Integration and inclusion are often presented as the solutions to the racial tensions that the US faces today. The country has taken steps to ensure that all its citizens feel included and valued. For instance, affirmative action measures have been adopted to increase the representation of ethnic and racial minorities in such issues as education and employment. While commendable, these measures have failed to fully address the problem of racism in the US. Today, tensions continue to define interactions among different racial communities in the country. These tensions have eroded the little progress that the nation had made in promoting inclusion and harmonious co-existence. For the US to achieve true and sustainable peace and harmony, it must tackle the menace of racism. In particular, the nation needs to take steps to improve the lives and experiences of African Americans who continue to endure oppression and injustice. The racism suffered by the black community is evidence that social injustice is still a serious problem that demands urgent solutions.
Racism as Social Injustice in the US
The focus of this discussion is the injustice that the African American community has faced for years and continues to grapple with. By focusing on this community, it is hoped that an in-depth understanding of social injustice in the US will be gained. However, before exploring the hardships faced by African Americans, it is helpful to examine the question of social injustice and how it relates to racism. In his article, Matthew (2017) sheds light on racism and how it is a form of social injustice. One of the points that he presents is that racial discrimination hampers access to essential services, thereby limiting the quality of life of the communities that are suffering racism. This argument is echoed in an article that Chris Hufstader (2010) penned for Oxfam America. In the article, Hufstader focuses on the experiences of rural communities in Peru. He laments that the Peruvian government has neglected the needs of these communities and accesses the authorities of pursuing racist policies. The issues that Matthew and Hufstader raise allow one to understand what makes racism a social injustice question. Racism robs individuals of their dignity and humanity. It reduces them to second-class citizens who are undeserving of respect and the provision of essential services. As the discussion below will reveal, the experiences of the African American community are a clear and undisputable manifestation of racism and social injustice.
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For a full understanding of racism as a social injustice issue to be gained, it is important to place it in the historical context of the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union authored an enlightening piece which shows how racism goes against the very spirit and values on which the United States was founded. The piece cites the Declaration of Independence which identifies equality as a key cornerstone of American society. Equal protection and treatment is guaranteed for all Americans (“Racial Justice”, n.d). African Americans and other racial minorities would scoff at any individual who purports that the US is embodying the values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. As will be revealed in the following sections, the unacceptably unjust treatment that the members of this community continue to endure show that the US has betrayed the values that led the Founding Fathers to draft the Declaration of Independence. Racism, especially the racist treatment of African Americans is a social injustice because it violates the fundamental values and principles of American society.
There are a number of scholars who have set out to reveal the social injustices that minority communities such as African Americans have historically endured. Rudolph Alexander (2005) is among these. In his text, he identifies the various tools that have been used by the system to oppress and discriminate against African Americans. He accuses the American society of perpetuating brutality and of denying African Americans access to the resources that they need to achieve empowerment and true liberty. As one reads Alexander’s text, they are able to understand why African Americans have become more vocal than ever in their demand for justice and equality. This community represents other minority groups that have suffered for years and are now calling for the dismantling of the structures and processes that have allowed racism to thrive.
Experiences of African Americans and Other Minorities
The discussion above has made it clear that racism serves as a manifestation of social injustice and that the experiences of African Americans and other minorities indicate that social injustice is still plaguing the US. In the following section, an in-depth discussion of the racist treatment of African Americans is offered. The purpose of the discussion is to reveal the reality of racism and the devastating effects that it continues to have on the lives of African Americans. It should be noted that whereas African Americans are the central focus of the discussion, their experiences can be extended to other racial minority communities.
Police Brutality
The police serve as the face of the government. One would expect that officers perform their duties with delicate care so as to enhance faith and trust in the government. A review of recent events in the US reveals that police officers have failed to uphold the values on which police service should be founded. Recently, Americans have witnessed incidents where police officers treat African Americans with brutality. For example, dozens of African American men have been fatally shot by police officers. Writing for Washington University in St. Louis, Gerry Everding (2018) confirmed that African Americans are more likely to be victims of police brutality. He notes that “Blacks, especially women, are more likely to have been unarmed when killed by police than non-blacks, and that risk appears to increase in police departments with a greater presence of non-white officers.” Everding’s observation underscores how racism and social injustice continues to define American society. There is no doubt that the black people killed by police died because they were black. In most cases, the officers involved in the shooting of African Americans face charges. However, it is unfortunate that in most of the cases, the officers are acquitted and found to have acted appropriately. For instance, as Isaac Stanley-Becker (2018) reported, a white female officer was found not guilty of shooting dead a black man in his own home. What makes the case of this officer remarkable is that instead of suffering punishment for her actions, the officer was contracted by a police department to educate officers on how they can handle confrontations.
The discussion of police brutality against African Americans is not complete without an examination of the effect that it has on this community. Jacob Bor (2018) collaborated with other researchers to establish the effect that brutality has on the wellbeing of African Americans. Their findings should inspire the American nation to reflect on how it treats its citizens, especially minorities. Bor and his team observed that police brutality has damaging effects on the mental health of the black community. They noted that this community reported a higher incidence rate of such mental health issues as depression (Bor et al., 2018). The observation that Bor made show that social injustice has real and damaging effects. Apart from exposing African Americans to adverse health outcomes, police brutality has also damaged relationships between the police and this community. Furthermore, as Smiley and Fakunle (2016) lament, the brutal treatment of African Americans in the hands of police officers dehumanizes them and strips them of their dignity. There is no doubt that the US will not achieve social justice until it challenges its offers to treat African Americans and other minorities fairly and with respect.
Racial Profiling
Police brutality is not the only phenomenon through which social injustice is manifested in American society today. Racial profiling is another form of social injustice that is underlain by racism. This phenomenon is most prevalent among police officers. Essentially, racial profiling involves using an individual’s race as the primary determinant of how one treats them. African Americans have borne the brunt of racial profiling. For example, it has been reported that police officers tend to stop and search African Americans more often than members of other racial communities (Fletcher, 2018). The encounters with the police are usually unpleasant and can become deadly. What is unfortunate is that the police officers often have no valid cause for stopping, searching or arresting African Americans. African Americans are simply perceived to be more likely to commit a crime and many face unfair action even without violating the law. It is important to note that racial profiling extends beyond police departments. This ill has also been observed in academic institutions. For instance, recently, a white female student called the police to report a black student sleeping in the common room (Griggs, 2018). Many believe that the white student made the call because she felt that the black student did not belong at the institution because she was black. Every day, hundreds of African Americans and other minorities suffer because of their race. Their experiences serve as evidence that racism is still alive in the US today.
Unequal Access to Essential Services
As noted earlier, equality is among the principles that American society strives to uphold. The hardships encountered by African Americans show that the nation has failed to achieve equality. Various studies have been conducted to establish how African Americans compare against their white counterparts. One study found that in such measures as employment, healthcare, civic engagement and education, African Americans fare poorly (Milligan, 2018). This finding underscores the deep prevalence of inequality in the US. It should be noted that the study is not isolated as other researchers have also determined that African Americans suffer unequal access to essential services. For instance, Williams and Sternthal (2010) observed that there are glaring racial disparities with regard to access to affordable and high quality healthcare services. This observation means that there exist systemic obstacles that hinder African Americans in their quest to access healthcare. For example, many black Americans grapple with poverty. Their poverty makes it nearly impossible for them to pay for the costly medical services in the country. The poverty is also blamed for the disappointingly low educational attainment rates among African Americans and other minorities (“Ethnic and Racial Disparities”, n.d). Quality education is expensive and remains elusive for many African Americans. The years of oppression and denial of opportunities for economic empowerment have made it difficult for minorities to access high quality education.
Segregation
It has been many decades since the US abandoned the segregationist policies that served as the face of institutionalized racism. However, the legacy of the segregation has endured and highlights the nation’s failure to achieve social equity and justice. Gregory Smithsimon (2018) authored an enlightening article in which he describes how segregation can still be seen in the US today. Smithsimon gives particular focus to segregation in housing. He observes that black Americans tend to shun white neighborhoods and instead establish their own communities where they are surrounded by fellow African Americans. He argues that the black neighborhoods offer African Americans warmth and security that are lacking in communities dominated by white Americans. Smithsimon’s article shows that segregation is still prevalent. While it is not deliberate, segregation in housing has adverse impacts on African Americans. In addition to hindering progress, it compounds such problems as poverty that African Americans grapple with. Furthermore, segregation rolls back the progress that the nation has made in enhancing inter-racial interactions. There is no doubt that if the US is to achieve the harmony that it so desperately desires, it must tackle segregation. It should encourage African Americans to reach out to the white community while eliminating the barriers that hamper interactions.
Tackling Racism: The Black Lives Matter Movement
The US recognizes that racism is a serious challenge that requires the involvement of all stakeholders to solve. A number of individuals have taken steps to remind the nation of the importance of promoting social justice. However, the black community has led efforts to curb racism and ensure that its members are accorded dignified and respectful treatment. The Black Lives Matter movement is the vehicle that this community is using to push for reforms and better treatment of African Americans. While its mission is broad, this movement is mainly concerned with ending police brutality (Clayton, 2018). In response to various fatal shootings of unarmed black men, this movement has held protests through which it challenges the police to exercise restraint and professionalism in dealings with African Americans.
The establishment of the Black Lives Matter movement is among the developments that have sent shockwaves across the US. As noted above, the movement seeks to protect the black community against police brutality. However, one should understand that the movement’s mission extends beyond merely tackling brutality. This movement is also involved in efforts to demilitarize the police and to adopt fairer housing policies (King, 2018). Whether the movement has been effective in achieving these aims remains to be seen. However, it can be said confidently that the Black Lives Matter movement is a powerful resource that the black community can use to agitate for the rights and interests of its members.
While it is the main voice calling for the better treatment of the black community, the Black Lives Matter movement is not alone. There is a wide network of individuals and organizations that are working tirelessly to deliver liberty to African Americans. We the Protestors is one of these organizations (King, 2018). With its roots in the Black Lives Matter movement, this organization shares the vision of a nation where black Americans do not suffer victimization on account of their race. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is another organization that is part of the network pushing for reforms. Working together, the different organizations strive to move the US closer to full equality and justice. However, the continuing oppression and unjust treatment of African Americans raise questions regarding whether the nation is truly committed to dismantling the institutional issues that have allowed racism to thrive. Black people continue to face arrests despite having committed no crime. They lack adequate access to such essential services as healthcare and quality education. Moreover, African Americans are still the subjects of police brutality. These unfortunate issues should challenge the US to do more.
Significance and Relevance of Problem
The discussion above has explored the various forms that racism takes in the US today. For racism to be fully understood, an exploration of its significance and relevance should be performed. The problem of racism is relevant and significant because it affects all Americans in one way or another. It is true that African Americans and other minorities have borne the brunt of racism. Members of the white community may therefore wonder why they should care. For the country to effectively tackle this problem, support from the white community is needed. The members of this community need to reach out to minorities and share the benefits of the progress that the US has made. More importantly, the white community should lead the effort to collapse the narrative of white supremacy and promote the message of equality and justice. As whites do this, they will help to establish a society where individuals are treated fairly and with dignity. Political leaders should also be involved in the efforts to enhance equality and social justice. They have the power to pass laws that will provide minorities with opportunities to achieve true freedom and empowerment. Currently, the nation is polarized and defined by racial tensions. Unless political leaders demonstrate their dedication to social justice, the US will be unable to make meaningful progress in its quest for sustainable peace.
In conclusion, the US has a long and complex history. Racism is among the factors that have shaped the nation’s history. It is encouraging that remarkable progress has been made in eliminating traces of racism and slavery. However, as the experiences of African Americans show, more needs to be done. These individuals suffer police brutality, racial profiling and segregation. Furthermore, African Americans are among the minorities who lack adequate access to services like healthcare. The Black Lives Matter Movement has demonstrated that the US can make progress when Americans unite to champion for equality and justice. All Americans need to rally behind such organizations as the Black Lives Matter movement if the country is to heal the wounds inflicted by racism and social injustice.
References
Alexander, R. (2005). Racism, African Americans, and social justice. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Bor, J. Venkataramani, A. S., Williams, D. R., & Tsai, A. C. (2018). Police killings and their spillover effects on the mental health of black Americans: a population-based, quasi-experimental study. The Lancet. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31130-9
Clayton, D. M. (2018). Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement: a comparative analysis of two social movements in the United States. Journal of Black Studies. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934718764099
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Everding, G. (2018). Police kill unarmed blacks more often, especially when they are women, study finds. Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved October 10, 2018 from https://source.wustl.edu/2018/02/police-kill-unarmed-blacks-often-especially-women-study-finds/
Fletcher, M. A. (2018). For Black motorists, a never-ending fear of being stopped. National Geographic. Retrieved October 20, 2018 from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/04/the-stop-race-police-traffic/?user.testname=none
Griggs, B. (2018). A black Yale graduate student took a nap in her dorm’s common room. So a white student called the police. CNN. Retrieved October 20, 2018 from https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/09/us/yale-student-napping-black-trnd/index.html
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King, J. (2018). How Black Lives Matter has changed US politics. Retrieved October 20, 2018 from https://newint.org/features/2018/03/01/black-lives-matter-changed-politics
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Milligan, S. (2018). Unequal in America. U.S. News. Retrieved October 20, 2018 from https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2018-05-04/african-americans-lag-behind-whites-in-equality-index
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Smiley, C., & Fakunle, D. (2016). From “brute” to “thug:” the demonizing and criminalization of unarmed black male victims in America. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 26 (3-4), 350-6.
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Stanley-Becker, I. (2018). She fatally shot an unarmed black man. Now she’s teaching other police officers how to “survive” such incidents. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 20, 2018 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/28/she-fatally-shot-an-unarmed-black-man-now-shes-teaching-other-cops-how-to-survive-such-incidents/?utm_term=.5d9190beb1b3
Williams, D. R., & Sternthal, M. (2010). Understanding racial/ethnic disparities in health: sociological perspectives. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. DOI: 10.1177/0022146510383838
