Racism And The Pursuit Of Happiness Essay - 1547 Words

Throughout the history of America, racism has been a major issue. The matter of racism has created a divide amongst many Americans and that divide continues to exist to this day. The United States has always taken pride in being recognized as the melting pot of the world. Although one downfall to having so many different cultures concentrated in one area is that there is a high probability that those cultures will clash. In return, this creates conflict and prejudices towards one another. On the other hand, when these cultures are able to coexist and come together, it creates a diverse and strong population. America is said to be the land of the free and many throughout history have looked to America as a place of refuge. The draw for many outsiders is the ability to have religious freedom and the right to the pursuit of happiness. Racism by definition, â€Å"Is the belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual ac hievement, usually involving the idea that one s own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others† (Dictionary.com). In some instances there are those who are not interested in allowing foreign cultures into the country and that creates a breeding ground for racism to spread. One of the first issues regarding racism, steams from when the first white Europeans came in contact with Native Americans. The colonization of European whitesShow MoreRelatedRacism Is Not Cured Of It, And The Pursuit Of Happiness1355 Words   |  6 PagesPresident Obama said, â€Å"Racism, we are not cured of it, and it is not just a matter of it is not polite to say nigger in public. Society’s don’t overnight completely erase things that happened two to three hundred years’ prior.† (â€Å"Obama’s Candid Reflection†,2016). According to Shirley Better (2008) institutional racism denotes patterns, procedures, practices, and policies that operate within social institutions to consistently penalize, disadvantage, and exploit individuals who are members of theRead MoreEssay about The Declaration Then And Now1348 Words   |  6 Pagestheory to justify their independence from Great Britain. Americans were justified in revolting against the King , the founders declared, because the King deprived them of their rights to â€Å"Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness†. Thomas Jefferson substituted the phrase â€Å"pursuit of Happiness† for the word â€Å"property†, in order to give the document a more idealistic tone. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The colonists were tired of being mistreated by the British. They wanted to separate themselves completelyRead MoreThe Fifth Of August By Audre Lorde991 Words   |  4 Pagesdeclaration came their independence. With independence comes freedoms such as the pursuit of happiness, a promise of equality and so forth. Therefore, when one reads Audre Lorde’s essay â€Å"The Fourth of July†, one would think it is about freedom or how the day is represented as a historic anniversary for independence in the United States. However, Lorde describes an appalling summer in 1947 that exposed her to racism, unfair practices, and inequality in the nation’s capital, which brought about a revelationRead MoreRacism : The Criminal Justice System1040 Words   |  5 Pages Mr. Andrew Bagley PLS 213 American Federal Government-Online 25th November 2015 Racism in Our Criminal Justice System There are many different types of unlawful racism in the criminal justice system. It goes from back in the early part of our great nation’s birth to the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. to Ferguson, Missouri. The path that racism takes is from old time’s point of view. The way to clear up racism in our criminal justice system is simple and easy. Americans need to fully understandRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : The Rights Of Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness854 Words   |  4 Pagesself-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.† Many groups of Americans such as African Americans, Native Americans, and women have been denied the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – which is why the phrase â€Å"all men are created equal† is a phrase that has been used loosely, as it was often contradicted throughout history. Liberty is the powerRead MoreThe American Dream Analysis1162 Words   |  5 Pagesthat America is the land of equal opportunity where any individual can pursue happiness and prosperity through hard work and dedication. This â€Å"Dream† is found in the Declaration of Independence and is stated as such: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.† This provides the foundation of the American Dream. It supports the visionRead MoreArgumentative Essay On The Declaration Of Independence1176 Words   |  5 Pagesthat they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness† (â€Å"The declaration†, n.d.). Is this statement really accounted for when our nation has fostered slavery, di scrimination, and racism against the African American race? Though the practice of slavery was terminated over a century ago, modern-day racism is still very much existent. Thus, critical action must take place economically, politically, and socially in orderRead MoreAmerica: Racist Tyrant Essay976 Words   |  4 Pagesfor better civil rights for his black people. They both fought for their people, King however fought peacefully with white people, who in return were cruel. This comparing Jeffersons and Kings fought for freedom, different skin color demonstrates racism causing unfairness to this day still exists because the fight for justice and rights still exist which calls for a social contract. Every single human being has a right to life, civil rights, and freedom. This is a right that Americans base theirRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King s Speech1318 Words   |  6 PagesRacism has always been a major problem in America. However, it was known to be the most problematic in the late 1950s. On August 28 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his infamous speech â€Å"I Have a Dream† to America. His dream highlighted the injustices of segregation and discrimination of African Americans that took place in this nation every single day. Dr. King inspired thousands despite the color of their skin, to take a stance against racism, with his powerful way with words. In his speechRead MoreEssay On How Have We Fail1123 Words   |  5 Pagescarrying out general welfare and ensuring domestic tranquility. It should have been our first and foremost duty to make that vision a reality since these values are the very foundation of America. But throughout history, America has suffered from racism, injustice, exploitation of labor and gender inequality, and is still suffering from such issues to some extent. Events like the establishment of Jim Crow system, thousands of labor strikes throughout the 19th and 20th century and the long struggle