Coat of Many Colors
Multiculturalism affects American adults and children alike todayError! Reference source not found.. Multiculturalism is taught in every American school. Every year the United States embraces ethnical and racial diversity. Immigration fuels this racial diversity and is changing American communities today. Immigration is not just black. Immigration is not just white. Immigration has a coat of many colors. The way African Americans and White Americans act today, America seems to be all about black and white. Wake up America, racism still exists, but it is not about black and white anymore. White Americans have become the minority group in today’s American dream. This racism is found not only in our everyday comings and goings, but it happens in the workplace. Let us come together to fight to end racism and discrimination in the workplace.
Racism is a hated word for a hated society in today’s world. Many people do not realize that, sadly, racism still exists in today’s society, and it is still as serious a problem. Why live in the past? The tables are turned now, “White” Americans are the minority group now, and they are having to put up with discrimination in the workplace, education, housing, and government assistance just to name a few of the examples where discrimination occurs. Is this fair to any American? Here is a statement and a question for African Americans to ponder: It was unfair for “White Americans” to treat you the way they did in the slavery days. How many African Americans are slaves today? The last time we all knew there are no slaves today. Slavery ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“A Case History: The 1964 Civil Rights Act”). This Act forbids segregation and racial discrimination. Do we not understand the meaning of this? Racial Discrimination is against the law, no matter what color of skin you may have. With immigrants moving into the United States every day, why should we fight about whose job is at stake the black man’s or the white man’s, we both need to worry about our jobs, both races can be replaced.
Sadly, while institutional racism has been largely eliminated, personal ignorance may never end. For example, in a few experiences at work, over a span of ten years, this writer has encountered many inappropriate racial slurs through jokes due to the jealousy of co-workers, so much so, that days of work were missed due to the unfair treatment. Is this fair to someone who has gone to work to try and do their job to the best of their ability? No it is not. We all are tired of hearing phrases such as, “There goes the white girl again,” or “It is all about black power.” African Americans would never catch White Americans saying racial slurs in the work place. If this happened African Americans would be quick on the phone with the N.A.A.C.P., The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the Human Rights Commission and the E.E.O.C. Will Americans ever grow up and grow out of using stereotypes and color as a basis for being accepted in our society? America is not about black and white any more, that is in the past. It is sad that these people have to live in the past, because the past died many years ago. What does this make them, a ghost? Why would some believe that racism targeting whites is any more acceptable than it is against other ethnicities? Do we really need to fight this fight again?
What are these workers to do when the supervisor or business owner, or whatever their title may be, is the same color as the people who are slandering, and does not make a move to discipline these people? Fight against that power and lose their job? What do we do? Do we make a joke from it and dress up as a person with the same skin color to make a point? That ought to get some attention, but this negative attention would be wrong. We have to be the better person and utilize much thought and prayer.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was right when he wrote in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (151-164). King is referring to the injustices in the court systems. The argument of this paper refers to the injustices taking place in the work place, not in the court systems as King writes about in his letter. “Racial harassment can be against the law, using the same legal analysis applied to sexual harassment. Racial harassment is unwelcome behavior that happens to you because of your race, such as verbal or physical conduct of a racial nature. Conduct based upon color or national origin is analyzed under the law similar to race harassment, and also may violate the law” Error! Reference source not found.. As White Americans we do not have to tolerate this hatred toward our race any more than African Americans would tolerate it.
In Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” the author keeps stating, “We got to fight the powers that be” (611). The writer also makes racial slurs toward Elvis, John Wayne, and rednecks all of whom are “White Americans.” He/she also refers to the white music, “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” and he/she also states, “‘Cause I’m black and I’m proud” (612). There is nothing wrong with being “black and proud” (612), but African Americans should know that White Americans will be white and proud. We just need to be more professional and show our professionalism.
Reverse Racism is a term that is widely used in our society today. In the Hunting News newspaper, the author states, “Racism occurs regardless of who says what to whom. A bigoted comment is not any less or more offensive simply because of the race the individual at whom it is being directed” (1). ‘White Americans have voiced their opposition with statements made by United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Reverend Al Sharpton, that can be interpreted as putting down white Americans’ (1). What do white Americans do when there are people in a power position racially harassing and discriminating against them, or are allowing the other employees to racially harass or discriminate against them? Let us start with calling the person that is above them. If the situation still goes on, then we can call the Human Rights Commission and the E.E.O.C., by calling these commissions at the same time they can work hand in hand to get done what needs to be accomplished. Hopefully, by the time we get to this level, the discrimination and the harassment will stop. If not then it can be taken to the courts and when it gets to this level, a person can bet that this will for sure take care of the situation.
To conclude my point toward racial diversity, racial harassment and discrimination should not be tolerated in the workplace or anywhere else for that matter. There should be stronger consequences, such as immediate, no questions asked, termination for the harassers. No race is more or less important than any other. Many people have experienced discrimination of some sort based on physical features. We need to learn that this discrimination can and will be dealt with if the victims will only come forward and fight their fight. Let us not be afraid of the worldly ways. We need to remember, this world and this society is not about black and white, it is about our coats of many colors, and the teaching of multiculturalism.
I know you wont but yall should read this clown ass bitches essay. This chick is in my english comp 2 class and this is an essay she wrote that I have to comment on for a grade. I want to ether this bitch badly but I have to remain respectful.
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