Race Relations in the United States

Posted: January 8th, 2023

Race Relations in the United States

Opinions about the state of race relations in the United States

The USA has always had a distinct identity as a land where civil liberties and freedoms are respect to include individual rights. In fact, the nation’s long history includes a bloody past as a pioneer in advancing race relations. To take an example, the Civil War had some racial justice undercurrents that pitted the Northern States that sought to emancipate all slaves in America against the Southern States that sought to continue keeping slaves. Over its long distinguished history, the nation has had many individuals, such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks who sacrificed a lot to see African American enjoy the same liberties as other Americans. To take another example, Barack Obama was elected as the first African American president of the USA, serving for two terms. Obama’s presidency was an indication that had surpassed the racial divide. Race Relations in the United States

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However, recent events have overturned the perception of America as a land that respects civil liberties and freedoms. Even at a time when the whole nation is ravaged by the health and financial effects of Covid-19 virus, reports still abound of African Americans and other ethnic minority groups facing discrimination. Police violence has become a common new headline with Blacks suffering the brunt of these injustices. Case in point, George Floyd of Minneapolis was pinned down despite not resisting and ended up dying. Video clips and eye witness accounts reveal that he complained about being unable to breath but the policy ignored him. The police officers who were involved in the case were initially suspended, a light punishment given the gravity of the event in which an American man with a wife and child died in preventable circumstances. A public outcry caused the suspension to be turned into a firing with the disgraced police officers facing prosecution, although the charges against them are for minimal offences. Mr. Floyd’s case is just one of the many instances in which White police officers have unnecessarily used violent and deadly force against African Americans.Race Relations in the United States

Racially motivated incidences instigated by the police are just some of the examples of a systemically deteriorating race relations in the United States. To be more precise, there has been no tangible accountability. President Trump has largely ignored these cases and was recently quoted as stating that armed forces should be used against civil rights protesters and even went on to designate some of their organizations as terrorist movements. Other than the president, the US Justice Department has refused to accept responsibility for bungling some of the racially motivated civil rights cases, and have typically ignored the issue or shifted blame. It is not uncommon for perpetrators of racial crimes to either go scot free without punishment or receive light punishments even when victims end up dying. The buck must stop somewhere and there is a need for people to take responsibility. President Trump should lead by example in strongly castigating the perpetrators while the US Justice Department should take responsibility in ensuring that all perpetrators are punished to deter other perpetrators.

The fact is that racial relations in America are at a very low point. There is a need for urgent action to ensure that civil liberties and individual freedoms are respected for all Americans. The American public and government institutions must take responsibility for permitting racial bias, and undertake action to ensure racial equality. Unless this is done, racial relations in the USA will continue to deteriorate. Race Relations in the United States