Essay/Term paper: Following the dream

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Sociology Term Papers

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where
they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
(King, Jr.)
Following Martin Luther King, Jr."s speech in the United States capital, many
laws, including the Civil Rights Act and the Affirmative Action Act, were amended into the
constitution. Despite these laws enforcing the equality of race, the US still faces the same
dilemma of 1963: racism. Racism, or the discrimination of a distinguished group of
people, remains a problem in businesses, government, universities, in relationships, and in
many other situations. Although current laws prohibit the people of the United States to
discriminate and harass people of other races, racial incidents continue to remain across
the country, and even, around the world. For many years, humanitarians have been trying
desperately to eliminate racism. The problem is the attempt to correct the effects of
racism, without eliminating the cause of racism itself. In order to eliminate racism and
achieve the ultimate dream of justice and equality of all people, Americans must start with
teaching children the fallacies of racism and value of diversity. A new curriculum especially
for race equality, should be introduced to young students all over the United States,
providing all the facts and false stereotypical assumptions about races and racism
surrounding them.
Racism can be eliminated by creating a curriculum for understanding races. Providing a
required racial understanding program for young students, will help them to understand
different backgrounds and identities that surround them. Understanding the many
identities that distinguish each and every person, will break down stereotypes that identify
groups. Understanding creates knowledge and empathy towards people of different
backgrounds.
Racism can be eliminated by understanding the history of racism. By understanding the
history of racism, students can learn how racism started, where it started, how racism is
adopted, why it was adopted into our concept, and how its made its way to America, etc.
If everybody understands that racism is, and always was, irrelevant to a person"s
character, then racism will be eliminated.
Racism can be eliminated by confronting the issue. Confronting the issues and being
aware of racism"s destruction to society, will allow students, starting at a younger age, to
be conscious of racism and its negative effects on life. Being conscious of racism will
allow students to address more of the problems that they see concerning the discrimination
of races. Being conscious will also allow the student to become aware of some of the
mistakes that he or she makes in stereotyping. Confronting and being consciously aware
of racism, will eliminate the stereotypical assumption that one makes, sees, or hears.
A curriculum in race relations would clear up many of the misconceptions, pre-judgments,
and stereotypes that develop racism. The more one finds the history, intent, and harm of
racism, the more a person should find it hard to link to characters of individuals. It is
especially important to allow younger students to explore this destructive phenomenon and
to weigh its accuracy characterizing its subjects.
Although the US has advanced in laws governing minority"s rights, racism still exists as
much as, or more, than 33 years ago. A thorough course in racism, taught to all students,
is necessary for understanding of a country"s participation and responsibility to stop the
destruction. When the United States eliminates racism by means of education versus
force, we will find our dreams of equality turn into reality.



Works Cited

Bowie, G. Lee., Meredith W. Michaels, Robert C. Solomon. Twenty Questions An
Introduction to Philosophy. Harcourt Brace & Company,1996

"Race." Martin Luther King Jr. Columbia dictionary of Quotations. Columbia University
Press. Copyright © 1993