Ideas for Reducing Racism

With the unconscionable death of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers, Americans are rightfully upset. They have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing problem of police brutality in many municipalities, as well as continued racial profiling that results in African-Americans and other minorities being targeted and harassed by police. How do we reduce racism in America? How can we find a path where fewer Americans have racist points of view, and those who do are no longer accepted as regular members of our society? Americans are mad. They are mad that some police officers are still using unnecessary force when making an arrest. They are mad that not a single one of the four officers involved in George Floyd’s death were concerned for his health and well-being after he was heard saying, over and over again, “I can’t breathe.” They are mad for the seeming never-ending casual racism that informs too many American’s viewpoints. Origins of Racism in America Racism is a form of prejudice defined by false beliefs that one group of people have racial or ethnic traits that make their group superior or better than those who have other ethnic or racial traits. Racism is most often perpetrated by those in power against people who are not. Privilege and racism often go hand-in-hand, because the group in power enjoys certain advantages over the oppressed group. So before the Civil War, plantation owners enjoyed all the privilege of their statu...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Brain and Behavior General Psychology Violence and Aggression Black Lives Matter discrimination George Floyd Prejudice Racism Source Type: blogs