Prevalence & Tenacity of Racism in the US Today

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Growing up in India I have always thought that the United States was this fictitious place which had everything my country didn’t. I’ve heard endless slogans like “America is the greatest country in the world” and how migrating to the US should be one’s life aim. These myths were crushed every day as I started understanding that the US is still unable to resolve its core issues and its deep rooted problems are just accentuating. In particular, my experience visiting the US last fall wasn’t explicitly hunky-dory. I remember when I was on my way back to Canada, the immigration officer looked at my face and said “Are you sure you’re legally allowed to enter Canada from the US”. She could see that I study there, but there was this doubt lingering over her head because I wasn’t white. I was dressed decently, I was speaking fluent English but just because of my skin color she made me feel little. The entire flight back home I was in a melancholic mood wondering how difficult it must be for the non-whites to reside in that country.

Lately, the news about George Flyod was unsettling and agitating. The past few days have transparently laid out the entrenched systemic racism prevalent in the US. Anti-Black racism still looms large in the 21st century; it is just getting filmed now. The police brutality against African-Americans is a dead spot towards racism in the US which has only been badgering since foundation. A big part of the problem lies in the lack of confrontational abilities of individuals when it comes to talking about racial prejudice. Racism is real and bigots are plenty. Furthermore, society makes it seem like we must be wary of black people rather than making us vigilant about people’s ideals and mentality. Routine discrinimation because of one’s physical characteristics is displeasing. Habitually, racists think blackness is a synonym for crime, low-intelligence, poverty, danger, instability etc. As per the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, black men in the US are more likely to be arrested for drug use and offences even though they aren’t more likely to sell or use drugs. Moreover, they also have a higher chance of getting shot by police than White or Hispanic people. Why is it that no officials raise their voice when other powerful white men abuse their power? In a 2018 study conducted by the American Public Health Association, it was found that America’s poorest neighbourhoods with the greatest number of non-white residents, are the most likely to see deadly police encounters.

Wouldn’t this world be a better place if white people helped dismantle the systems their ancestors created rather than maintaining it? We live in a world where people are more outraged at a black man peacefully kneeling rather than such a barbaric incident of police brutality. This outrageous incident was followed by protests by black people who in turn were assaulted by police tear gas and rubber bullets. Systemic racism is an underlying disease in the US. It has become a defence mechanism for privileged people to exploit the vulnerable. It has become common to call the cops and say “African-American Male” like a racial slur knowing very well that it could lead to someone’s death.

So, let’s not ignore something because it makes us uncomfortable. Rather, let’s stand together and join forces to be better. Saying “I’m not racist” is not enough. It was never enough. You must call out every single individual whose words, actions and beliefs are conforming to racism of any sort. Start simple, start somewhere. Follow these steps if you’re wondering what to do next: (i) Stop using racial slurs, it won’t make you cool. (ii) Stand up for what you believe in especially when your family/friends give offensive comments about one’s race because reposting on social media won’t make a difference if you can’t control your surroundings. (iii) Sign a petition at https://www.justiceforbigfloyd.com/, it will only take a minute. (iv) Learn how to celebrate other cultures and people, instead of spreading hatred and negativity. (v) Teach your children how to be kind to people who are a little different than them. If they learn these values from the start, they will help change the next generation.

Ultimately, I want to end by saying, I’m not black but I see you, hear you and respect you. I will mourn with you and fight for you because what happened with Floyd was not justifiable. Many more incidents like these happen on a regular basis and it’s about standing up for humanity now. Every race and gender is equal. When we say don’t judge a book by its cover it also means that don’t judge a person by their race or gender.