Racism is a topic of discussion that often evokes uncomfortable feelings among those involved. This hot-button subject can make white people uncomfortable due to a number of reasons including, but not limited to "white guilt" or a belief that racism "does not exist anymore," or even that its prevalence and/or effects are "exaggerated." Similarly, people of color may feel uncomfortable discussing the subject for a variety of reasons as well. The fact of the matter is, race needs to be a topic of discourse, for if it is not, then covert racism will continue to thrive and perpetuate a pattern of inequality that still affects people of color.
In my last two posts, I discussed Latinos and immigration, and how xenophobia and discrimination have manifested themselves into our society in a covert fashion, opposed to the overt ways of the past. Much of this discrimination is just as much, if not more, applicable to African-Americans, individuals who are primarily descendents of individuals who were enslaved and taken to the United States against their will, hundreds of years ago. The length of time that people of African descent have occupied the United States is relevant to this discussion as it showcases just how much past-in-present discrimination has prevented African-Americans from reaching a level of achievement equal to white immigrant groups who have not been in the country for nearly as long of a duration. Ultimately, the white dominant group in the United States has coerced the majority of African-Americans in a state of socioeconomic arrested development.
Inequality towards people of color, while significant on a national level, is fairly prevalent on a local level in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. In fact, it has occurred on several levels as evidenced by issues with housing including white flight; racial profiling by law enforcement; education; politics and legislation; and employment opportunities. If these predicaments weren't terrible enough as it were, the plight that people of color are confronted with becomes seemingly more insurmountable when one considers that many of these problems are intertwined with one another.
The stereotyping of minority groups such as African-Americans is in many ways the source of many of the aforementioned problems. It is because of the perception that blacks possess criminal tendencies (as well as other negative traits that may fit the stereotype of the African-American) that often prevents blacks from being able to move into a neighborhood without whiteflight occurring. Whiteflight in itself is terrible as it creates a sinkhole in value for the area almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. By this I mean, blacks moving in is not the problem, but rather, the whites moving out is, as when they leave, they take their money and resources with them, which in turn also lowers the value of a given area. Of course, whiteflight is only a potential problem if African-Americans are able to move into a predominantly white area - what Koval (2007) calls a "white bubble" - in the first place.
The difficulty that African-Americans experience in the career/job-seeking process is a huge challenge in itself as well. After all, Koval (2007) argues that even blacks in the suburbs of Chicago have not avoided stigmatization based upon data retrieved from a study conducted called Racial Preference and Suburban Employment Opportunities. The findings, which were later revealed to be an understatement, found that white applicants, when compared to equally matched black applicants were twice as likely to receive the job. This is significant due to the fact that one needs a decent income to live in a "nice area" with quality schools for their children, and if this is not achieved, then future generations of African-Americans and other minority groups appears to be bleak.
Essentially, I believe past-in-present discrimination and stigmatizing of minority groups such as African-Americans is what causes the persistence of a racial divide in 21st century Chicago. I hate to be cynical, but I am not sure much can be done to alleviate this divide any time soon. A modification of early education may be beneficial in creating awareness of racism and all of the other "isms" that shroud our perceptions. Even then, there is no guarantee that the average child is going to grasp such concepts adequately, or even care. At the very least, we need to acknowledge that this problem exists, though.
There are too many ways in which the racial divide has occurred to be fully addressed in a blogpost of this size (even when doubling the intended length), and I don't mean to depress anyone with my cynicism pertaining to possible remedies to the situation at hand, but it is very challenging for me to have faith that the opinions of the dominant group will be able to change. Race may be a social construct, but I believe it feels all too real for most people, and that accounts for both sides.
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