A Discussion on Racism

674 Words2 Pages

A Discussion on Racism

Could you image having to enter a public bus through the rear door and

only be allowed to sit in the back of the bus? Could you image having

to drink from a specified water fountain designated for your race? How

about facing the fear of hate groups against your race, or being

falsely accused of a crime and found guilty by a jury consisting of

people of another race. This is what people had to do half a century

ago. This all ‘stopped’ in the last fifty years since the adoption in

1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However I believe

it stills continue in our society today. And it will continue unless

we make a stop to it.

In the dictionary the word racism is defined as a belief in, or set of

implicit assumptions about the superiority of one’s own race or ethnic

group, often accompanied by prejudice against members of an ethnic

group different from one’s own.

Scientists believe that even when there is no overt discrimination,

racism exists as an unconscious attitude in many individuals and

societies, based in a stereotype or preconceived idea about different

ethnic groups.

For many people factors relating to their social identity such as

race, colour and national origin become ‘differences that make a

difference’.

During the last fifty five years since the adoption in 1948 of the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international community has

made some important advances in the fight against racism, racial

discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. And yes this has

helped, progress has been made but yet the dream of a world free of

racial hatred and bias remains only half fulfilled.

I believe if the world makes an effort, together, we can embody a new

spirit, based on the shared conviction that we are all members of one

huge human family.

It seems that racism mainly strikes lower class, uneducated people.

Many people believe that this is the case because all around them,

More about A Discussion on Racism

Open Document