Prejudice Examples Today: Racial Discrimination
Due to the impact of what society defines as an ‘acceptable’ race, many people who do not fit in that category suffer from discrimination. Even in modern world we are facing with discrimination. It is really important to talk about this issue, that is why I chose to write about prejudice examples today.
People aren’t free to say, wear or do whatever they want like the mass killing of Jews which is an extreme example of discrimination. Even though prejudice today is not as severe as the mass killing during the Holocaust, I believe that we are no different from the Nazis as we are still quick to judge others by their exterior features, their race, and their colour. The numbers do not lie. There is a significant number of discriminatory behaviours that still affects many people today. Whether it is in the workplace or household, race can determine whether you get a job, fair treatment or randomly shot on the streets for reaching inside pockets. Today, we live in a society where we are forced fed labels even before we can walk, talk or understand these labels. Black, Asian and White are labels that blind us from seeing who people truly are.
Twenty years ago today, in February 1999, four police officers shot an unarmed black American man, Amadou Diallo, outside his apartment. Due to the judgment of the officer based on Diallo skin colour, he was shot 19 of the 41 bullets shot, a consequence for reaching for his identification card in his pockets. Black men are judged by society and commonly perceived as criminals, thieves, thugs, due to the stereotypes we label them with. Although this incident occurred in America, I believe that racism in Australia is no different. However, not only blacks suffer from these labels. Asians, Middle Easterners, and Indians also suffer from unfair treatment because of their skin. These stereotypes have become an issue, playing a massive role in how children treat their peers, or how they are treated because of their colour.
Racism also has ongoing effects on children as over 70 percent of Australian young adults from black backgrounds have experienced some form of discrimination. Adults often think that children do not see or recognise race, but that is far from the truth. Studies have found that even infants can distinguish skin colour. The reality of how racism affects our whole society, whether it is direct or indirect, affects the mental, emotional and physical health of young children. Even children notice when specific groups are treated differently. They don't only see race, but they also feel the effects of this label. And this is evident as children age as they tend to separate themselves into race-based groups.
The media captures a false image, propaganda of blacks as more inferior, violent and dangerous compared to white people which society make so acceptable. It’s time we get rid of these stereotypes that target the undesirable race and the right to be who they truly are instead of conforming to society, submitting to whiteness. Many people believe that maybe because blacks weren’t obedient enough, they deserve to get shot by the police. At least that is what the media tells us. That getting shot is merely just a consequence of doing something wrong. But that is the distorted representation media aims to portray. It seeks to reinforce stereotypes and to dehumanise black people representing them as more inferior. If we fall under the lies of media, racism will continue to be a part of Australia.
In conclusion, racism still has ongoing effects on Black people in today’s society. Even though most people say racial discrimination is a problem, little do anything to change it. Racism didn’t start with us, but we can work to become anti-discriminant.
