07/08/2020
Black Issues Matter
The history of African Americans is filled with accounts of innocent black families being blamed for petty things based on their color. As far as history can show, white supremacy has led to colored people being victimized in every corner of the United States. The current paper examines what it means for black people to do thorough research about their rights within a society dominated by white men.
To begin with, black people have been a target of racist attitudes due to the lack of information. According to John H. McWhorter, several factors are holding black people back and the major obstacle is not having enough knowledge or not knowing which sources to believe. Presently, media is playing a crucial role in shaping people’s perceptions and attitudes about others around them. McWhorter points out some common myths that mislead black people. Among these myths, one factor that holds black people back is the assumption that “most black people are poor (and middle-class blacks are statistical noise)” (McWhorter para. 5). This assumption about the economic situation of black people being mostly poor has kept them from grabbing opportunities that could have made them financially stable. Therefore, black people must do some research before believing what the politicians and the media shows them.
Media portrayals are known to fuel the issues instead of creating a positive change. The world today is witnessing a massive change in terms of the treatment black people receive in the United States. Policies are being addressed to highlight that black people have the same right as any white man to be treated equally and given the opportunity to live a better and safe life. However, such a change is not possible without first properly tackling the issue and gaining insight into it. As Andre M. Perry maintains, “Just as cell phone cameras have shifted the national debate by capturing unarmed black folk being shot by the police for being black, we need research to reveal how the system privileges white people at the expense of black” (para. 14). The preceding lines highlight that doing some research will shed light on how white people are more privileged than black minorities. Therefore, to change the way the American system works, black people must change their attitudes and hold the white community accountable for their victimization of the minorities.
Accountability is a difficult goal to attain in America due to the political system not being just towards the black minorities. As states, “Racial discrimination remains a daily and pervasive fact of life in the United States today. It occurs in a wide variety of institutional contexts and takes many forms” (Wright and Rogers 15). The preceding lines highlight that intolerance towards people of color exists more in America than it does anywhere else. This has led to black communities pulling themselves into a corner and being helpless in the face of adversity. However, to shift the attitudes of the majority, it is crucial that black people first change their own attitudes.
To conclude, black people today continue to be a target of racist attitudes due to several factors. Lacking information is one of the major factors that contribute to racial discrimination. Media portrayals are mainly to be blamed for the way black people are projected. It not only influences the way black people perceive themselves but also gives rise to a series of myths. Presently, racism in America has caught the attention of the whole world. During this time, every individual must gain enough insight into how the system benefits the white majority at the expense of black people.
Work Cited
McWhorter, John H. “What’s Holding Blacks Back?” City Journal, 2001, https://www.city-journal.org/html/what’s-holding-blacks-back-12025.html.
Perry, Andre M. “How Can We Hold Those Who Benefit from Racism Accountable?” The Avenue, 2018, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2018/03/27/how-can-we-hold-those-who-benefit-from-racism-accountable/.
Wright, Erik Olin, and Joel Rogers. “Racial Inequality.” American Society: How It Actually Works, W. W. Norton, 2009.
It’s black attitudes, not white racism, that’s to blame.
