1150 Forestville Road

Wake Forest, NC 27587

November 14, 2016
The President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Racism has been a big problem since the 1400's and still is today in the U.S.
(projectracism.weebly.com). 49% Americans agree that racism is a big problem in the U.S.
(cnn.com).When slavery started in 1619, there were of racist ideas and actions of our country,
that show no sign of leaving (history.com). People who are racist are usually raised in a racist
environment. Being in that environment may influence people who think being racist is okay
(childline.org).
A lot of the recent racist attacks are from law enforcers such as policemen or judges. In
New York City, 80% of the stops made were blacks and Latinos, and 85% of those people were
frisked, compared to a mere 8% of white people stopped (DoSomething.org). The U.S News
states On the New Jersey Turnpike, for instance, blacks make up 15 percent of drivers, more
than 40 percent of stops and 73 percent of arrests even though they break traffic laws at the
same rate as whites. Some cases were brought to court. Studies show in 2010, the U.S.
Sentencing Commission reported that African Americans receive 10% longer sentences than
whites through the federal system for the same crimes. (DoSomething.org).
Social media has played a huge role in racism movements like Black Lives Matter
spread across the nation. People have been tweeting their thoughts on recent shootings of
African-Americans. Scientists analysed the emotions behind almost 29 million tweets about
four events in 2014 and 2015 that led to Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in an attempt to
identify patterns. (Aljazeera.com). University Students of Missouri led protest after several
appalling racial incidents. University's administration was unwilling to confront or respond to
unrelenting injustice on campus (fortune.com). In todays society people still have questionable
views towards African Americans. In 2012, 51% of Americans expressed anti-black sentiments
in a poll; a 3% increase from 2008. (DoSomething.org).
In conclusion, racism has been a major part of the division, and conflict in our
country. If we want these problems to end, we all need to do our part in helping raise awareness
for racist attacks and comments towards people of different races. As President, you could be the
leader we need to help start the resolution to these social issues. America needs to be unified with
the different races, and cultures that make this country what it is.
Sincerely,
Ann Nelson and Ethan Derstine