Racism In America

To the Editor:

  My name is Laura Willing, and I am a junior at NHS. I am currently in a double period American Studies class taught by Ms Allison Zmuda and Ms Tracy Lederman. For the past two months, my class has been writing a research paper on civil rights, immigration, or women’s rights. I chose to research civil rights because I felt very strongly about the fair treatment of African-Americans. I am writing this letter because I would like my community to become more aware of what minorities have to face on a daily basis. Ever since the time of slavery, African-Americans have been treated as inferior to whites and have been subjected to discrimination by police and other racist whites. The Diallo shooting was a perfect example of police being discriminate and the trial was an example of a minority not receiving justice. There have been many incidents where the police have performed an injustice to members of the black community. There are many racist policemen who do not deserve to serve and protect the innocent. How can they protect the innocent if they cannot see past skin color? Most police officers accused of abuses go unpunished and many instances of brutality go unreported.

  African-Americans have been repeatedly harassed, beaten, murdered, and raped because of the color of their skin. As time has gone on, the racial barrier between whites and blacks has weakened. African-Americans and whites now share jobs, transportation, and restaurants, but there are still racial problems that occur every day. If the people of America looked deep down into society, would they see acceptance and love for all, or would they see racism and hate that only has been covered up by the sweet stench of injustice?

  Many African-Americans feel unattractive because they can never seem to measure up to white America’s beauty standards. African-Americans are constantly bombarded with the idea that they are the ugly outsiders. They think that the only way to stop the pain that racism brings upon them is to look like the ideal white person.

  The media sends a false portrayal of minorities to our society, and as a result, not as many opportunities are open to all races. African-Americans are not often found to be working at major television stations. Whites dominate the air waves and, along with that, comes a price. Television filters stereotyped views into America’s heads that cause us to think poorly of minorities. African-Americans do not get chances for certain opportunities because of this discrimination. Many reform groups are trying to help minorities get fair opportunities and to help them be accepted. A few examples of such reform groups are the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and the ADL (Anti-Defamation League). 

  I am not writing this letter to cause a controversy in the community, but to just make Newtown see how big this problem really is. If our communities were more aware of how badly minorities are being treated, I believe that more would be done to end the racism that is directed towards African-Americans. These problems are not going to go away.  Americans have to learn to get along because we all share something in common. No matter what our age, gender, race, or religion, we are Americans. As Martin Luther King, Jr, once said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” America should dream that a white woman could walk down the street with a black man and not be called a “nigger lover.” A black woman should be able to have a white man’s baby and not have it called an outcast or “oreo.”  America should make these dreams into reality.

Laura Willing

5 King Street, Newtown                                               March 24, 2000