According to Webster’s Dictionary, racism is defined as the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. The idea of freedom and liberty to all was founded when the America Colonies were formed. Every day in life everyone faces or views some sort of racism under all circumstances. Although racism has been prevalent in the passed 100 years, it has greatly increased over the passed ten years. How we react to this adversity in our country will determine the attitudes of Americans in the future.
As European settlements in the Americas were developed and prospered, slavery grew. Powerful plantation owners …show more content…
Racism was arguably more evident in the 18th and into the 19th centuries than at any other period in American history; however, it took a slight turn for the better in the mid-19th century. This century, the age of emancipation under the leadership of President Lincoln, moved the nation closer to black and white equality. Thankfully the 13th Amendment was passed in 1865, which finally abolished slavery. Though African slaves had been emancipated, they were a long way from being incorporated into society as full-fledged Americans and from enjoying the freedoms white citizens knew. The fact that slaves were gaining freedom, aggravated many white people and this led to new problems. Upset at the thought of black people being their equals, many white Americans, especially in the South, unfortunately displayed violence and hatred toward their black social counterparts. Although laws stated “separate but equal,” Africans Americans continued to be treated poorly and did not truly enjoy the same privileges as white Americans possessed. Tired of these unjust laws and discrimination, Rosa Parks, became an extremely influential black woman, by refusing to move to the back of a public bus in 1955. By doing this, Parks helped spark the Civil Rights Movement in the United …show more content…
Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, told the police, “This guy looks like he 's up to no good, or he 's on drugs or something” (Botelho). After being dissuaded by the 911 dispatcher to not follow the young man, Zimmerman decided to disregard the operator’s admonition and to trail Martin. The 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer approached Trayvon and got into a quarrel with him. The details of the altercation were never fully discovered, but one of the men yelled, “help!” 14 times in a span of 38 seconds (Botelho). According to Martin’s mother, the voice was not her son’s. The 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was found face down in the grass with Zimmerman standing over him (Botelho). There were no witnesses who were able to determine exactly what happened, so it is unclear as to who was in the right or who was in the wrong. The outcome of the trial left people angered and many had real doubts about the trial’s verdict. This was a suspicious, inconclusive case and may be another example of stereotyping and racial discrimination in America
As European settlements in the Americas were developed and prospered, slavery grew. Powerful plantation owners …show more content…
Racism was arguably more evident in the 18th and into the 19th centuries than at any other period in American history; however, it took a slight turn for the better in the mid-19th century. This century, the age of emancipation under the leadership of President Lincoln, moved the nation closer to black and white equality. Thankfully the 13th Amendment was passed in 1865, which finally abolished slavery. Though African slaves had been emancipated, they were a long way from being incorporated into society as full-fledged Americans and from enjoying the freedoms white citizens knew. The fact that slaves were gaining freedom, aggravated many white people and this led to new problems. Upset at the thought of black people being their equals, many white Americans, especially in the South, unfortunately displayed violence and hatred toward their black social counterparts. Although laws stated “separate but equal,” Africans Americans continued to be treated poorly and did not truly enjoy the same privileges as white Americans possessed. Tired of these unjust laws and discrimination, Rosa Parks, became an extremely influential black woman, by refusing to move to the back of a public bus in 1955. By doing this, Parks helped spark the Civil Rights Movement in the United …show more content…
Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, told the police, “This guy looks like he 's up to no good, or he 's on drugs or something” (Botelho). After being dissuaded by the 911 dispatcher to not follow the young man, Zimmerman decided to disregard the operator’s admonition and to trail Martin. The 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer approached Trayvon and got into a quarrel with him. The details of the altercation were never fully discovered, but one of the men yelled, “help!” 14 times in a span of 38 seconds (Botelho). According to Martin’s mother, the voice was not her son’s. The 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was found face down in the grass with Zimmerman standing over him (Botelho). There were no witnesses who were able to determine exactly what happened, so it is unclear as to who was in the right or who was in the wrong. The outcome of the trial left people angered and many had real doubts about the trial’s verdict. This was a suspicious, inconclusive case and may be another example of stereotyping and racial discrimination in America