A societal problem refers to an issue that negatively influences the lives of people in the society and is therefore opposed by the majority of people in the society (Quintana & McKown, 2008). This problem is mainly caused by factors beyond an individual’s control and sometimes it is also caused by factors beyond an individual’s local environment. Examples of societal problems include poverty, racism, and gender inequality, inequality based on sexual orientation, adolescent pregnancy and abortion among other societal problems (Macionis, 2003). This paper focuses on racism as a societal problem.
Societal Problem: Racism
Racism refers to a set of ideologies and practices that intend to justify or support the unequal distribution of privileges and rights among different races or otherwise portray hatred or prejudice towards a different racial group (Quintana & McKown, 2008). It is based on a belief in the inferiority of another race (Macionis, 2003). For example, the white races tend to believe that they are more superior racially than the blacks (Miller & Garran, 2008). Psychologists to explain racism have formulated many psychological theories. One such theory is the supremacist theory. Supremacism is the belief that a particular race or ethnic group is more superior to other races or ethnic groups and thus they are entitled to dominate, control or exploit the inferior races or ethnic groups (Quintana & McKown, 2008).
Supremacism was more widespread in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries when Europeans were dominating in the America, Africa, Australia and Asia (Miller & Garran, 2008). During these centuries of European colonialism, the Europeans regarded themselves as white supremacists. (Miller & Garran, 2008) .In this case, the Europeans thought they had obligation to make other races in the world to follow their ways. The Europeans argued that their supremacist policies were meant to provide the greatest benefit to the inferior colonized races (Miller & Garran, 2008). It is important to note that the supremacist theory was applicable in the past during the era of European colonialism.
Other psychological theories of racism such as Tajfel’s social identity theory argue that racism is a form of extreme prejudice and that it is a manifestation of the psychological process of social perception (Quintana & McKown, 2008). In this case, a prejudice is a form of extreme stereotype whereby a person develops a racist attitude towards another person or groups of people (Quintana & McKown, 2008). Prejudices develop as a result of individual’s desire to boost their self-esteem. Tajfel’s social identity theory argues that individuals are egoistic in nature and hence they strive to protect their own image (Quintana & McKown, 2008). The process of categorizing people into groups enhances the social identity of the individual. Individuals placed in the more superior ethnic groups will have a higher self-esteem compared to the individuals in the inferior ethnic groups. These individuals with a higher self-esteem will tend to develop a racist attitude towards the inferior groups. Modern day psychologists thus attribute racism to personality traits whereby individuals with a distinct type of personality will adopt a racist attitude towards another race (Quintana & McKown, 2008).
Racism has been a major societal problem in the United States for quite some time. It started during the colonial era and era of the slave trade (Miller & Garran, 2008). During this period, the White Americans enjoyed all the privileges and rights. The Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Latin Americans were not granted these rights and privileges (Miller & Garran, 2008). The European Americans were also granted rights in matters of education, immigration, voting rights, citizenship and land acquisition. However, non-prominent immigrants from Europe including the Jews, Italians and the Irish people were discriminated against in the United States (Miller & Garran, 2008).
Social institutions including slavery, segregation, Native American reservations and residential schools for Native Americans mainly fueled racism. For instance, the Atlantic slave trade brought many Africans into the United States (Miller & Garran, 2008). Africans were transported to the United States to provide manual labor in the Americas plantations. Africans were preferred because they were available in large numbers at a cheaper price and they did not offer huge resistance. The Native Americans often resisted any form of forced labor and hence they were eliminated by diseases and violence including the Indian Wars that greatly reduced their numbers (Miller & Garran, 2008). The European colonialists introduced the slave trade due to their desire to conquer the world and become economically powerful. The Europeans also had a belief that they represented the superior race and hence the reason for them discriminating against the Africans and other races.
The institution of slavery in the United States prospered in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries (Miller & Garran, 2008). However, in the beginning of 19th century, some non-governmental organizations started calling for the abolition of slave trade and discrimination against Africans. For example, the American Colonization Society proposed the return of the enslaved black Americans to their home countries and in deed towards the end of the 19th century many black slaves were freed and returned back to Africa (Miller & Garran, 2008). Today, the institution of slavery no longer exists in the United States.
The abolition of slave trade did not necessarily mark the end of racism in the United States. Currently, the black Americans still suffer from prejudice, discrimination and institutional racism. There is still high level of unemployment, poverty and illiteracy among blacks compared to the whites (Miller & Garran, 2008). There is also violence against religious institutions attended by blacks. For example, recently nine black Americans were shot dead at the Charleston church.
Racism as a societal problem has proved too difficult to be eliminated in our current generation. In my opinion, the difficulty in eliminating racism stems from the fact that it is associated with stereotypes that individuals hold towards each other. From the psychological point of view, this societal problem is deeply rooted in the personality traits (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2006). For example, the White-Americans tend to view African-Americans as illiterate, poor and violent in general. However, this is a general perception that may not apply to all African-Americans. A White-American individual who has never interacted with many African-Americans will develop a negative stereotype towards them. These negative stereotypes are then transformed into personal traits and characteristics and then transferred one generation to another (Quintana & McKown, 2008). This implies that a newborn White-American will have the negative stereotype implanted in his mind even before he actually interacts with African-Americans. The reverse may also be true for African-Americans.
Therefore the only way in which racism can be reduced is by eliminating negative stereotypes which may be transformed into negative personality traits and characteristics. This calls for the establishment of social institutions whereby younger people are taught the importance of interracial interaction. The younger generations need to understand that all races all equal and that no race is superior to the other. This will eliminate instances where individuals will develop a negative stereotype towards others.
The relevant government agencies and non-government organizations may also come in handy by initiating campaigns that promote equality among all races. There should be equal employment opportunities and equality in the distribution of other rights and privileges regardless of race. Finally, racism starts with an individual and hence if each and every person desists from any form of a negative prejudice or stereotype, then the world will be free of racism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, racism is a societal problem that develops as a result of individuals developing a negative stereotype towards others. Eliminating racism requires establishment of proper social institutions that promote race equality.
References
Ciccarelli, S., & Meyer, G. (2006). Psychology. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Macionis, J. (2003). Sociology. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Miller, J., & Garran, A. (2008). Racism in the United States. Belmont, CA: Thomson
Brooks/Cole.
Quintana, S., & McKown, C. (2008). Handbook of race, racism, and the developing child.
Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
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