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Racism
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by
the content of their character"
(Martin Luther King Jr.)
Ku Klux Klan. Neo Nazis. The Aryan Nations. The American Nazi Party.
What are these groups? Why are they present in a land of supposed
equality of all men? They are there because there are millions of
Americans that believe in their message of white pride. The African
American population is growing and Americans are now a mixed group of
people. Black people are white people's neighbours, doctors, friends.
With a growing unity between the two races, why does racism continue? The
answer is simple. Racists from many years ago raise their kids in clans
and white supremacy groups and teach them the ways of hatred. These kids
grow up "brain-washed" that black people are their enemies and, taught by
example, will continue this trend (The Volume Library; 1988).
The Ku Klux Klan has been around since the end of the civil war. It is a
roller coaster of a history. From extreme power, to rapid decline, and
slow reemergence (Software Toolworks Encyclopedia; 1992). The clan, who is
notorious for its violence, has a relatively innocent beginning. It was
formed from some veterans from the confederate army and was first called
the Kuklos Clan which, in Greek, meant Circle Clan.
One person thought it would be a good idea to call it the "Ku Klux Klan"
as a parody of the fraternity names which always had three Greek alphabet
letters in it. They created the Clan to be mischievous and to do it
without anyone knowing who they were which accounts for their costumes and
masks. They, like most whites, were upset that the black people were
free because black people were a constant reminder of the bitter defeat of
the South. So to have fun they terrorized black people. Eventually the
group grew, fluctuating, but grew to become the first white supremacy
group in America and with that growth, their hatred grew as well into what
was seen in the early and middle 1900's and what is seen today.
Along with the KKK, other anti-black, pro-white groups formed and stemmed
out all over the U.S.A. The Neo Nazis who are more commonly know by the
term "Skin Heads", are a growing force in hate groups. There hatred of
Hispanics, Jews, Blacks, and others are now the fastest growing force in
America. The Skin Head movement is usually done by the younger kids.
These kids are drawn to the Aryan Nations and Neo Nazis by the promise of
free drugs, free booze, heavy metal music, ultimate freedom and rebellion.
A lot of these kids stay because of family troubles at home and, like in a
gang, feel like they have a family with the group and feel loved. "The
skinheads are a family... A lot of us don't have what you'd call a home"
commented Joshua, who is a 16 year old recruiter in California (United
They Hate; Michael Kronenwetter).
The race war was in full force by the 1960's. With the growth of white
supremacy and their groups, black too had a weapon. Martin Luther King
Jr. lead his people to march in Washington to end segregation and to form
black unity for an equal and better America. Malcolm X, who was a Muslim,
may have come from a different religion than his Christian counterpart,
but had a very similar message and a similar fate. Both were assassinated.
Today the hate groups of America have spread into Canada and are
particularly common in Manitoba. The major sects are of the same name as
their American cousins with a very similar message.
Racism, despite much opposition, will never end. As long as there is
fighting among a Jew and a Palestinian or hatred between a white and a
black, Racism will be there. Only a utopian society can achieve such a
dream. It is in human nature to have a few people that do not understand
or possibly hate those who are different but, in fact, we are not
different, we are judgmental and we are discriminatory, we segregate. We
are unique individuals but among races we are equal and the same.
Word Count: 724
ADDITIONAL FEATURED ESSAYS
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