Submitted by: Jamila Ferguson
Race and ethnicity is huge in the united states. Sadly, race and ethnicity once determined who you could marry, where you could sit, where you could eat, whether or not you had the right to vote and even who you could look at, in some states. Still today, race and ethnicity determines the type of jobs available to you, the quality of schooling you may receive, the difference in the services you receive and the value of your home or property. Race and ethnicity establishs the amount of money you make. Race and ethinicity is also a factor in the type of sentencing or amount of time you will serve in jail. Race and ethnicity sometimes determines where you may end up in the next ten years of your life, whether you drive a 2011 mercedes benz or become an convicted felon without any rights to vote! Race and ethnicity determined how easy or difficult it was in the job of parenting or having to worry about the safety of your children and family. This is sad. Whatever happened to judging people by the content of there character and not by the color of their skin? There is a large disproportion in equality between the majority and minority. Who will step-up? Who will stand out against this epedimic? Something need to be done. Someone needs to address this problem or this condition will continue to become worse and worse.
Jamila, you made some very interesting and vaild points about ethnicity to call it an epedemic is true but people arnt that bad. Yes, its all over the news about how some people get jobs because of the color of their skin and in the goverment about how different laws are being passed about the workforce. But eventhough its plastered all through the media and most of what we see, their is still some good in humanity. I agree that there should be some changes made so that this "automatic judgement" cant be allowed to persist but people right now are trying to make a change. The saying "we cant allow history to repeat itself" is a valid one but for people to get the message about the importence of this subject, it may have to. I just hope that society remembers two very importent events in the history of our country. First in August of 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous speech about equality. Second, hundereds of years before, The Declaration of Independence stated that "All men are created equal". I dont understand why society today forgot about these two moments in history..
ReplyDeleteI like your post Jamila. I completely agree with you. I think the solution to ammending the issue really comes down to people like you and I. Being educated and aware that facts are facts and these things are real issues is the first step. When I first moved to Philly, I was completely blown away by the blatant separation of communities. Its one thing to read about facts, but an entirely different picture when your living amoungst it. In my first two years here, I had "befriended" a guy who grew up in Villanova/Radnor. He came from alot of money, had a well-to-do family, was a Penn grad and generally had his life laid out for him. College was paid for, car was bought with the help of his father cosigning, and had job security in working for his fathers company. I remember getting into huge arguments with him regarding the welfare of our country, the travesty with homeless youth and the overall well being of the next generation. I started to resent him. He had been raised in a bubble. He had been educated on specific topics and exposed to "safe" concepts and ideas that ultimately only supported his families lifestyle. I realized that alot of it wasnt completely his fault. I do believe at some point in adulthood, one is responsible for learning the facts, but then it brings about the issue of nature vs nurture. It definately goes both ways. i feel like the true culprite is complete ignorance and acceptance of mediocrity. I feel like society enjoys not being challenged. Being educated and brought to light about issues only forces action. I believe that we are raising an apathetic generation.
ReplyDeleteIts you and me Jamila... we can create change!
Shakera Dunn
ReplyDeleteAlthough race and inequality is a disadvantage for minorities, it does not necessarily states minorities cannot become successful. We might not have the same opportunities as whites we do have choices. The phrase "We are all equal" is clearly untrue.Although society judges people by their race, net worth, and education this should encourage more minorities to want to succeed.The chance of race and inequality changing in the United States is slim, It's our responsibility to take advantage of the few opportunities that are presented. Seroiusly, who said minorities cannot drive that Mercedes Benz,work at a dream job, or own a desent home?. History is what it is history but its our responsibility to determine our future. Now we have the opportunity to sit where we choose and marry who we want. Although the odds are against minorities we are in control of our future. We can determine if we want to still become that disadvantaged and unprivileged race.