Racism and anti-Semitism
Robin McClanahan
PHI103: Informal Logic Rachael Jencks
12/22/12

Is racism and anti-Semitism still a problem in the United States? Racism and anti-Semitism is still a problem in the Unites states, even though many think that they are objectionable. It can range from cognitive, economic, or moral leading many to feel that members of some races are inferior to members of other races. Skin color has been tone of the most powerful and destructive ideas of time, leading directly to slavery, civil war, and more recently segregation and apartheid. “The rights of the people shall be the same, regardless of race, color, or sex. All laws which discriminate on grounds of race, color, or belief shall be repealed.” Nina Jablonski Many similar phrases were enshrined in the U.S Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the UK Race relations Act of 1965. By the late half of the 20th century, discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, religion or national origin was considered a violation of basic human rights. Despite this, the differential treatment has persisted in the United States. Academics and Scientist are quick to cite evidence that biological races don’t exist and that races are “only” social constructs, but for many that have lived experience of race, it has not faded. Many of these ideas of superiority are based on beliefs of hierarchy of skin color. When exploring the roots of this problem, we can see that it is based upon that differing intellectual capacities and potential, moral resolve and behavioral are related to skin color and race in accordance of white to black. So, yes, racism and anti-Semitism still a problem in the United States. As noted above, many see race as discrimination of race, color, gender, religion, or national origin. For racism or anti-Semitism to continue to be a problem/concern, people must

believe this to be true and feel strongly about it. Many create racism where it is not appropriate, such as one claiming that one is racist for making a general statement as simple as, “You guys shouldn’t go the party.” One that believes in racism and use it to others disadvantage may hear, “you’re kind (meaning black” should not go to the party.” Not the same sentence or meaning, but is often rearranged to meet what or how a person wishes to interpret it. Racism and anti-Semitism has been carried on from generation to generation and the phrases have lost the original meaning of what they truly were at one point in time.
Even though, I do not personally agree that the statement in the above section is or should be transferred in to a racial statement, it all goes back to how the receiver perceived the message. Meaning, just because I did not intend for it to be offensive or sound to be a racial statement, it all depends on how it was perceived. Many times my husband will say something that may hurt my feelings and not even be aware that he has done so. Regardless, if my feelings were hurt, then he said something to hurt my feelings. It doesn’t so much matter that the intention was not there, my feelings were still hurt. This goes along with racism and anti-Semitism. Just because it was not intended to be racial statement, if one perceives it to be, then to that person, it is and racism is carried on