Essay Sample: Racism Will Always Exist

Racism is a part of everyones lives and will always exist in the world. Regardless of our age, nationality, race, skin color, or social status theres always going to be discrimination towards each other. Maya Angelou in The Champion of the World narrates a story that took place in 1930. A small African-American community was listening on the radio to Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber championship-boxing match against a white contender. Joe represented every African-American and was an iconic hero of their race. The boxing match was not just a sporting event between two men but a symbol of the long history of conflicts between the two races. With every single strike against Louis, the crowd feels as if the blow is against their accomplishments and dreams not only as a community but as individuals. Its another to the body, and it looks like Louis is going down(Angelou 106), if Louis loses, they will feel as if they have fallen back and will also remind them of all the past beatings throughout the black race history in the US. Angelou and her people faced discrimination, abuse, and even rape on a daily basis but they embrace their differences, are proud of their culture and are hopeful for a better future. The people are bound together ready to fight their common enemy; racism and discrimination. It would not do for a Black man and his family to be caught on a lonely country road on a night. Many black men even the weak ones had higher chances of being shot by police than white people (Angelou 107).

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The legendary, Muhammad Ali also had his bitter share of racism and his first teaching after joining the Muslim religion was that; the white people were devils and heaven, or hell did not exist. Alis white bosses could not stand that the boxing hero they were allowing to make lots of money had embraced Islam. Despite the negativity and hostility, Ali soldiered on and risked all he had. The move helped the black people overcome their fears, and it was also one of the reasons the civil rights movement at the time was able to move forward. Ali not only gave the black people courage to face their fears and move forward but also opened the whites eyes on the potential of the African American, (Hauser, 1991).

Martin Luther King Jr wished that his four little children would one day live where they would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. 53 years later after his historic campaign, what King hoped would be over is still experienced in the US. During the last presidential debate, the new US president-elect said that he would ban Muslims from entering the US and build a border wall to keep out Mexican immigrants who he called rapists and criminals. Racism is thus not only practiced by the middle class but also the affluent and leaders who should be helping fight it. On the other hand, Secretary Clinton admitted that the war on racism was being won and a lot had to be done. A lot of talk with no actions will not reduce racism, and the leaders should thus look for ways to contribute to reducing it.

There is a notion that black athletes are better basketball players because they can jump very high. 1988, On Martin Luther King Jr Day, Jimmy Synder -the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) News commentator at the time-, said that the black people were bred to be better players because of their significant size and thigh size. He continued to say that all the coaching jobs were controlled by whites and that was the reason why the blacks were only players. Al Campanis in 1987, when asked for his opinion on blacks being managers of a team, said that blacks did not have the necessities to be managers, (Paul, 1996). The two comments were indications that racism still existed in sports in the late 1980s. The people, who were in a position to help fight it, were in the front line openly making negative and racist comments.

Tiger Woods, -one of Americas most successful golfers of all time- has faced racism since his first day of school. He has over the years appeared in numerous interviews and openly talked about his racism experiences.

In 1930 racism was a significant issue and many people tried to fight it but unfortunately, we still continue to face it today. The past few months have recorded more race tensions in the US following a string of police-involved shootings and killings. Thousands have lost their lives in the over the years due to racial discrimination, and it is a time it all stopped. Perception starts from a very young age, and it does not matter the region, religion or social class one occupies. Racial discrimination takes place even in ones hometown, where one should feel safe and secure. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), many hate crimes committed in the United States have to do with race. The judicial system is worse as it targets young black men for arrest and unfairly punishes people of color. They are often pushed out of school instead of receiving counseling, due to the zero tolerance policies in schools.

All those fighting against discrimination over the years have urged the victims of discrimination not to let the discrimination tore them apart, but they should stick together and help each other deal with it. Leaders and people from different professionals have tried to fight racism over the years and ended in some being assassinated and others imprisoned. The war on racism requires everyones involvement and should start with an individual as the fight is far from been over. People should learn that it is not the differences that divide them but their inability to recognize and celebrate those differences.

Work cited

Angelou, Maya. Champion of the World. The Bedford Reader, edited by X.J. Kennedy, Dorothy M Kennedy, Jane E. Aaron, and Ellen Kuhl Repetto. Bedford/St. Martins, 2014 pp. 104-107.

Hauser, Thomas. Muhammad Ali His Life and Times. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991. Hausers comprehensive biography of Ali