Past? Essay, Research Paper
Short stories like ?Desiree?s Baby? and “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” portray the racial prejudice of ?olden days.? In ?Desiree?s Baby,? the racial prejudice shown to Desiree is by her own husband, who is supposedly madly in love with her and their baby. At the faintest chance that his wife is of mixed race, Armand sends her and the baby away never to be seen by him again, only to find out that he himself is of mixed race. In ?The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven,? the prejudice within the community and society itself is prevalent. The narrator, who is of Indian background, is aware of the racial distrust of everyone, including a 7-11 clerk, who the narrator says thinks that the ?dark skin and long, black hair of [his] was dangerous?, and even the local police, who tell him that he should be careful because he does not fit the profile of a neighborhood he randomly ends up driving through late at night (24). Is this blatant racial prejudice still around today? Do people still shun their own family members for something as minor as interracial dating or having children of mixed races? Or have people realized that the color of a person?s skin really does not matter?
Some people truly believe that the days of racial prejudice are over. These people say that because we, as people of all different races and colors, can live together in the same neighborhoods, dorms, apartment buildings, etc, prejudice must not be prevailing. Because couples of mixed race are seen walking down the street, in the grocery store, at the mall and in our favorite restaurants, racial discrimination must not be such a big deal in today?s society. However, this inference is not necessarily true. Especially since moving to the South, I have witnessed an abundance of racial prejudice. My friends, their families, my coworkers and peers all have something to say about interracial dating. ?Oh, there is nothing wrong with them, but I would just never date a black guy? is such a common remark out of Southern girls? mouths. ?My daddy would kill me!? is another familiar comment. If dating someone of another race or nationality is such an acceptable thing to do, why do so many people have to make up excuses as to why they would not date, or even worse, marry a person of a different race?
What about the all too familiar ?bad side of town?? We all do it: even as I drive over those ?tracks? that mark which side is the good side of town and which side is the bad side, sometimes known as the ghetto, I catch myself clicking the automatic door lock switch. Just because an area is predominantly black or Mexican, we tend to think lesser of that area. Granted, a lot of the time, those neighborhoods do have a higher crime rate, but could this reality possibly be due to people in these neighborhoods living up to the low standards which society has set for them? Just as the main character in ?The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven? finds out, there is a stereotype for any person who is not of the Caucasian background. The 7-11 clerk ?look[s] [him] over so he could describe [him] to the police later,? like he thinks that, just because he has brown skin and is in 7-11 late at night, he is going to rob him (24). If people only focused on the bad in me or my community, and I heard every day that I was bad, I would feel as though there were no point in caring about the actions I take; people are still going to see me as they do, whether I do something to redeem myself or not. Maybe people and society should think about how they judge people before they really know the whole story.
I thoroughly believe that prejudice today is still alive and rampant. People may not be as openly prejudiced as they once were, but deliberate racial prejudice is still alive and very evident. I see examples of it every day, wherever I go. Maybe people today would not leave their spouse and child just because they were of mixed race, but I think that people today are more open about their race, and it is very rare for a person to be put in the situation of not knowing the race of his or her girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse. And the examples of racial prejudice in “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” are not that far off from those of today. The story was set in almost completely modern times. That observation, in itself, shows how this prejudice is still alive in society today.
Works Cited
Alexie, Sherman. ?The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.? The Story and Its Writer. Fifth Edition. Ed. By Jerome Beaty and J. Paul Hunter. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin?s, 1999. 23-28.
Chopin, Kate. ?Desiree?s Baby.? The Story and Its Writer. Fifth Edition. Ed. By Jerome Beaty and J. Paul Hunter. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin?s, 1999. 329-33.
Другие работы по теме:
The Forgotten Prejudice Essay Research Paper Prejudice
The Forgotten Prejudice Essay, Research Paper Prejudice is defined surely as the mistreatment of a person or people due to a preconceived bias. In Britain today there is an obsession with not being racist, and to a lesser extent, not being sexist. However rampant homophobia still exists and noone sees fit to criticise.
Shattering The Darkness Essay Research Paper SHATTERING
Shattering The Darkness Essay, Research Paper SHATTERING THE DARKNESS In the poem “As I Grew Older ” by Langston Hughes, a young man is thinking about his goals and that he cannot achieve them because of racial prejudice. The theme of the poem is that prejudice is used to keep people from accomplishing their dreams.
Prejudice Child Of Ignorance Essay Research Paper
A prejudice child, is a child of ignorance; a child that has been raised to believe what their parents believe. Prejudice is everywhere. People who have prejudices are raised to believe that they are normal and acceptable, and anyone that is different from them is not. Prejudice does not only apply to color.
Prejudice Exhibited In Of Mice And Men
Essay, Research Paper Everywhere you look there is prejudice, you may be the wrong colour, worship the wrong God or wear the wrong thing. No-one fits into our idealistic world perfectly. This prejudice has been around for thousands of years because it is just human nature not to accept people for who they are.
Raical Prejudice Comparison Essay Research Paper Danny
Raical Prejudice Comparison Essay, Research Paper Danny Connolly 11.3 Compare and contrast two poems which are on the theme of racial prejudice The two poems that I am going to compare are “Strange Fruit” and “Telephone conversation” which both feature racial prejudice.
Racial Profiling Essay Research Paper Despite the
Racial Profiling Essay, Research Paper Despite the civil rights victories of 30 years ago, official racial prejudice is still reflected throughout the criminal justice system. For people of color in cities large and small across this nation, north and south, east and west, Jim Crow “justice” is alive and well.
American History X Essay Research Paper Racism
American History X Essay, Research Paper Racism can be defined as the belief that one race is superior to all other races. Racism has been around for centuries however, today there are not as many openly prejudice people. Some are racist against others merely because the color of another s skin color or religious differences.
Prejudice Essay Research Paper Prejudice is ignorance
Prejudice Essay, Research Paper Prejudice is ignorance. People who have prejudices are raised to believe that they are normal and acceptable, and that most people different from them are not. Prejudice does not only apply to race or ethnicity. It can apply to background, sex, sexual preference, or nationality.
Scout And Jems Treatment Of Boo Radley
Is Just One Example Of Prejudice In ?To Kill Mockingbird? Dis Essay, Research Paper Shashi varsaniScout and Jems treatment of Boo Radley is just one example of prejudice in ?To Kill A Mockingbird? Discuss. There are many examples of prejudice in ?To kill a
Prejudice In Of Mice And Men Essay
, Research Paper Prejudice in Of Mice and Men Novel by John Steinbeck In the past and present there have been many divisions of people for many reasons. Examples of this prejudice include discrimination
Tragedy Of Pudd
’nhead Wilson Essay, Research Paper The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson is one of Mark Twain’s most thorough examinations of the institution of slavery and the superficiality of racial prejudice. It was written during an era when Jim Crow segregation was spreading throughout the South and was published two years before the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation in Plessy v.
Defining Racism And The Difficulties Of Proving
Discrimination Essay, Research Paper Defining Racism and the Difficulties of Proving Discrimination Our group is taking the position that the perception of the criminal justice system as being racist is a myth. Since this assertion can be interpreted in many ways, it is necessary to specify what it means and does not mean.
Discrimination In America Essay Research Paper Prejudice
Discrimination In America Essay, Research Paper Prejudice is the negative attitude based on false generalizations about members of different racial and ethnic groups. From prejudice, discrimination is born. We all are guilty of discriminating other people, but one can only speculate the factors that bring about this hatred towards one another.
Racisms Nature Essay Research Paper In our
Racism`s Nature Essay, Research Paper In our textbook, prejudice is defined as: " a form of thinking whereby an individual forms an unfavorable attitude directed towards groups of people,
Pride and prejudice 3
Pride and Prejudice In fact, Pride and Prejudice was originally entitled First Impressions. However, the novel is not only about first impressions. Although we can find the first impressions about the characters through the first few chapters, this book shows us the effects of those impressions on the individual characters - prejudices of the characters.
To Kill A Mocking Bird Atticus Finch
Essay, Research Paper Atticus Finch is a widower or 50 and the father or two children. His character can best be summed up as a man whose character is nearly the complete opposite of the general population of the town and indeed, many white people who lived in the southern states of America. He is a man without prejudice and racial hatred and is a good-hearted man of strong morals.
Racism Lessons Learned Essay Research Paper Many
Racism: Lessons Learned Essay, Research Paper Many things have been shared in this classroom environment. Issues have been studied that have caught the attention of the class and made them consider things that perhaps were not contemplated before. Over the past semester, one series of lessons have stood out to me more than any other.
Racial Discrimination And Prejudice Essay Research Paper
Racial Discrimination and Prejudice Racism and prejudice has gradually become one of the major impacts and burdens all over the world. They have existed for thousands of years and have been transmitted from generation to generation. However, racism has not always been the same, it has changed through history and every day it has become more sophisticated.
Definition
– What Is Prejudice? Essay, Research Paper Definition Essay What is Prejudice? When a person hears the word prejudice, he or she might think it only refers to the racial prejudice often found between those with light skin and those with dark skin. However, prejudice runs much deeper than a person’s color. Prejudice is found between gender, religion, cultural and geographical background, and race.
Pride And Prejudice Essay Research Paper Pride 2
Pride And Prejudice- Essay, Research Paper Pride and Prejudice- The passage which best relates the theme of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin, is on page 125, in the middle of the page. This is
Prejudice In
“To Kill A Mockingbird” Essay, Research Paper Prejudice in “To Kill A Mockingbird” Prejudice is a many faced demon which comes in many shapes and disguises. The point that it often goes ignored or unnoticed and shows up in the most unlikely places is what makes it an even more dangerous thing. This is extremely evident in the novel ?To Kill A Mockingbird?.
Prejudice Issues In To Kill A Essay
, Research Paper Prejudice Issues in To Kill a Mockingbird The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird contains many aspects of modern day prejudice. Although the book contains many forms of prejudice I believe that three played the largest role in this story. The main prejudice is the act of racism, which was very common in the time that the book takes place.
Pride And Prejudice 12 Essay Research Paper
The novel, Pride and Prejudice, is a story about the romantic adventures of five sisters in 18th century England, by Jane Austen. There are two major themes in Pride and Prejudice, which are those of pride and prejudice. Pride is the high opinion of one’s own worth or possessions. The other theme, prejudice is an opinion formed without taking the time and care to judge something fairly.
Immigration The Maker And Breaker Of America
Essay, Research Paper There are many issues concerning the immigration into America by peoples of other races and cultures, and a hundred more opinions to go with them. At the time of the largest immigration boom into this country, between 1880 and 1920, many people thought of immigration as a negative thing.
Racism Essay Research Paper RacismWhat is racism
Racism Essay, Research Paper Racism What is racism? Racism is the mistreatment of a group of people on the basis of race, colour, and religion. The term racism may also mean a blind and pointless hatred, envy or prejudice.
Black Boy Essay Research Paper Black Boy
Black Boy Essay, Research Paper Black Boy Essay The famous American writer Richard Wright had a terrible upbringing. He had to deal with his fathers abandonment, his mothers abusiveness, the anxiety of constantly moving houses, and worst of all the terrible racial prejudice of his time. Wright grew up in the first quarter century of the 1900s in the most racially separated part of America, the South.
Black Boy 2 Essay Research Paper Black
Black Boy 2 Essay, Research Paper Black Boy Essay In the book Black Boy Richard had a bad upbringing. He had to deal with many negativities with his father abandoning him, his mother abusing him, the anxiety moving from place to place and the racial prejudice of his time. Richard grew up in the 1900 s in the most racially separated part of America, the South.
To Kill A Mockingbird Prejudice In Maycomb
Essay, Research Paper To Kill A Mockingbird: Prejudice in Maycomb Two major people in To Kill A Mockingbird are prejudged; Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. One man is the victim of prejudice; Atticus Finch. These men
Essay On Pride And Prejudice Theme Essay
, Research Paper Essay on Pride and Prejudice: Theme In this novel, the title describes the underlying theme to the book. Pride and prejudice were both influences on the characters and their
Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay
, Research Paper Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird Prejudice is a real life problem in the world. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee describes the prejudices found in a small American town in the 1930’s. Race, social class, and gender are examples of prejudice.
West Side Story Prejudices Vs Gentleman
’s Agreement Prejudices Essay, Research Paper West Side Story and Gentleman s Agreement are two very different movies, yet with one basic underlying theme: prejudice. Prejudice has been present in our world since the dawn of civilization. Greeks and Turks, Whites and Blacks, Hitler and Jews, those hateful feelings between these, and many other, groups are unfortunately still present in today s society.
Rubin
“The Hurricane” Carter Essay, Research Paper Rubin “Hurricane” Carter The movie that was analyzed was “The Hurricane” starring Denzel Washington. The movie was based on a true story, which was about a boxer who was wrongfully accused for murders he did not commit. Rubin Carter had been a victim of racial prejudice since the age of 11.