Introduction

An evaluation of the history of America reveals that racism is among the significant challenges facing its population. Even though the abolishment of slavery was anticipated to bring an end to racism, it proved not to be the case as segregation became the norm. Despite the abolition of segregation several decades ago, racism remains a problem even in modern-day America, and this is due to the inequality caused by racism structures that the America Paradox has thrived in resulting in differential treatment, structural imbalance, as well as the fight between race and class. In spite of the claim that America is a democratic nation that embraces diversity, this paper will analyze how the U.S. has continued to reaffirm that racism remains a problem not only among African Americans but also among other nonwhites such as Native Americans.

How Race Structures Inequality

Structural inequality based on race was under the direct influence of slavery whereby the United States government permitted white Americans to treat blacks as non-human property. While the abolishment of slavery seemed to have relieved African Americans from forced labor, the enactment of the Jim Crow laws in the south that permitted segregation reaffirmed America’s view on racism(Morgan, 2003). Even though racial segregation was abolished in 1964, racism remains a significant challenge in the United States. The problem caused by racism in modern day America is best-evaluated according to the racial wealth gap, which has bred the difference between race and class. According to Omi and Winant (2002), “even though we seem to have come to an agreement that race is a social construction as opposed to a biological one,” racial minorities in remain among the poorest Americans.

The challenge posed by racism in class can be attributed to policies that seemingly do not favor poor communities that are mainly comprised of racial minorities. For example, it is inevitable to note that the quality of education students in low-income communities get is of substantially lower than that offered to students in wealthier neighborhoods(Omi &Winant, 2002). Low-income areas schools are also prone to inexperienced and under qualified tutors. Given such inequality, students from racial minorities are apt to score poorly in school which in turn results continues to what may seem like an endless cycle of being underprivileged.

American Paradox and its Impact on the Lives of People of Color

The American paradox is a classic example of why Americans continued to carry out slavery despite it being illegal. As Edmund states, “the plantation systems operated by the servants made the Virginians rich and the merchants as well as kings of England even richer”(Morgan, 2003). Based on Edmund’s evaluation, it is inevitable to note that the American paradox is fueled by self-interest and gratification(Morgan, 2003). By continuously oppressing individuals that are not white-Americans, white-Americans seem to develop a sense of belonging. It is inevitable to note that white-Americans are terrified of being outranked by racial minorities in their own country(Morgan, 2003). While self-preservation is a dominant instinct among all living things, it is essential to ensure that it does not result in inequality to the extent it has been witnessed in the United States.

Structural inequalities based on race have not only be reaffirmed through racism and segregation but also in modern-day policies. According to Omi and Winant (2002), “state action in the past and present have treated people in different ways according to their race, and thus the government cannot retreat from its policy responsibilities” (Winant, 2002). It bases on the argument that the United States government cannot term itself as “color blind” without breeding the inequality racism breeds(Omi &Winant, 2002). Even though there may be significant efforts aimed at ending racism and the inequalities it has established, it is inevitable to ask whether these efforts are only widening the racial gap.

In trying to understand the current efforts to “end” racism, evaluating the diverse projects that have been established to end it is essential. An analysis of the fight against racism reveals that numerous racial projects are being undertaken(Omi &Winant, 2002). However, instead of ending racism, racial projects results in the development of racial identity which leads to the incorporation of the rules of racialclassification (Omi &Winant, 2002). Once individuals adopt these elements that fuel racial classification, American society continues to be immersed in a racialized social structure(Omi &Winant, 2002). When individuals become adapted to a racialized social structure, racism becomes “common sense” whereby people are prone to identify themselves with their race and in turn inequality thrives since some ethnic races find themselves to be better than others.

Conclusion

In short, based on the evaluation provided, it is inevitable to acknowledge how the United States has continuously reaffirmed the American Paradox. The American Paradox is influenced by the double standards Americans exhibit whereby despite terming themselves to be on against racism and other ethnic difference, they do not take up adequate measures to curb it. Even though the abolishment of slavery and segregation may have been a great win towards equality, it is evident that the fight against structural inequality is far from over. Having established the challenges the current projects aimed at ending racism have in making it prevalent, it is important to note that adequate measures should be taken up to come up with better solutions.

References

Morgan, E. S. (2003). American slavery, American freedom. WW Norton & Company.

Omi, M., &Winant, H. (2002). Racial formation in the United States. Blackwell Publishers.

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