White Americans

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White Americans

Race discrimination by the White population in America is known to symbolize oppression due to the psychological problems that the black race experienced. This is proven by the unconstructive self-identity and image that black people internalized in them. For example, most individuals of the black society found it challenging in offering financial security and psychological support for their siblings (Tsuda 2011). The oppression from racial discrimination was reflected in family relationships, whereby negative influence of identity and image was transmitted from the parent to the child. This occurred without the young black society meeting with the white community to experience racial discrimination. In addition, reflecting on the past when slaves from the black community became liberated, the black community opted to respond immediately instead of thinking about the situation due to the years they spent being controlled on what to do (Tsuda, 2011).

Regrettably, for the group of individuals who try to alter the influence that is brought about by making changes in social outlook, the feeling of failure in the black society is not only caused by racial discrimination, but by a common internalization of characteristics. This is because of their negative mindset inherited from past events towards their intellectual ability and their motivation to accomplish something (Tsuda, 2011). The author refers this statement to the historic speech made by Malcolm X, where he explains the process of self-destruction in the black community. He explains that the black community fell in the trap of focusing on the idea of materialistic external beauty in order to impress the White race and look down on their own ethnicity. For example, within a black family, a parent might put his child down by comparing him to a white child and hence create the feeling of low self-esteem in the sibling (Tsuda, 2011).

In my own opinion, the racial conflict between the White and Black community has brought some negative effects in the modern society. A large percentage of the black community still has the negative mindset of being as successful as the White population. For example, most of the black populations live in dangerous neighborhoods where they establish their importance in the society in a negative way. For example, most of the black youths may be involved in illegal activities involving drug dealings, theft, and burglary, among other crimes. This fact can also be illustrated in today’s entertainment. For example, in the music industry, the style of music known as hip-hop is used by the black society for the wrong purposes.

Most African-American secular artists include negative content in their songs including drugs, sex and crimes in order to prove their identity worth within the American society. This shows that the black population still relies on the past notion of creating a negative image in them because they do not believe they could achieve greater things as the White society (Tsuda, 2011). For example, an African American might perceive pursuing a great education as a dream of the White race. I also think Malcolm X’s point of the black society depending on creating an attractive materialistic appearance to impress the White race is evident in our modern society. For example, black women are denied self-respect in the music industry by being displayed as symbols of physical attraction and immorality.

However, despite the challenges that were faced by the black community, I think there is still hope for the black society to overcome challenges that were originated from past events. I think it is the best way of proving their worth in the society because it will show the White population that they are stronger than the challenges that occurred in the past. Many African Americans tend to blame their failures on the effects of past black slavery and this has led to a drop in academic performance in the Black society. However, if black people focused on addressing the problems and effects of slavery, they could find solutions to enable them to move past the situation and turn into something positive.

References

Tsuda, T. (2011). Immigration and Ethnic Relations in the U.S. San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.