Racism remains a pertinent issue today despite efforts by civil societies, governments, and individuals to end the vice. According to Griffith et al., racism is a complicated issue that shoots up from a person’s attitude or feelings and as values, that attaches them with the society and institutional practices (381). Accordingly, Griffith et al. acknowledge the many forms that racism may take such as in jests and even social comments. They note that some of the comments that people make on others can hinder them from being active participants in the work place (Griffith et al. 381). At a systemic level, racism occurs through plans of action that are implemented within organizations that happen to favor some people from a particular country or continent at the expense of others who originate from a different background, which is based on their skin color (Mansouri 17). Therefore, this paper discusses racism and its effects as presented by Clint Margrave’s “Acrobats” and Percival Eeverett’s “The Appropriation of Cultures”.
Effects of Racism
Uncertainties
Racism can be very detrimental on a person’s well-being. For instance, in a racist community, one lives in fear of physical attacks by his peers or even by other individuals (Graham, Calloway, and Roemer 553). Concerning the reading by Clint Margrave, the author starts by an indication that the protagonist is half-Jewish working in Mexico with a group of friends. With the racist neighborhood he lives in, his friend believes that if only he can agree to be converted to a Nazi, he can be safe. Consequently, he alleges that if the Mexicans find him not having groomed up like them, they would get him killed. The implication here is that the main character’s friend is a foreigner working in Mexico and as such, he fears to mess up with the conventions of the hosts, which is attributed to cultural differences between the two groups. He quotes, “do you think I’m crazy? They would kill me. Ricky has his whole damn gang after me” (Brantingham and Gale 151). Later, he reveals that his friend was a Nazi and could have been treated with scorn if the group of the Mexican gang of friends came to realize he did not belong to their country. As such, this may be true that as a foreigner one goes through so much suffering regarding security. Arguably, the security of an individual starts with the individual. Mostly, in foreign countries, one’s handwork is termed as working for the stay in the foreign country, and once an individual does not work, they are threatened with all sorts of things (Mansouri 15). Thus, Chuck’s friend definition of racism under this perspective could have special bearing to many of the problems foreigners encounter in host countries, especially if one is a refugee.
Hard work
Besides, one would argue that, in a racist society, the victims are punished with difficult tasks while their equals get special treatment from those higher in the organizational hierarchy. For example, the author reveals that since Chuck’s mother worked in the managerial position, occasionally, he would be picked to do other easier tasks leaving him to carry on with the difficult tasks (Brantingham and Gale 151). Remarkably, this denotes alienation in the workplace whereby if are a foreigner, you have to do the difficult jobs while the citizens carry out simple jobs. Outstandingly, alienation in employment is a common practice in many organizations or work places. Significantly, it mostly happens if you do not come from a particular set of society or if educational certificates work against you. Besides, Chuck believed that, when an individual works in foreign countries, their employers tend to convert them into slaves. It is for this reason that Chuck has strong believe that most of the employees were meant to stay in Mexico for their entire lifetime until they were no longer productive. He quotes, “You think anybody has a future? Look at ’em. They’re gonna die in this place” (Brantingham and Gale 152). Hence, he strongly hopes that it is only him and the protagonist that will make their way out of the foreign land. By such things, individuals feel alienated and separated from work and cannot work to their full capabilities, which not only affects their productivity, but also their emotional and social lives.
Hatred
In another context from the “The Appropriation of Cultures,” racism has also been predominant. To begin with, hatred is seen as an ingredient that spices up the concept of racism as evident in the song Daniel is forced to sing for a group of students because he is ‘different’. From the text, Daniel reveals his hatred for the white songs not because the songs are bad, but because they belong to white musicians (Brantingham and Gale 281). Additionally, when Daniel finally finds himself compelled to play the song to the students, he finds meaning in the lyrics and even sings a number of verses. Ironically, he does it from the heart despite passionately hating white man’s songs when he joined school. After the party, he had a big dream in which an extension for racist hatred is manifested. In this dream, he finds himself quarreling with the whites and asks them to give him back his flag. The flag, in this case, could be the manifestation of freedom that had been taken away from him by the whites. Evidently, during colonization of the African countries, the whites had swept most of the African freedom making them live under their rules. After fighting for their freedom, they were given a flag as a symbol of identity and freedom which Daniel sees in his dream. Therefore, even with many cases of hatred and discrimination based on his tastes, there is a meaning in how Daniel defines hatred over racism.
Physical attacks
Furthermore, in a racist community, one is prone to attacks by the Nationals. In the case of Daniel, having bought the truck from Travis, he faces a physical threat from two gigantic men who confront him for flying the Southern flag with a lot of passion. Remarkably, the flag in Daniel’s truck was representing a black racist community (Brantingham and Gale 288). As such, it is evident that, in the midst of a foreign nation, there is no chance granted to exercise your freedom in a foreign land. Additionally, there is no bond of sisterhood and brotherhood in a foreign country by the native citizens. Evidently, this is revealed in an instance when Daniel refers the attackers as brothers when they ask him what he was doing with the flag on his truck. He quotes, “flying it proudly, just like you brothers” (Brantingham and Gale 287). Consequentially, they become astonished to hear Daniel call them brothers. “What did you call us? Brothers” They retort. (Brantingham and Gale 287). Clearly, this is a straight manifestation of living in isolation with other nationals despite making efforts to conexist.
Freedom
Outstandingly, once people fight for their rights in foreign nations, their freedom is ofetn granted. Consequentially, this is a clear indication of the determination of the black race to fight for their space in the foreign country. After freedom is sought, the black people go marching along the streets with others. Additionally, landmarks are demarcated where the black people can take their families for an outing. Therefore, this case is a sign of hope of a brighter future even while living in
Conclusion
Indeed, racism has found a profound spot in modern western countries. Outstandingly, individuals from the black continent are the main victims of racism. In the western countries, many of the black people receive harsh treatment not only in the education sector but also in the job place. As a result, stress and depression levels rise while the productivity levels decrease. Remarkably, when people are subject to a racist country, the virtue of trust and respect diminishes. However, when the subjects form a solidarity union to rise against their oppressors, freedom and human rights are imminent. Anti-racism communities are also established everywhere in the globe to fight the bad of racism.
Works Cited
Brantingham, John, and Kate Gale. La Fiction Anthology: Southland Stories by Southland Writers. Red Hen Press, 2016.
Graham, Jessica R., Amber Calloway, and Lizabeth Roemer. “The Buffering Effects of Emotion Regulation in the Relationship between Experiences of Racism and Anxiety in a Black American Sample.” Cognitive Therapy and Research vol. 39, no. 5, 2015, pp.553-563.
Griffith, Derek M., et al. “Dismantling Institutional Racism: Theory and Action.” American Journal of Community Psychology, vol. 39, no. 3-4, 2007, pp. 381-392.
Mansouri, Fethi. The Impact of Racism upon the Health and Wellbeing of Young Australians. Foundation for Young Australians, 2009
