Prejudice

LUcille ENG 15 – Assignment #5 Informative Essay Dr. Belew 15 August 2010 Being Prejudice According to Macionis (2009, p. 362), “Prejudice is a rigid and unfair generalization about an entire category people.” In the United States (U.S.), there are a diverse group of people that range from African Americans, Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics (Macionis, 2009, p. 368). Prejudice and discrimination may not be as prevalent as it was during the 1960s, but I believe that it still exists today. It seems that prejudice can range from moderate dislike to extreme hatred. For example, on June 2, 2010, a black man was shot in the head and dragged to his death for ten miles by a white man in Newberry, South Carolina, this was ruled a hate crime (Schafer, 2010). What this man endured is beyond being prejudice. I never really thought about prejudice until recently, when trying to buy a computer and being over looked. Another example is that I was working one day and a Caucasian customer snatched a straw out of my hand for no reason. After these instances took place, I began to think, "Have I been a victim of racism'" This made me angry and made me think, "Are there anyone else experiencing the same treatment'" So my investigation began, with my friend named Elisha. He told me about the time he was in high school which was four years ago, and a group of white kids called him a “nigga.” I was amazed. It is hard to imagine that people still feel this way and say that awful racist word. So his story compelled me to seek other stories. Another example, my cousin is a nurse and she told me that male nurses make more than woman nurses. I found this to be disturbing and this is what prompted me to explore acts of prejudice when looking at both race and gender for this essay. In history, we can go far back as the 1800s with the beginning of slavery. During this time, people were treated as cattle because based on their skin color they were auctioned off to buyers. Even though decades have come and gone, in 2010 people there are new ways of prejudice. Minorities, also known as people of color, who qualify for certain job positions are earning less than their white counterparts. For example, “African American families earn 56 cents for every dollar that a Non-Hispanic White family earns. This helps to explain why Black families are three times as likely to be poor (Macionis, 2009, p. 282).” In addition, the bias of prejudice does not end with skin color but involves gender as well. In comparison to men, on average, a woman has less income, wealth and occupational prestige. Also, among single-parent families, those headed by a woman are approximately three times more likely to be poor (Macionis, 2009, p. 283). As a single, black parent, these statistics pertain directly to me. Now that I am becoming more aware of the prejudice challenges that I face, I will let it motivate me to succeed in my life. Although prejudice still exist we as individuals have a choice whether to fear what is different or to embrace it. We are all the same. We just come in different colors and that is due to what part of the world we are from. For example, people who live close to the equator have darker skin where as people that live farther have the opposite effect (Macionis, 2009 p. 362). Although the definition of skin color seems simple the feelings are much more complex. Man is always looking to invent something. Scientist invented the concept of race over a century ago as they tried to organize the physical diversity of the world (Macionis, 2009, p. 358). Overall, there are three racial groups, Blacks, Whites, and Asians differ in only 6% of their genes (Macionis, 2009, p. 359). But, from what I understand, there is actually more genetic variation within each group than between groups. So, I must echo Macionis (2009, p. 359) and also ask “How important is race'” In conclusion, decisions that we make today can affect future generations to come. We can see examples of this from our parents and grand-parents generation. Activists like Martin Luther King and other unsung heroes that chose to take a stand for equality hoped for better racial outcomes. In a way, we are living some of their hopes and dreams today but there is more work to be done to get us further along. I know that this is easier said than done because it starts with the mindset of a person. I once heard President Barack Obama say, “Change will not happen over night” and I absolutely agree with him. He is the first African-American President of the U.S. and although many people cheered for his victory there are those who hate to see him succeed. The man, Barack Obama made the decision to run for President and that sparked inspiration among many racial groups. I am inspired to make changes in my life and better the decisions that I make for me and my son. I want us to have the best life possible and it begins with my mindset. References Macionis, J. (2009). Race and Ethnicity. Introduction to Sociology: chapter 11 & 14 (pp 282- 282; 358-384). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Schafer, S. (2010). Black Man Shot to Death, Body Dragged. Retrieved on August 13, 2010 from, http://www.blackamericaweb.com/'q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/19213.