In Michael Omi’s essay “In living Color: Race and American Culture,” he describes how racism still exists today, but portrayed differently than just a few decades ago. First, Omi discusses how overt racism (openly showing one’s racism) does not seem as popular today as with generations before us. For example, the Ku Klux Klan became highly popular in terrorizing, murdering, and assaulting minorities. Today, the Ku Klux Klan has become less popular, but we still run into overt racism, such as when Al Campanis stated that blacks do not hold management positions in big industries because the African American community contributes more to society as athletes (Omi 540). Al Campanis theory states that due to the African Americans body structure and
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For example, our seventh president Andrew Jackson established his history with his racism towards Native Americans. During his presidency, he allowed Georgia to violate a federal treaty with the Cherokee tribe stealing nine million acres of their land (History.com). Also during 1830 Jackson signed the “Indian Removal Act” causing a displacement of thousands of Native Americans. The “Indian Removal Act” allowed the government to make treaties with the tribes, sadly they used this power to move tribes from their lands to the west of the Mississippi River. Not many tribes left willingly, especially the Cherokee. The government eventually ordered them to march out of their land, this journey became known as the “Trail of Tears” where approximately 4,000 of their people died (“Indian Removal Act”). Our seventeenth president Andrew Johnson contributed to overt racism continuing into the 1860s. Johnson strongly supported slavery and believed citizens had the constitutional right to own slaves (History.com). While in office, he urged to the southern states to not ratify the fourteenth amendment, which gave African Americans citizenship (Alaska). He also supported creating the Southern Black Codes which sustained an immense civil rights violation to the African American race. George Wallace, four-time governor of Alabama, ran for president three times with a strong racist campaign, adding a strong ultra-segregationists platform (History.com). In his 1963 inaugural speech his quote, “Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!” became popular for the segregation supporters. During one of Wallace’s racist runs for president Arthur Bremer shot him at a campaign event in Laurel, Maryland paralyzing him permanently (Glennon). Throughout history, racism does not only come from important politicians in our government, but society as well has sustained an impact of racism towards
For example, our seventh president Andrew Jackson established his history with his racism towards Native Americans. During his presidency, he allowed Georgia to violate a federal treaty with the Cherokee tribe stealing nine million acres of their land (History.com). Also during 1830 Jackson signed the “Indian Removal Act” causing a displacement of thousands of Native Americans. The “Indian Removal Act” allowed the government to make treaties with the tribes, sadly they used this power to move tribes from their lands to the west of the Mississippi River. Not many tribes left willingly, especially the Cherokee. The government eventually ordered them to march out of their land, this journey became known as the “Trail of Tears” where approximately 4,000 of their people died (“Indian Removal Act”). Our seventeenth president Andrew Johnson contributed to overt racism continuing into the 1860s. Johnson strongly supported slavery and believed citizens had the constitutional right to own slaves (History.com). While in office, he urged to the southern states to not ratify the fourteenth amendment, which gave African Americans citizenship (Alaska). He also supported creating the Southern Black Codes which sustained an immense civil rights violation to the African American race. George Wallace, four-time governor of Alabama, ran for president three times with a strong racist campaign, adding a strong ultra-segregationists platform (History.com). In his 1963 inaugural speech his quote, “Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!” became popular for the segregation supporters. During one of Wallace’s racist runs for president Arthur Bremer shot him at a campaign event in Laurel, Maryland paralyzing him permanently (Glennon). Throughout history, racism does not only come from important politicians in our government, but society as well has sustained an impact of racism towards