| Racism Essay, Research Paper
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.
405
“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.)
|