Cap 2- Divisive Racism And What The US Should Do Essay Examples

According to Augoustinos (2014), etymologically, the origin and the use of the term racism are relatively recent, possibly from 19 century. In its general abstraction, the term does not connote at a great extent any negative or positive meaning without additional context. However, the term has been mostly used pejoratively, and it is associated with race-based violence, prejudice, dislikes, oppression and discrimination. McElwee (2015) has reported that recently, members of a student group, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, at Oklahoma University were seen reciting racially-charged chants in their fraternity. The story appeared puzzling due to various reasons, because among other factors education is supposed to enlighten people and reduce racial resentment. Expected too, millennials are supposed be more tolerant to issues to do with racism than members of former generations are. This incident has offered another opportunity to Americans to evaluate how they think about racism and to fight it.
Socio-psychologists believe that the initiation of divisive racism began in 1800s with eugenics who advocated that the society should allow only gifted individual. Later, Social Darwinism emphasized this idea by advocating that only dominant or superior individuals or human groups would survive. In 1910-1940, race psychology gained foot when US psychologists used large scale intelligence tests to promote racial segregation in institutions to the point of being legalized (Augoustinos, 2014). Levin (2014) has illustrated that social psychological theories like Realistic Group Conflict have advocated that racism results from competitions over scarce resources. Social Identity Theory posits that individuals would like to conceptualize about themselves as individuals and group. Social Dominance Theory has it that individuals in their racial group would like to see themselves as of dominant status compared to others. This would, however, be reinforced by procedural justices in institutions such as schools and legal courts. It is evident that newer generations will always be learning about the issues of racism through social influences and persuasions to form attitudes that wrongly define members of other races.
Levin (2014) notes that to combat racism among other things, the government should begin by the society first, since it is the microenvironment that influences how institutions like schools function. The government should promote laws and policies that ensure equality and fairness to every individual regardless of his race. Moreover, the laws and policies should encourage diversity in every institution to reduce segregations in the society. Schools are supposed to be powerful tools of diversification and socialization to reduce racism. Apart from creating intergroup and individual integration climate, they should impart knowledge and skills that reduce attitudes of divisive racism and racial prejudice.

References

Augoustinos, M. (2014).Psychological perspectives on racism. Australian Psychological Society.
Retrieved on 25 March 2015 from https://www.psychology.org.au/Content.aspx?ID=5271
Levin, S. (2014).Social psychological evidence on race and racism. Compelling Interest.
Claremont, CA: Claremont McKenna College Retrieved on 25 March 2015 from.http://faculty.ucmerced.edu/khakuta/policy/racial_dynamics/Chapter3.pdf
McElwee, S.(2015).The hidden racism of young white Americans.PBS Newshour. Retrieved on
25 March 2015 from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/americas-racism-problem-far-complicated-think/.