of racist skinheads in eastern Germany or the United States" (Fredrickson 150).

Reaction: Racism has become a struggle for many to try and get rid of the term all together, however the term has been becoming broader as society reaches the future. Referring to historical events in the United States, Africans were discriminated against and enslaved not for their beliefs but for their color, and the thought of them being of lower rank. In Germany, the Jewish were discriminated against for their beliefs, they were made to be thought of as inhumane. Now the term of racism is not only trying to be based upon physical characteristics or beliefs, but it has become a fear of people, or a certain type of person.