Examples Of Individual Racism
Donna Fondjo Final Exam Essay Introduction to Culture, Race, and Ethnicity Concepts School of Humanities and Sciences 13 May 2024 Dr. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne
In today’s society, the case of a 22-year-old Latinx man killed in a hit-and-run incident during his commute to work sheds light on the enduring presence of racism in our communities. This incident occurred within a city divided by race and income, where a predominantly Latinx neighborhood faces limited access to public transportation and physical barriers separating it from a wealthier, mostly White area. By examining the systemic issues involved, including institutional policies, structural barriers, and the influence of cultural and economic factors, it becomes clear that …show more content…
This type of racism can manifest in overt actions and subtle biases, impacting interpersonal interactions and decision-making processes. It’s important to note that individual racism encompasses both personally mediated racism and internalized racism, as well. Personally-mediated racism involves prejudice and discrimination, “where prejudice means differential assumptions about the abilities, motives, and intentions of others according to their race, and discrimination means differential actions toward others according to their race” as described in Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s (Jones 1). Internalized racism occurs when individuals from marginalized groups accept negative societal beliefs about their own abilities and intrinsic worth. In this case, individual racism may not be immediately apparent in the actions of the driver who hit the man. It truly could have been an accident, given the speed at which cars drive on the highway, and it is likely the driver did not know the man's race and did not intentionally target him because he was Latinx. However, the context surrounding the accident tells a different story about the presence of individual racism. The decision to discontinue bus service after 7pm following a single incident of violence against a bus driver reflects a lack of concern for the safety and well-being of the Latinx community. This decision, made by individuals in positions of power, reveals a form of individual racism. It shows a prejudiced attitude that disregards the needs and safety of a marginalized community, prioritizing their own fears and convenience over equitable access to transportation. This decision forces residents to navigate dangerous conditions, ultimately contributing to the death of the young
In today’s society, the case of a 22-year-old Latinx man killed in a hit-and-run incident during his commute to work sheds light on the enduring presence of racism in our communities. This incident occurred within a city divided by race and income, where a predominantly Latinx neighborhood faces limited access to public transportation and physical barriers separating it from a wealthier, mostly White area. By examining the systemic issues involved, including institutional policies, structural barriers, and the influence of cultural and economic factors, it becomes clear that …show more content…
This type of racism can manifest in overt actions and subtle biases, impacting interpersonal interactions and decision-making processes. It’s important to note that individual racism encompasses both personally mediated racism and internalized racism, as well. Personally-mediated racism involves prejudice and discrimination, “where prejudice means differential assumptions about the abilities, motives, and intentions of others according to their race, and discrimination means differential actions toward others according to their race” as described in Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s (Jones 1). Internalized racism occurs when individuals from marginalized groups accept negative societal beliefs about their own abilities and intrinsic worth. In this case, individual racism may not be immediately apparent in the actions of the driver who hit the man. It truly could have been an accident, given the speed at which cars drive on the highway, and it is likely the driver did not know the man's race and did not intentionally target him because he was Latinx. However, the context surrounding the accident tells a different story about the presence of individual racism. The decision to discontinue bus service after 7pm following a single incident of violence against a bus driver reflects a lack of concern for the safety and well-being of the Latinx community. This decision, made by individuals in positions of power, reveals a form of individual racism. It shows a prejudiced attitude that disregards the needs and safety of a marginalized community, prioritizing their own fears and convenience over equitable access to transportation. This decision forces residents to navigate dangerous conditions, ultimately contributing to the death of the young