Brooke Kelsberg

English 115
Professor Malvin
November 21, 2015
The Evolution of Racism in America
Equality is the idealistic notion that Americans have been fighting over hundreds for
years, yet racism and varying forms of racial discrimination still prevail throughout the nation.
Whether it is through racial profiling, police tactics, microaggressions, or even gang influence,
racial discrimination has become a serious issue throughout history in America. Since The Civil
War era, it is safe to say there has been a drastic change in the way people of color are being
treated in terms of equal opportunity. Nonetheless, there is still a long way to go and a lot of hard
work that needs to happen until America is able to claim that all races are treated equally
throughout the nation. Victims of racism like Rodney King, Luis F. Rodriguez, Trayvon Martin,
and Michael Brown exemplify the magnitude of how racism has evolved, and demonstrates the
urgent need for change in order for America to reach racial equality.
Following years of fighting for racial equality, ranging from local protests to the Civil
War, one may question the reason racism is still a relevant issue today. Many Americans will
argue that since there is an African- American president and laws against racial discrimination
that the country has reached equality. Although these are great advances in the journey to
equality, there is still an immense amount of change that needs to take place in order to ease
racial tensions and eliminate racist tactics. According to opinion writer Colbert I. King, the
reason racism and racial discrimination is still relevant today is because in our faltering efforts
to deal with race in this country, a great deal of time is devoted to responding to symptoms rather

than root causes (King). Instead of society attempting to chance racist beliefs and the sense of
white supremacy that many Americans hold, people who commit hate crimes are only punished
for their actions, and not educated about their flawed racial assumptions or beliefs.
Microaggressions, racial profiling and other racist tactics are the result of an underlying problem
based on feelings of white supremacy. In other words, when one commits a hate crime against a
person of color, they are punished for their racist act, rather than their deeper issues with white
supremacy. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment are all significant improvements to our nations
issue with racism, yet they do not fix the root of the problem, instead they merely mask the
deeper issue. Colbert King compares this method to that of a broken leg. Rather than healing the
broken bone, one is simply muting the pain with a temporary medication.
Police brutality is a major issue in the fight for racial equality. In Anna Delveare Smiths
Twilight, the journalist interviews a variety of people about the assault of Rodney King,
committed by white Los Angeles policemen. One interviewee that especially stood out was
Angela King, Rodney Kings aunt. She spoke about the horrors of Rodney Kings assault, and the
aftermath within the trial. It was 1991 when Rodney King was beaten for no valid reason by the
Los Angeles police. The assault was caught on video tape, exposing the policemen of their
unlawful brutality. The officers were put on trial, and were reasonably expected by many to face
justice to the fullest extent. People had faith in their justice system and believed that racism
would not interfere with an honest and fair trial. To the dismay of many, the officers were found
innocent. Once the officers were acquitted, the1992 LA Riots began. I wanted justice, said
Angela King, and I wanted whatever them things comin to them done to them regardless- you
can call it revenge or whatever, but what I saw on that video, on that TV, that was a mess

(Smith). Angela King was clearly seeking justice for her nephew Rodney King, and holds a
perspective on the matter that many would agree with to this day. In what has been happening
more recently with police brutality victims, such as Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin, people
essentially all demand the same outcome; justice. Our justice system is currently flawed by racial
discrimination within juries, the press, media, and even lawyers and judges. This issue has been
fought for decades, yet the American justice system remained static throughout all of the protests
and riots. As a result, more guilty police officers are being acquitted for police brutality. This
stance that the courts are taking encourages racism throughout our nation by leading people to
believe it is acceptable to be hostile to people of color., and expect to receive no consequence. If
our justice system were to take it upon themselves to make a change and serve justice when it is
due, the U.S would be much more peaceful.
Similar to the racial discrimination issues brought up in Twilight, Luis F. Rodriguezs
Always Running exemplifies the problem our country has with racial profiling. Luis Rodriguez,
who was a young hispanic working as a bus boy, felt he needed to carry his birth certificate with
him everywhere he went, in fear of being deported. This hostility that he felt towards him led
him to seek a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, he found this sense of belonging in gang
life.When he first became involved in gangs, he only partook in a gang with his friends where
they would not commit crimes, but just partake in frowned-upon activities. Gradually, one thing
led to another and Rodriguez found himself spiraling into a life of crime with other heavily
involved gang members. He soon became apart of a dangerous gang that he committed numerous
felonies with. It was not until he discovered his passion for writing that he truly found a healthy
sense of belonging and peace in his life. He grew up watching his parents and family be racially
discriminated against. Growing up and witnessing his entire family being racially discriminated

against led him to internalize this oppression, causing him to believe the only place he would
belong was in a gang. Rodriguez was lucky enough to turn his life around by following his
passion for writing and education. Today, he provides troubles teens with a place where they can
read, write, and further their education. He hopes that he can save these kids from going down
the same path he did. The American society should take it upon themselves to create a safe
environment for children of all ages to grow up in, so that racial tensions do not surface and lead
into gang life. It is miraculous that Rodriguez found his way out of his life of crime on his own,
and turned it into something beautiful and beneficial for his community. Our country can learn
from Rodriguezs compassion for the oppressed youth of America.
Racism is not something that can be fixed overnight, and it is not something that our
country faces alone. Racism is a global issue and occurs in a majority of countries worldwide.
However there has been progress thanks to the millions of people who have been fighting for a
change throughout the past years. In the 17th century, almost all of the Africans brought to
America were kidnapped from various parts of Africa to become slaves. African men, women,
and children were stripped of their names and identities, forced to Christianize, whipped,
beaten, tortured, and in many cases, lynched or hanged at the whims of their white masters, for
whom slavery was key to maintaining their vast properties and land (Siddiqui). With a long and
hard fight, congress passed the 13th Amendment in1865 which abolished slavery. Many believed
this was then end of racial inequality, but it was in fact far from it, it was merely the beginning of
the nations fight for justice.
Although slavery was ultimately outlawed and laws prohibiting discrimination against
African-Americans passed, racism against this community remains and is manifested in more

subtle ways today (Siddiqui). Around the time that racial discrimination was outlawed,
microaggressions began to surface. People began to express their racist beliefs in ways they felt
were socially acceptable. Microaggressions are the everyday nonverbal or verbal insults that
communicate derogatory and negative messages to people based upon their race. For example, a
common microaggression that many people today seem to make, is telling a person of color how
well they speak English. Although their intentions may be complimentary, stating this is
implying that people of color are commonly incapable of speaking proper English, and that it
comes as a surprise they are able to speak in an articulate manner . Another microaggression that
happens quite frequently, is when someone says they dont believe in race or dont see color.
There is no problem with race and color, and saying this to a person of color is denying the
individual as a cultural being. Microaggressions are a serious contribute to racism and is not
acceptable, even if one is trying to use benevolent stereotypes in order to compliment someone,
it is still considered a microaggression.
Racism is a global issue that lacks the public attention that it requires. If society continues
to be centered around white supremacy, America will never reach equality. Just because there is
an African-American president and laws against racial discrimination does not mean that the
country has achieved racial equality. Racial profiling, micro aggressions and white supremacy
are all very real issues this country needs to focus on fixing. Equality can only truly be achieved
once society develops a deep sense os community, compassion and love.

Works Cited
Smith, Anna Deavere. Twilight--Los Angeles, 1992. New York, NY: Dramatists Play Service,
2003. Print.

Rodriguez, Luis J. Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. Willimantic: Curbstone,
1993. Print.
King, Colbert I. "The Key Reason Why Racism Remains Alive and Well in

America."

Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.

Siddiqui, Sammana. "A Brief History of Racism in the United States." A Brief History of Racism
in the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
Purpose., Women Are Out Of Line When They, Are Aggressive., and Page 2. Tool: Recognizing
Microaggressions and the Messages They Send (n.d.): n. pag. Web.