Minority Groups and Racism

The term “race” refers to the classification of people into groups based on physical characteristics, genetics, or even ancestry, as was customary in earlier ages. The idea that race was first identified when Europeans arrived in America and saw Native Americans appears to be supported by a number of significant works (Chou, Tina, Anu and Stefan 40). Europeans were concerned with religion and how different colors complemented moral principles. The various religious perspectives gave rise to names like ”Savage,” which were used carelessly in reference to the complexion of the people. One may say that mistreatment of individuals because of their skin color was encouraged by the stereotyping of religion. The end of slavery started as a new era of freedom and relief, but it was short as it quickly dawned on the minority groups, that they were free but still in shackles.

Their new shackles were in an upgrade; race became an intimidation strategy adapting the name racism. The race of an individual became the standard measurement basis of assessing the capabilities of people; as the fundamental belief was that different races were superior to others and hence the authority and responsibility of dominating the others, through racial prejudice and discrimination. Darwin suggested the strong survive and the weak die, in his book of the evolution of man. This so the rise of social Darwinism effect with philosophers and social scientist using the theory to exploit not only genocide but also racism. The minority termed as colored folk or natives were persecuted and exterminated through the colonization of indigenous territories. Sad but great examples are Jews who almost became extinct as they were hunted and exterminated; those who survived became prisoners in concentration camps.

Ethnicity in general sense refers to a particular group of people who share some common ancestry traditions, or even language and dialect. It is that before the world was set into subcategories such as nations; various lands were an association of ethnic groups. As time went by, some of the ethnic groups became the respective nations, with countries such as Denmark being a nation of Danish ethnicity (Chou, Tina, Anu and Stefan 43). Other countries had various blends of ethnic groups hence did not take sufficiently into the idea. Ethnicity is good is good and bad, as it creates a mirage of belonging to a genetic linkage. But the same linkage is perhaps a discontent, as ethnic groups with huge numbers dominate the inferior ethnicities making them a minority with no real say in their nation. Take an example of the Rwandese and Burundians is a sad but classic example that saw an extermination of the minority ethnic group due to ethnicity.

Prejudice is an opinion about an individual or a group of persons that is preconceived and not based on reason or experience. In other words, it is a perception of one group or person to another. Prejudice has existed as early as civilization facilitating conflict and wars. It involves discrimination and mistreatment of persons. Perhaps there is no real measure of advancements in this line by civilizations, but it is the subjected minority who groups know the pinch of the salt. Some may say prejudice is a precognitive, nature of humankind, as individuals make perceptions about people and stories all the time. Blacks were called monkey due to their complexion and different ways of life and religion. The discrimination placed on them was but mere subjective as it lacked a standing. In the name of education, the black minority were mistreated and discriminated.

Discrimination is the practice of treating people or groups of people differently from other groups of individuals either due to color, race, ethnicity, age and even love. It would be right to say that discrimination perhaps, is the center of this narrative as every other aspect correlates or borrows from this. Discrimination may not be a new term, as its effects have existed since civilization. One may even argue that with every step of progress the world makes so does discrimination. Perhaps the bigger change is not discrimination, rather the minority groups. Minority groups have changed from color discrimination and gender discrimination to discrimination against gay relationship (Chou, Tina, Anu and Stefan 50). The new minority groups experience the same discontent that surrounds discrimination, mistreatment and to some extent hatred and prejudice. The reason for discrimination is a mystery; some would say it is an influence of culture, while other may consider it just bliss.

Stereotyping is the act of exaggeration of certain physical traits or cultural characteristics which are found among members of the minority group, which are then associated with the whole groups. For instance, if one is a thief so are all the others. Stereotypes tie the fate of groups of people on the actions of one individual, and hence a person is judged not by his characteristics but those of an exaggerated and distorted belief regarded as the features of the group the individual belongs. Stereotyping is a foundation of ignorance and the acceptance of false information about people’s knowledge and even cultural practices. The roots for this menace lay with the nature of humankind and the power of ignorance which fuels its development.

Colonization is not a new term it is the action of settling and establishing control over indigenous people. The history of settlement begins with the exploration of new land and the discovery. Then follows religion to soften the hearts of the individuals to be colonized; some would say here comes the missionary with a Bible in the one hand and a knife in the other. Colonization of Native lands was like an adrenaline rush more so in Africa with various parties having vested interest (Binder and Jens 10). The minority were pushed out of their rich fertile lands which were occupied by the settlers. Colonization developed as a result of such of resources and Markets as industrialization was taking place. Heritage and ancestry were trampled on all in the spirit of development. Colonialist discriminated and prejudiced what they did not understand.

Ethnocentrism is the Association of thinking one culture is better than the other, which is as a result of one custom or culture (Binder and Jens 24). That results in individuals judging other groups concerning their particular ethnic group or culture. Culture diversity can be significantly hard to maintain when people are confronted with cultures and beliefs that conflict their own. In France head scarfs are banned so as to enforce gender equality and the secular society, it is ethnocentric as it imposes the values of the French people on other ethnic groups like the Islamic women. The idea is developed by ethnicity and lack of diversity. Minority groups are affected by the ethnocentrism as the wishes of the larger groups take precedence ahead of their own.

Manifest destiny is a justification for the expansion of United States from coast pushing the removal of Native Americans and war with Mexico (Binder and Jens 29). The development was focused on the progress of liberty and individual economic opportunities, with the concern being placed on the majority. The minority Native Americans were mistreated and displaced from their ancestral homeland. As the Americans pushed outwards, they broke culture and customs of the natives which had been in existence for a while. The development of manifest was relative as the economic opportunities were much favorable to the majority hence the support.

Work cited

Binder, Jens, et al. ”Does contact reduce prejudice or does prejudice reduce contact? A longitudinal test of the contact hypothesis among majority and minority groups in three European countries.” Journal of personality and social psychology 96.4 (2009): 843.

Chou, Tina, Anu Asnaani, and Stefan G. Hofmann. ”Perception of racial discrimination and psychopathology across three US ethnic minority groups.” Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 18.1 (2012): 74.