The existence of different skin color schemes has meant that the issue of race has and will continue to be a pertinent issue that creates class differentiation in humanity. As long as there are different groups of people, with varying skin color, the question of class that is driven by stereotypical perceptions of what color is superior to the other, will continue to define and divide individuals. Today, the society is more divided as to what race entails and how to solve the minute and yet very challenging issues that keep negatively dividing opinions and defining contextual social narratives. Sadly, the so identified solutions to race as a social problem are short-term and fail to address the history, the complexity driven by class, and the economics that allow for and propagate division based on physical looks.
Many people are on the assumption that the race problem is about physical outlooks and the social differences that arise allow for hatred based on color. However, modern social dynamics has proven that race is an economic problem that uses the obvious difference in outlooks to define certain group of people to a certain class. Going back and reviewing American history and the dynamics that brought about racism as a social problem, it becomes clear that the economics of the day helped fuel a social problem, without necessarily intending it to be a historical issue. When the British invaded North Africa, their primary purpose was purely meant to economically empower themselves above their rivals. They saw an economic opportunity in the sale of slaves and in utilizing them to farm and drive their economic activities with little cost. It was the start of social problem that today delves beyond the economics of those times.
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The modern ‘form’ of racism has evolved away from the economics it was previously based upon, and has adopted a more sinister and destructive meaning. The period after the independence and up to Martin Luther King era, the idea of race metamorphosized from being one of economic importance and it became a class problem. Skin color variation started to be used to define a person’s level of intelligence, their physical abilities, and even their preferences. The more lighter ones skin color was, the more they were perceived to be intelligent or empowered. Skin tone thus became the basis upon which value was found in a person and this misconstrued and faulty narrative was preached and advanced as truth. The economics were now used to advance this lie through commercialization of skin color as an essential physical attribute that improved ones intelligence and even physical attributes.
Despite the advantages of globalization and those of technology in creating and allowing for socialization and interaction between people of different color, the problem of race still persist. The effects of historical commercialization of skin tone and propagation of a faulty narrative continue to haunt the society. The millennials understand race and its differentiation as an aspect of self-definition that improves or admonishes their social image and thus use this narrative to try and define others within a specific context. The social media, together with a continued need to be accepted visually as ‘refined’ and ‘modern,’ has allowed for racism to be used as a tool of self-improvement. The perpetrators of racism believe that by admonishing other people based on their skin color, they are improving themselves.
Addressing racism today is a much more difficult task taking into consideration the power of social media and the use of alternative facts to drive social narratives for a few selfish individuals. It calls for a holistic education in the value of tolerance, especially within today’s modern environment that is much more integrated. More so, just like gender issues, there need be sterner punishments to those that engage in racism. The importance of socialization and integration of all races in not only economically improving the human race, but also in creating a harmonious environment. This demands that social ills like racism be eradicated. Unlike previously when communities were segregated and divided; today, the society heavily depends on each person’s individual contribution for growth. Issues like racism only create more division and hinder growth especially in this age when other issues like climate change are coming onto the forefront.
References
Barbour, C., & Wright, G. C. (2000). Keeping the Republic: Power and Citizenship in American Politics . New York: CQ Press.
