Free Racism Essay Example

Racism is based on bias and discrimination of people because of their biological differences. The African Americans have been subject to racism stemming from the slavery era. The election of President Obama is a succinct indication that American are willing to move away from the oppressive racial orders as well as a step in achieving racial equality and slaying the monster of racial injustice in the United States. The election overturned the prevailing racial order where ethnic minorities were considered biologically inferior and had limited access to opportunities for progress. Obama triumphed over the political racism, racial prejudice, and disadvantaged background to secure the presidential seat.
Obama’s election gives a misconceived notion that the country has overturned the old age social order. Systemic racism is a system of racial inequality based on race; it is referred to as color -blind racism. Systemic racism is depicted public bodies, government institutions, and private corporate entities. Stephen Lawrence while arguing on institutional racism described systemic racism as the failure of an organization to provide professional services to a person or the groups on the premise of their color, their ethnic origin or their culture.
Racism has continued to dominate private institutions, public schools, and universities. The conformists and the newcomers continually reinforce racial stereotypes. It is arguable that the election of Obama as president is an important milestone in displacing racial order; racism is still pertinent in government bodies and private sector.
Persistent racial stereotypes fuel racial discrimination and negatively affect interpersonal relations among co-workers. Systemic racism is also seen in housing contracts, in granting loan services and in the criminal conviction. African Americans make only 13.6 percent of the US population and yet they constitute a significant number of the prison inmates. Obama’s election did not usher a post-racial order. Nevertheless, it opened the doors to stemming all forms of racism from the United States.

Works Cited

Feagin, J. (2013). Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression. New York: Routledge.
Hahn, S. (2012, November 10). Political Racism in the Age of Obama. The New York Times, p. 1. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/opinion/sunday/political-racism-in-the-age-of-obama.html?_r=0