Racism in America

I followed this webquest based on the novel Native Sun. It dealt with the issue of racism in America.



Richard Wright’s novel Native Sun, documents the racism in one small community that accuses Bigger Thomas of rape and murder based on the dark color of his skin. Seventy years later we are forced to ask the question: Does racism still exist in today’s society? Racism is defined as: the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races. I do believe that racism is still apparent in today’s world. Although we have come so far from the times when Martin Luther King Jr. preached about equal rights for all men, there are still some absent minded people who refuse to believe that all men are created equally.
Sadly, in today’s society, racism does still exist. Racism isn’t something that can be eliminated. Being racist means having feelings of hatred towards others. It means being ignorant and being close-minded to the diversity of the world. This state of mind cannot be erased. There are still racist jokes in shows and movies and people still discriminate in the work force based upon race. Racism is an unavoidable and horrible way of thinking that we unfortunatly can do nothing about.
Although racism is still apparent in today’s world, we as a nation have made radical steps in proving that as a whole we do not discriminate based upon race. In November of 2008 we elected our first African American president, Barack Obama. The historic day will be remembered as a day where we embraced differences and that the dreams of all people were made possible. President Barack Obama stated on the night of his victory, “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.” The impressive voter turn out proves that the people of America were ready for a change and were willing to embrace an African American president because he had new ideas and was extremely qualified. The majority of the people were able to look past the color of his skin and see what he was going to be able to do for the country. Hopefully, the election of the first African American president will prove to those with racist beliefs that all men are equal regardless of their skin color.