Essay on Racism for Class 10, 12, Mains Exam (UPSC, PSC, SSC)
Racism refers to the social system and policies wherein the actions and attitudes of the government create injustice and inequitable opportunities for people based on race. The concept of racism is different from racial discrimination and racial inequality. Racial discrimination refers to the unequal treatment of races. On the contrary, racial inequality refers to treating individuals unequally in terms of income, health and education. While racism is found in both methods, i.e., racial discrimination and racial inequality.
Discussion
Racism is referred to as the international hierarchy of superiority that ill-treats people as inferior depending on their race. Since the times of colonial rule, colour racism is the predominant factor that prevailed in most parts of the world. The British regarded themselves superior because of their skin colour and treated the Africans as black slaves. There are various laws which substantiate that where black Africans were ill-treated by their British superiors.
September 1667 Act 3
This law is highly racial in nature as it blatantly declares that baptising enslaved people will not release them from bondage. By this law, it is clear that Christianity is an integral attribute that identifies English. The mentioned law is high evidence of discrimination based on race and religion.
October 1669 Act 1
This is a highly atrocious and racist act which stated about the casual killing of slaves. It was believed by the colonial masters of Virginia that the only way to control the slaves was by inflicting corporal punishment.
January 1639/40 Act 10
This statute established legal discrimination between black and white men. Every English man without the Negroes was given ammunition and arms for personal defence (Norton et al. 2014). However, the African men were subjected to unjust fines at the demands of the Council and the Governor General.
In India, atrocities against Dalits are also the epitome of racism. Dalits are still ill-treated and many such cases also do not come into the limelight. Racism also happens in India by means of the prohibitions of inter-caste marriages. The Tamil and Sinhala communities of Sri Lanka prohibit the marriage of the upper castes and the lower castes. Even in Sri Lanka, the Indian-origin Tamils encounter severe social discrimination. It was also noted that the upper classes Pallas and Nalavas ill-treated the Paraiyars as they mostly engaged themselves in menial jobs.
Conclusion
Xenophobia, racism and intolerance are the social evils that still exist in some parts of society. People who are treated unequally based on race are deprived of fundamental rights. Their psyche is also affected as they are ostracised by society. Suffering from gender, sexual oppression and colour discrimination affects the psychology of human beings. Several laws have been passed by governments all across the world. One such act is the Indian Penal Code, of 1860 (Section 153A) which prohibits the use of language that promotes violence against human beings based on race, gender, sexual orientation and birth. Another law, in the US, named EEOC prohibits the discrimination of an employee because of his race, colour and identity.
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