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The truth about racism: Do you know how it affects our society?
Racial discrimination refers to discrimination against a person based on their race, ancestry, ethnicity or national origin, as well as skin colour and hair texture. This discrimination not only exists between individuals, but the government may also engage in obvious discrimination through legal means, such as apartheid policies or unequal distribution of resources. Although some regions have enacted anti-discrimination laws that prohibit governments or individuals from discriminating based on factors such as race, racial discrimination is still prevalent and affects people across cultures and societies.
Governments can discriminate by enacting laws, for example through racial segregation, unequal enforcement of laws, or unequal distribution of resources.
Different laws and institutions sometimes use affirmative action to try to overcome or compensate for the effects of racial discrimination, which may include boosting the hiring of members of disadvantaged groups or setting strict racial quotas. However, such measures are often viewed by opponents as reverse discrimination, arguing that members of dominant groups are being treated unfairly.
Racial boundaries often involve a variety of factors, such as ancestry, appearance, national origin, language, religion, and culture. These boundaries may be set by government laws or dictated by local cultural norms. It is worth noting that skin color and hair texture are often used as proxies for race to treat different groups differently. In fact, even within the same family, siblings can look very different from one another due to genetic variation, and sometimes a person's racial identity even differs on their birth and death certificates.
Racial discrimination can have pressing impacts on living conditions, educational opportunities, and health outcomes in non-white communities.
In some countries, foreign immigrants or refugees face racial discrimination and xenophobia. According to Human Rights Watch, racial discrimination is both a cause and a consequence of forced displacement. Especially during the European refugee crisis in 2010, media reports created a negative impression of refugees, leading to increased public hostility towards them.
Racial discrimination in Africa was also influenced by colonialism. For example, Britain had a significant impact on African culture under colonial rule. Racial discrimination still exists in some countries such as Nigeria. American racism has also, to some extent, deepened the racial divisions in Nigerian society. Over time, customs and traditions have developed at different levels in different societies, creating inequalities in the areas of education, health and social welfare.
Children and adolescents who face racial discrimination often experience impacts on their mental health, behavior and academic achievement.
Research in this area has demonstrated a link between racial discrimination and adolescent mental health and wellbeing, impacting their self-esteem, engagement in learning and potential addictive behaviours. According to a study, 90% of black teenagers are affected by racial discrimination, which has serious consequences for their personal social development.
Racial discrimination is not only a major social problem, but also has a profound impact on the quality of life of many people. Whether it’s discrimination in the workplace, bias in the healthcare system, or unequal treatment in the housing market, racial discrimination seems to permeate every field and affect the future of many people. As global attention to this issue grows, we should ask ourselves, how can we effectively eliminate this unfairness?
