Racism Essays (1882 words) - Racism, Discrimination, The Bluest Eye

Racism There were two cops. One said 'You niggers have to learn to respect police officers.' The other one said, 'If you yell or make any noise, I will kill you.' Then one held me and the other shoved the plunger up my behind. He pulled it out, shoved it in my mouth, broke my teeth and said, 'That's your *censored*, nigger.'(Abner Louima) The police officers that allegedly performed this act of racial violence on August 9, 1997 had no reason to brutally beat and sodomize Abner Louima. They beat him for the fact that he was an African-American. I will show how I researched a poem by Maya Angelou and how racism occurred in The Bluest Eye. First, we need to understand what racism is. Racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Racism is slightly different in my point of view. Racism is a person's attitude, ignorance and beliefs that causes one to believe their race is superior. It spreads to each generation causing a never-ending cycle. It occurs in every day life. Violence, destruction and ultimately death are sometimes the results of racism. It is unfair treatment to minorities being judged primarily because of the color of their skin. Every race is affected in some way, but African-Americans are affected more significantly than any other race. Racism begins in the home where it is taught. You have to be taught to hate and fear / You have to be taught from year to year / It has to be drummed in our dear little ear / You have to be carefully taught! (Roger & Hammerstein) Racism occurs at home, work, anytime and anyplace. It began years ag o and continues today. In Maya Angelou's Still I Rise, racism was discussed. The poet emphasizes I rise (L.30, 32, 36, 38, 41-43) to express that no matter how much someone puts you down, you can overcome the situation. Consider lines 1 through 4: You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. I agree with lines 1 through 4 because insults have no power. A person can become better and not stoop to your level because still I'll rise (L. 12) One can hate but it will not be heard or acknowledged. A description can be seen in lines 21 through 24: You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Maya Angelou described situations that occurred because of one's color. Angelou discussed the past pain of black slaves. I am the dream and the hope of the slave. (L. 40) I think Angelou stated this line to explain that the past occurred but the new generation is the hope to bury the past. Hoping to bring achievement and success of African-Americans. Elliott/ 2 All society hears is the history of slavery and the pain that began with racism, rape and mistreatment of African-Americans. Lines 29 through 43 describe that with African-American history there is hope for success: Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from the past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. This poem makes me realize that African-Americans have been faced with bitterness. I love this poem because I rise reminds me of 3-D. Elliott/ 3 It comes out while you are reciting the words. It makes me feel like I can rise, no matter my problems, I'll rise. I think if we add this phrase to our vocabulary when a situation of racism occurs, you won't worry about the cause. In Toni Morrison's, The Bluest Eye, racism occurred throughout the novel. Claudia destroyed her white baby dolls. She was upset that people would look at white girls and say how cute they were but that Claudia was not. What made people look at them and say, Awwwww,