American Society and Racism, Essay Example

Despite all the advances in American society over the last century, there is no question that race and racism still play significant roles in how people see each other and interact with each other. When I am asked to describe myself, one of the first things I think of is that I am African American. I come from a lower-middle-class socioeconomic background, and the challenges imposed by economic forces are probably the same for all people, regardless of race or ethnicity. At the same time, it seems that racial and ethnic minorities often face additional challenges in a society that has long been dominated by a cultural, social, and economic power structure that was built by white people.

Although America is supposed to be a melting pot of people from all different backgrounds, there are cultural differences for those of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. I grew up in the American culture of music, movies, television shows, public schools, and other aspects of culture that are common to almost everyone. At the same time, African Americans have always had their own cultural aspects that were different from what white people had, mainly because they were forced to live segregated lives for so long. As an African American female, I have experienced many examples of racism and prejudice, and even been called names and treated badly by some white Americans. Feeling powerless, or feeling disadvantaged, can lead to anger and resentment. It can also motivate people to work hard to overcome disadvantages and challenges, and that is what I have determined I will do in my life.

The greatest lesson I have learned about prejudice is that prejudging people often leads to incorrect conclusions. I have sometimes disliked people at first, only to realize when I got to know them that I liked them very much. As individuals and as a society we have to learn to understand that prejudice does nothing but get in the way of building a better, stronger society. If I could teach anyone anything about racism or prejudice, it would be not to ignore it, but to acknowledge it in order to overcome it.