Question

1. How has racism evolved over time? How does racism now contrast to the 1950s and earlier? Explain your stance with examples. Include textual evidence to support your view.

Answer 1

Racism is the System of advantage based on race. Supported by institutions, policies and practices. Historically created to sustain advantages for White individuals at a systematic level (not all Whites benefit equally due to intersectionality). Consequence of discriminatory policies of the past. Social expression of power and privilege.

Reality of Racism

Hurts all at a personal level (fear of POC, anxiety around issues of race, difficulty with interracial relationships and biracial children)

Hurts all at an economic level (racial tension=lowered productivity, prison costs, loss of real estate equity, loss of tax revenue due to underemployment).

Can adapt and change, but always results in inequality.

History of Racism

-1790: Naturalization Act, citizenship restricted to free whites

-1831-1838: Trail of Tears

-1848: US defeats Mexico and 'purchases' 1/3 of Mexican nation (then the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo)

-1882: Chinese exclusion act, prohibits Chinese immigrants for 10 years

-1870-1950: 4,000 recorded cases of lynchings of African Americans

-1896 Plessey vs. Ferguson upholds "separate but equal"

-1917- race riots in East St. Louis

-1942- Japanese Americans put in internment camps

-1955- Emmitt Till killed for allegedly whisting at a White woman

-1991- Pres. Bush signed Civil Rights Act (can't discriminate with housing, education, etc)

Evolution :

In 1940, 60 percent of employed black women worked as domestic servants; today the number is down to 2.2 percent, while 60 percent hold white- collar jobs.

In 1958, 44 percent of whites said they would move if a black family became their next door neighbor; today the figure is 1 percent.

In 1964, the year the great Civil Rights Act was passed, only 18 percent of whites claimed to have a friend who was black; today 86 percent say they do, while 87 percent of blacks assert they have white friends.