Racist America By Joe R. Feagin Analysis

In the United States today, issues surrounding race relations continue to prevail, stemming from decades of stereotypes, segregation, and discrimination. Although America is evolving into a stronger, fairer nation, this country is yet to experience perfect equality, and maybe never will. Since the 20th century, racism has transformed from a blunt, societal norm to a subtle, taboo subject; therefore, many Americans believe the United States is experiencing a post-racial society. While I believe we are making significant progress, coining the phrase “post-racial” to describe America today is an uninformed illusion. In Joe R. Feagin’s Racist America, he explains subconscious racism, in which Americans naturally abide by stereotypes, leading to inequality for black Americans politically, socially, and economically. Feagin expands on this complex topic: “...most whites can create racial tensions and barriers even without conscious awareness they are doing so” (146). Due to subconscious racism, the struggle for positive race relations continues as preconceived notions lead to acts of racism, such as a white mother grabbing her child’s hand when a black man …show more content…
Although racist individuals impact society, systematic racism is also prominent as institutions abuse their power to prioritize white needs and exclude black people from opportunities they deserve. In a study done by MIT, a black person needs to have eight years of job experience to be treated as a white applicant without experience, proving that corporations run by mostly white individuals share a common, subconscious belief that white Americans are more competent for the job. Due to this, black people are constantly put down by systematic racism, which possesses immense power in job hiring, house selling, and more, revealing the “white privilege” prominent in today’s