Society has been built on the social construct of race and ethnicity. For some groups, such as whites, it is easy to gain access to opportunities because of their skin color. Unfortunately, for others, such as Latinos and African Americans, it is a constant battle to assimilate and be accepted. Many find themselves being outcasts and discriminated against due to the color of their skin. This has caused their lives to be filled with constant limitations to proper health, education, and finance. Race and ethnicity are essential factors that cause people of color to face less job and education opportunities, which causes then to frequently be poorer than their white counterparts. Additionally, people of color have less access to medical care,
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Adolescents from a minority group grow up under the influence of society and their homes. Due to the fact that many go through confusion on societies impression of them “adolescents from racial/ethnic minority groups report greater levels of depressive symptoms” (Hull 2). In other words, race and ethnicity disadvantages don’t only take a tole on adults, but also young adults who are still trying to find themselves. These young adults end up feeling out of place and won’t be able to feel like they have the same opportunities because of their race. In a movie called “Skin” directed by Anthony Fabian, Sandra Laing is an Afrikan from South Africa who isn’t the color of her ethnicity. She is defined as white because of her parents, but her skin tone is black. Because of this she was mistreated and persecuted by her teachers and other adults. (Skin 00:12: 34) The humiliation stripped her from her confidence, and her self-esteem. This caused her to constantly question,”What did I do wrong?” (Skin 00:13:45) In the end, she didn’t feel comfortable in her own skin because of how everyone around her treated her horrifically because of her race. The amount of stress “associated with everyday interpersonal and institutional racism may have an effect on outcomes among black women” (Rodriguez-Alvarez 1). The severity of how much stress the constant discriminatory and racist society has on a minority individual and has a strong effect on future generations that are yet to
Adolescents from a minority group grow up under the influence of society and their homes. Due to the fact that many go through confusion on societies impression of them “adolescents from racial/ethnic minority groups report greater levels of depressive symptoms” (Hull 2). In other words, race and ethnicity disadvantages don’t only take a tole on adults, but also young adults who are still trying to find themselves. These young adults end up feeling out of place and won’t be able to feel like they have the same opportunities because of their race. In a movie called “Skin” directed by Anthony Fabian, Sandra Laing is an Afrikan from South Africa who isn’t the color of her ethnicity. She is defined as white because of her parents, but her skin tone is black. Because of this she was mistreated and persecuted by her teachers and other adults. (Skin 00:12: 34) The humiliation stripped her from her confidence, and her self-esteem. This caused her to constantly question,”What did I do wrong?” (Skin 00:13:45) In the end, she didn’t feel comfortable in her own skin because of how everyone around her treated her horrifically because of her race. The amount of stress “associated with everyday interpersonal and institutional racism may have an effect on outcomes among black women” (Rodriguez-Alvarez 1). The severity of how much stress the constant discriminatory and racist society has on a minority individual and has a strong effect on future generations that are yet to