Prejudice, Racism And Discrimination

This racism exists cross-culturally, but its impact varies by culture. In our society, racism manifests itself in unconscious bias and microagressions that associate darker skin color with poverty and crime. In other societies like India, racist social structures explicitly condemn people with darker skin color and force them into a life of poverty. However, in both these examples and throughout the world, these racist beliefs reinforce prejudice by increasing economic disparity and maintaining the status quo.
In our culture, racism is largely shown through unconscious bias. For example, Ferguson Police target African Americans for vehicle stops and citations 85 and 90 percent of the time, respectively, even though African Americans make up …show more content…
In India, those with very dark skin are viewed as “unpure” and are forced to clean the excrement of the upper societal classes (TEDx). This bias is very literal, as those with “unpure skin” are required to dispose of waste and are deemed “polluted.” Additionally, those with darker skin color are not allowed to marry into classes with lighter skin color. As a result, dark skin color is passed on through generations of individuals who are forced to remain poor and work the lowest of jobs. In India, as in our culture, the bias against those with darker skin has an economic impact that keeps minorities in poverty.
Further, it is possible that the unconscious bias for lighter skin present in societies in developed nations reinforces racism throughout the world. Skin bleaching is a common practice among women in cultures around the world. The influence of predominantly white cultures on these regions makes white skin a desired trait and further establishes the bias against those with darker skin. In our culture, as well as cultures around the world, this bias leads to economic disparity as those with darker skin to not have access to the same jobs, education, or equal treatment under the