Discrimination and Prejudice in United States History

Discrimination and prejudice are widely known in United States history. In the 1960's the civil rights movement demanded legislation and passed laws, which banned discrimination. Five decades later, it still continues in our society. Discrimination and prejudice occur when a group of people feel they are superior to another, and can be based on a person's color, race, national origin, religion, sex and gay couples.

“Racism is a form of oppression in which one racial group dominates over others. In the United States and Canada, Whites are the dominant group and people of Color are the minoritized group; therefore, racism here is White racial and cultural prejudice and discrimination, supported intentionally or unintentionally by institutional power and authority, used to the advantage of Whites and the disadvantage of people of Color”(Sensony 100).

In the 1930s, racism was common and accepted. Although much of destructive attitudes and segregation were toward people or color, some negativity toward whites was also heard of but not as common. During this era in the southern states, African-American people had to use dissimilar bathrooms, drinking fountains, attend different churches, and separate schools. The prejudice encountered by African-Americans exposed this problem to society. There were many accounts of violent acts toward African-American impoverished people. Some white people thought African-Americans were dirty and dumb simply because of their color. They also figured that black people needed to be told what to do since they were not capable of thinking for themselves, and since they were naturally lazy, would only work if forced to so. (Phillips 27) Their belief in these theories is what led to the discrimination, whic...

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...ial justice education providing a tool for developing of critical thinking of social justice in our society. When people practice tolerance to one another, the world becomes a more civil place, free of prejudice and discrimination.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a preacher and man of God. He delivered a message according to the Bible, that all men are created by God and deserve respect and to be treated with dignity. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not believe in discrimination or racism. He organized marches in order to educate people of ignorance and discrimination.

Men choose to be discriminate against one another due to the hardness in their hearts. People must accept others with different cultures and religions in order to have peace in this world. Each person has a responsibility to do this, so that people all will be able to live in a harmonious society.