Racial Injustice in society and your civic responsibility
By Dejalee Marmolejos
An-Noor Academy
(Topic: Racial injustice in society and your civic responsibility)
People don’t wake up and decide to be racist, we are made to be racist by the environment we are in. Racial discrimination is one form of social injustice. Racial injustice means unfair treatment that disadvantages another (person or group). This nation has long suffered from racism and injustice. These terms refer to deeply ingrained racist beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that have persisted for decades. In 2020, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other Black people died, igniting the fight against racial injustice in America. Unfortunately, hispanics, arabs, asians, and others face discrimination as well as black people. It’s important to remember that police brutality, racial profiling, and prejudice stem from colonialism, slavery, and Jim Crow. Blacks and other races have long suffered from these structural inequalities. Racism stems from the inherent human fear of the unknown, resulting in segregative propensities in both thought and action.
Racial justice goes beyond fighting small discrimination and systemic human rights abuses. Systemic change is needed to address patriarchy, colonialism, slavery, and economic inequality. This movement is inspired by systemic racism victims’ voices. Racial discrimination is any differentiation, exclusion, limitation, or favoritism based on race, color, ancestry, or national or ethnic background under international law. In political, economic, social, cultural, and other areas of public life, it seeks to undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms. Racially diverse people can join. It can impact religious and ethnic minorities and vulnerable people differently. Racial injustice affects people in their work life, their school life, and just their everyday life the minute they step out of the comfort of their homes.
Racial discrimination, including violence, against migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers has increased. Inhumane treatment of Black migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers violates international law.Racist remarks by the President in Tunisia sparked nationwide anti-Black violence. Tunisia ignored shocking violence against Black migrants and students. Qatar discriminates against African and South Asian migrant workers based on race and nationality, including pay. Migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face many obstacles near European borders. However, European policymakers often force them to take dangerous routes. They struggle to find safe and legal routes due to push backs and rescue assistance criminalization. These are global examples, but they affect education, healthcare, and the criminal justice system, which many of us take for granted. The ignorance of those in power or recognized as superior is the main cause. They don’t recognize their racism and think they’re helping society. These refugees are fleeing to countries that consider them foreign, different, and less than “Normal” people. This issue is causing suffering.
Beyond meetings, methods, and tools, civic engagement exists. Environment, people, customs, circumstances, and beliefs vary. The civic environment drives our success. Some communities have vibrant, sustainable civic and built environments that benefit all. Years of segregation and disinvestment have left many residents without opportunities or influence over community investment policies. Unfortunately, these communities lack the structural and cultural support for justice and success. It’s frustrating that civic engagement is often used by the wealthy and powerful to control the community. To fully exercise civic power and voice, we must change our view of civic engagement. Our community needs unity, responsibility, and empathy discussions, not division.
Overall, racial injustice occurs too often to wait for a call to action. We must lead and change things. People and society will suffer if it continues. We must face our harsh world. Act or change‚ we must decide. We are all humans, regardless of race or ethnicity. Do we share a world? Are we not sharing the same air? Why are we so negative towards each other?