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Outline

Introduction........................................................................................................................2

Race Relations, Then and Now.........................................................................................2

Extend of Equality between Blacks and Whites................................................................3

Government Policies..........................................................................................................4

The Civil Rights Act of 1964...........................................................................................4

Race Relations Act 2000................................................................................................4

Contemporary versus Old Civil Right Leaders in the American Society...........................5

Conclusion.........................................................................................................................6

Works cited........................................................................................................................7

American Racial Prejudice and Racism

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Introduction

Racial oppression and discrimination have remained a controversial issue

throughout the evolution of America’s history. Inequality, prejudice and racial disparities

have developed across a number of areas such as family formation, employment levels,

ethnic violence, housing, health, schooling, judicial rulings and incarceration rates. The

United States is a nation of immigrants. Most people with African ancestors living in the

United States are the descendants of African slaves. The coexistence of people from

different backgrounds, races and ethnicities powered the American society to establish

on brutal dominancy, oppression and inequality. Racism has profoundly affected the

lives of African-Americans and other racially oppressed groups in the United States.

Race Relations, Then and Now

America has come a long way in improvement of race relations. A lot has

changed since the 1960s in terms of race relations. The demise of the legalized racial

segregation led to reduction of blatant racism based on skin color. Over the last 60

years, surveys to study the perceptions of the whites towards the blacks show a steady

trend of positive attitudes towards racial equality and integration (Levin 2). However,

human nature remains the same and old vices just traded in for new ones. Despite the

fact that most Americans support the ideal of racial equality, not everyone believes that

the country has overcome poor racial relations. A survey carried out in a 1995

Washington Post opinion poll revealed that 67 percent of the blacks and 38 percent of

the whites stated that racism was still a big problem (Williams 14). As a result, many

whites felt that racial discrimination was the drawback behind socioeconomic problems.

The survey also revealed that African Americans strongly believed that discrimination
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remained the major reason for their unsuccessfulness. According to Williams (17) voting

for the rights of African American against racial discrimination is still a reality in the

United States. It is true that most white Americans regard private acts of racial

discrimination as unattractive and outdated, and does not constitute any form of

oppression requiring public elimination policies. In the contrary, studies disclose that

nearly half a century after the abolishment of racial segregation, incompleteness of

social transformation of racial inequality, prejudice and oppression remains a stalemate

in the American society. Nevertheless, significant progress has been done in ending

racial injustice though disparities between Native Americans and African Americans

remain substantial.

Extend of Equality between Blacks and Whites

There is still a lot of work left undone regarding the equality between blacks and

whites. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to conclude that the situation is just as bad as it

were before the civil rights movement. The election of the Barack Obama, the first black

president, in 2008 is a reflection of how racial alignment has changed over time.

However, racial disproportionality was still evident from the reactions of the Republican

presidential rallies. Use of phrases such as “Kill Him!” or “Terrorist!” was a sign of

existing political prejudice between the whites and blacks (Levin 6). For many

Americans, United States remains a land of unequal opportunity. Today, many black

families still reside in secluded highlands of poverty. A high number of children from the

black families attend schools in racially and economically segregated vicinities (Levin 9).
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Government Policies

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

This Act aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination in America,

creating unparalleled political power and economic mobility opportunities for the blacks.

In addition, it added a non-tolerant social norm that did not condone bigotry and blatant

discrimination (Williams 28). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 overwhelmed many African

Americans since it enforced their constitutional rights to vote and provided then with

injunctive relief against discrimination in accommodation, education and health facilities.

In addition, the law commissioned a provision for equal employment opportunities for all

Americans. The act not only enhanced programs such as affirmative action, but also

paved way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, the commissioning of the Act did

not mark the end of racial segregation. Whites from the South used both lawful and

unlawful means to deny the black southerners their constitutional rights. African

Americans in the North lived in the worst urban vicinities as their children attended the

poorest urban schools (Williams 29).

Race Relations Act 2000

This is a recent policy document formulated by the United States government

that came into work on 1 October 2010. In order to create strengthen the legal

framework meant to promote equality and racial integration, the Act consolidated 116

pieces of legislation into a single act. The Equality Act protects American citizens

against sexual, racial and religious discrimination. The Act also captures legislation

concerned with discrimination of disabled or physically handicapped people (Dichter,

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Hitchins and Howse 5). The Act allows an employer to take demonstrate proportionate

measures in the process of hiring employees, irrespective of their racial backgrounds

and provided that they meet minimum requirements for particular positions offered. The

equality strategy prohibits all forms of unfair treatment in access to private and public

services regardless of gender, disability, and age, state of marriage, race or religion.

This law enforcement has so far presented a powerful step towards a foreseeable

equality and economic stability for the United States (Dichter, Hitchins and Howse 6).

Contemporary versus Old Civil Right Leaders in the American Society

The civil rights leaders of today compare to those of the past in that both

champion for the rights of people, democratic leadership and racial equality. The

evolution of civil rights in the American politics is due to inherent desires of American

leaders to fight for democracy. Americans of the white color origin had developed a

strong sense of disempowerment, blatant discrimination and oppression of the black

skin Americans (Jones 2). Discrimination and oppression coupled with deprivation of

power forced African Americans to seek independency and full participation in the

American political arena. During the 1920s and 1930s, American W.E.B. Du Bois – a

black prolific scholar and a political thinker - and Booker T. Washington – an educator,

reformer and most influential black leader of his time - became accountable for the civil

rights of the black people (Karson 13). On 28 August 1963, Martin Luther King, an

activist and a champion of great principles, summoned all his supporters to the greatest

mass-protest demonstration in the history of the United States. He addressed them to

think anew about the heritage and future of the United States. This resulted in adoption

of a revolutionary stance by the blacks, especially from the North. Presently, African
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Americans can freely exercise their rights to vote and present themselves as electoral

candidates. Decades after King’s assassination, racial divisions and oppression persist

(Jones 3). Successive civil and human rights activist including A. Philip Randolph, who

bolstered the economic and political rights, continued to fight for the freedom of African

Americans. A. Philip Randolph used mass action campaigns that helped dominate the

civil rights movement. Later John F. Kennedy used federal legislation to strengthen civil

rights as a means to racial equality (Karson 121).

In the present day America, civilization has turned changed the face of fighting

for racial integration. The blacks belong to the elite society, contrary to the 1960s. The

fight for freedom is more civilized and leaders, black or white, no longer use flagrant

means to align people racially (Karson 21). African Americans have learned to seek

freedom through self-liberation and legal actions, with less stigmatization. The present-

day president of the United States, Barack Obama, still fights for the equality of

American citizens. His historic stand for equality is a succession of most of the former

leaders of America.

Conclusion

The United States is a nation in which people live with dominant philosophies

that embrace dogmas of widespread opportunity, personal accountability and principles

of equity. Although the United Stated is dedicated in writing to demonstrate racial

equality and integration, there is a long way towards the implementation of these ideals.

Nevertheless, the American civil rights movement left a legacy on the American Society.

The blatant forms of racial discrimination and oppression ended. Similarly, racial

violence and unsubstantiated denial of rights declined over the years. However, the civil
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rights movement failed to account on many aspects, and racial inequality still persists

and is yet far from over. Therefore, America remains in dire need for more research on

racial dynamics.

Works cited

Bernie D. Jones. Critical Race Theory: New Strategies for Civil Rights in the New

Millenium?, Harvard BlackLetter Law Journal. 18 (2002): 2-5. Print.

Jill, Karson. Opposing Viewpoints In World’s History: The Civil Rights Movement. PDF

File. 16 April 2014. <http:/www.dikseo.teimes.gr/spoudastirio/e-

notes/t/the_civil_rights_movement_viewpoints.pdf>

Mary E., Williams. Race Relations: Opposing Viewpoints, San Diego, California:

Relations Front Matter, 2001. Print

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Mark S. Dichter, Christopher Hitchins and Matthew Howse. “The Equality Act 2010:

What's All the Fuss About?” Connecting Knowledge and People. 33.1 (2010): 5-

8. Print

Shana Levin. Compelling Interest: Social Psychological Evidence on Race and Racism.

PDF File. 16 April 2014.

<http://www.leland.stanford.edu/hakuta/www/policy/racial_dynamics/Chapter3.pd

f>