WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
LESSONS FROM HISTORY provide valuable clues that help us decipher global issues prevalent in our society today. By understanding the repercussions of blackface in the past, as well as experiencing the effects of Pocahontas on our world today, we can begin to discern patterns of prejudice across all regions of our world. The unfortunate reality of racism is that it does not simply affect the African American and Native American demographic; it occurs around the world where beliefs of superiority over other races persist.
A protester holds a banner against black segregation throughout Central London in sympathy with the Ferguson protests in the US and the death of Michael Brown who was shot dead by a police officer (Black Lives Matter).
SELF-REPORTED EXPERIENCES of discrimination by nondominant racial-ethnic youth show damaging effects, producing psychological distress, reduced subconscious well-being, lowered self-esteem, impaired mental health, and even definable psychiatric disorders (NCBI). Generations of bias attitudes are woven into our systems and institutions, affecting us all. As a whole, racism skews our sense of reality. Can we really afford to leave half of our population behind, or worse, miss the opportunity of leveraging their skills and confidence, as we aspire to elevate our society? By encouraging dichotomy, racism damages humanity and makes us collectively weak.
American Slavery (Amazon).
Black Lives Matter (Black Lives Matter).
The Personal News Cycle: A focus on African American and Hispanic news consumers, 2014
THE MEDIA INSIGHT PROJECT (American Press Insititute).
IT IS IMPERATIVE that we take action to put an end to racism on a global scale. It takes each one of us, individually, to protest marginalization, just as Nelson Mandela did as a nonviolent anti-apartheid activist. Today, societal norms hinder honest discussions on bigotry. By encouraging inclusive, truthful discussions on the topic, Gwendolyn Keita believes we can influence individuals tending to racist mindsets and increase their sensitivity to discourage prejudice in society. To ensure racial equality and harmony are inculcated early, Cornel Pewewardy advises administrators to integrate cultural diversity in preschool curriculum, as well as teaching students about historical occurrences involving bias. We all have a moral obligation and opportunity to leverage today’s democratized social media to spread awareness on issues of racial injustice.