Kritika karki
Academic Writing
November 18, 2018
Professor Andrew McGillivray
“ Modern Racism “
Racism is any attitude, belief, behavior or institutional arrangement that tends to favor one race or
ethnic group over another(Gee& Ford, 2011;Krieger, 2014). It can be in any form, for instance race, skin
tone, caste, culture, religion, hair colour. Racism back in 1930’s was terrible and malicious. It feels like its
steadily getting back and worse. If we compare the condition back then and today, black and whites may
have the same rights, but many whites are racists to black to this day. Despite, of having advanced
technology and people being more educated prejudice, racism and hatred still exists. Even though, we
have cameras everywhere with evidences that can prove people guilts. People commit crimes more
often and fearlessly these days. Number of violent hate crimes are raising. racism is a growing issue
which is intolerable and unacceptable which must be controlled in time.
In the novel, “To Kill a Mocking Brid” written by Harper Lee have presented the prejudicial behaviour of
white society in Maycomb, Alabama in 1930’s. Throughout, the novel several characters (Jem, Tom
Robinson, Mrs. Dubose, Mr. Radley and Calpurnia) are shown as Mockingbirds. Mockingbird a symbol of
harmony and purity. Back then not only those who were black, but also those who connect or help them
1
were also seen viciously. Atticus and Mr. Dolphus Raymond where both treated as sinister just because
one helped a black man and another fell in love with a black women. This novel not only shows the
Racial intolerance the white people had towards black people, but also the courage of a white man
defending black man who was charged a case on raping a white woman. He stood up with justice and
what was fair. Back then, we didn’t have cameras or evidence. Minorities were executed based on white
people opinion. Blacks did not have equal right; schooling, Transportation, voting, church. Everything, had
signs showing where they can go and could not go. Now, we work together, eat together, we have equal
rights, yet hate crimes are increasing day by day.
Racism was strong as ever in the southern states. Discrimination frequently extended to Hispanic
Americans in the southeast. But we were no less then our neighbour after colonization. Daniel Francis in
his book “National dreams: Myth, Memory and Canadian History” outlined the details of early 20th century
school curriculum and how students were explicitly educated in the ideology of imperialism and there
way of life. Francis traces Canada’s myth of a cultural monastic with the atmosphere of racial
discrimination. He stated the events that took place back then a virtual sense of racial superiority which
placed beyond the pale” Anyone who was not English speaking , fair skinned and Christian were treated
as sinister, vicious figures without any religion and culture”(Francis ,page-438).Moreover, Aboriginal
people were introduced as a “wolf eyed , wolf sinewed , stiller that the trees”,(Marjorie Pickthall)-animals
peering out from their hiding places in the dark woods.
There are crimes that takes place every other day, most of them are stated as hate crimes we can see
videos on internet/ social media of bullying a black guy, asking their documentations and many more. It’s
something that we all have witnessed. It is a matter of growing concern amongst the nation of the world
the moral disease of racism spans communities, countries and continents. According to the police report,
hate crimes have steadily risen over the past few years. from 1,167 incidents in 2013 to 1,409 in 2016
(stats for 2017 won’t be released until later this year). They’re also getting more violent; according to the
2
same Statistics Canada report, in 2016, “the number of violent hate crimes rose 16% from the previous
year (from 487 to 563 violent incidents), driven by increases in common assault, criminal harassment and
uttering threats.” And keep in mind, that’s just the incidents police know about—a 2014 Statistics Canada
report found that, in two-thirds of cases, victims of crimes don’t report them to the police. (lee Kong
2018). There are rule and regulation and courts for justice, but they don’t feel confident enough to come
out and raise voice against it and the fear of losing the keeps them shout like tom Robinson. (there are
several Tom Robinson’s that are forced to be shut).
People back then and today knew racism is a horrible act but, back then there was no unity and equality
now, every single person has a right to speak, and act against. Today, they are friends unlike the 1930’s
they barely spoke with each other. However, people of colour still face racism and stereotypes. In Asian
countries there is a huge discrimination between cast, religion, rich and poor, male and female and many
more. This might not only be in Asia countries but globally. Racism can be in any form, we should be able
to tackle it and stop it. Any form of racism is unacceptable.
To conclude, Racism today is no less then 1930’s. Although, there is an improvement since, the 1930’s but
Today racism is not only about white and black, it has come to define many different groups, race and
ethics. Today people have equal right, yet there is still racism. I think it’s a human nature to make
conclusion about other people which leads to racism. Everywhere, you go you’ll come across some short
of discrimination.so, to end this we need to have a mindset that human race doesn’t classify inferior or
superior our behaviour and actions does. Like Atticus said, “Never to judge a people by their skin or outer
beauty because you never really understand them until you consider things from their point of view-until
you climb into his skin and walk around”.
3
Bibliography
Francis, Daniel. “Your Majesty’s Realm: The Myth of the Master Race.” In National Dreams: Myth,
Memory and Canadian History, Vancouver, BC: Arsenal Pulp Press, 1997.
Lee Kong, Stacy.” If it feels like racism in Canada is getting worse, that’s because it is” 2018
https://www.flare.com/news/racism-in-canada/ (accessed October-20)
Lee, Harper, To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 1960.
4