Racism is set of beliefs that some people are inferior or superior to others because of their distinctive and inborn biological characteristics which are defined by race. As a result there is an attitude of bias, prejudice and intolerance toward certain racial groups which are being treated differently, both socially and legally. Though the practice of racial discrimination dates back to ancient times, it was in only in 1907 that the word ‘Racism’ was defined in the Oxford English Dictionary for the first time.
During the Gothic era, humans were divided on being ‘believers’ or ‘nonbelievers’ by Muslims and Christians, and not on their colour or creed. In the United States, the census from the very beginning (1790) has sorted people on the basis of their race. More than two million people of the African- American community are below the poverty level. This also happens to be the most victimised group in America. The civil war was meant to change the lives of many African-Americans, it did, marginally. An unofficial finding states that between 1836 and 1879, two African- Americans were lynched in the …show more content…
The period after World War I saw the blossoming of African American writers and poets whom chronicled and voiced the anger, outrage and frustration they felt at the hands of a segregated and prejudiced nation. Richard Wright was one of these writers, gaining critical acclaim from his novel Native Son. Wright also produced an autobiographical work, entitled ‘ Black Boy’, details the injustices he experienced first-hand growing up in the segregated American South. Racism as a problem among individuals is a familiar topic in literature. Black Boy, however, explores racism not only as an odious belief held by odious people but also as an insidious problem knit into the very fabric of society as a
During the Gothic era, humans were divided on being ‘believers’ or ‘nonbelievers’ by Muslims and Christians, and not on their colour or creed. In the United States, the census from the very beginning (1790) has sorted people on the basis of their race. More than two million people of the African- American community are below the poverty level. This also happens to be the most victimised group in America. The civil war was meant to change the lives of many African-Americans, it did, marginally. An unofficial finding states that between 1836 and 1879, two African- Americans were lynched in the …show more content…
The period after World War I saw the blossoming of African American writers and poets whom chronicled and voiced the anger, outrage and frustration they felt at the hands of a segregated and prejudiced nation. Richard Wright was one of these writers, gaining critical acclaim from his novel Native Son. Wright also produced an autobiographical work, entitled ‘ Black Boy’, details the injustices he experienced first-hand growing up in the segregated American South. Racism as a problem among individuals is a familiar topic in literature. Black Boy, however, explores racism not only as an odious belief held by odious people but also as an insidious problem knit into the very fabric of society as a