Racism in the History of the United States Essay Example

Racism has been prevalent in the history of the United States ever since the first settlers found out about Native American people. The progression of racism only got worse as time progressed, specifically for African Americans. Although many politicians will claim that racism has been solved and is not an issue anymore.  Racism is not a topic that can be eradicated overnight, racism is a swinging scale that allows some parts to get better while other parts may be worse. In the last one hundred year has racism improved, or has it gotten worse?   Racism has improved over the years but is not fully a matter that is or can ever be fully removed from the history of the United States.

It was only about hundred and fifty years ago that African Americans were set free from slavery, which is now consider a crime worldwide. Even after the amendments were passed African Americans were not treated as equals to the white man.``The inequality of the white and black races was stamped from the beginning.” (Jefferson Davis’s quote from speech addressing white supremacy, Stamped from the Beginning: section 3.) Kendi the author of Stamped from the Beginning, a book addressing racism, writes: "Their mission: uplift the inferior free Blacks to “an equality with whites.” And yet, AASS agents and supporters were cautioned not to adopt Black children, encourage interracial marriages, or excite “the people of color to assume airs.” 

By saying that African Americans were free they could use this to measure how bad African American lives were compared to how they were when African Americans were still slaves. Segregation did not help the idea that whites and blacks are equal, it only helped African Americans create their own economy that coincided with white economy. Segregation in the South and discrimination in the North did create a sheltered market for some black businesses (funeral homes, beauty parlors, and the like) that served a black community barred from patronizing “white” establishments. (Black Progress, sixth paragraph) While developing an economy that help sustain the African American community, the treatment of African Americans slowly improved as America improved its own economy. Even though equality in the mid twentieth century had improved, racism was still prevalent in society. A eugenics movementbegan to emerge withIQ tests and standardized tests to prove that Blackpeoplewere inferior. (Stamped from the beginning, Section 4) Movements like this were a constant reminder of racism and the place African American people held in the United States. As time progressed into the late twentieth century many people began to think that racism was more an issue to be concerned about. This allowed for the discussion of racism to be brought up in politics and in society, where it was not discussed frequently. 

As the progression about racism was discussed and many people believed it should be taught about as well, many authors created books that talked about racism for African Americans and other people of color. “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” : And Other Conversations by Dr. Tatum is a  book that addresses racism and how children might feel and be affected by it. The topic was racism is written in a way to solve problems.  “We are better able to do what I call the ABCs of leadership — affirm identity, build community and cultivate the 21st-century leadership we all need to dismantle the racism that threatens our diverse society.”( Dr. Tatum, Q&A about her book) Many of these books repeat the same dialect about how racism can improve but never can be truly solved. “Just because we are moving forward in time does not mean we are making social progress.” ( Dr. Tatum, Pg. 75)”You don’t stab a knife in someone’s back 9 inches, pull it out 6 inches, and say you’re making progress.“( Stamped From the Beginning, Section 4) Racism is a topic that will always be prevalent in discussion, how we handle that discussion and how we view racism is how well we can make progress, addressing it allows for the issues behind racism to be addressed as well. To solve the problem, you must first figure out the cause of the problem. Racism will never truly be solved, but it can be processed enough where its effect on people is minimal and non effective. 

Racism has grown from hate and inequality, becoming aware of this origin will help people understand the history behind it. Racism is prevalent all throughout history, and just recently became a topic of great importance. Even though it has been an issue for over a hundred years, the importance of talking about it shows how racism has changed and is being improved through history.  From learning about the true history behind racism to educating people about it, racism has been focused on. This focus shows how people want to engage in helping the issue become solvable.