Impact of Racism on Society and Culture in Wolverhampton

To understand ways in which racism can increase knowledge and helps in
understanding about contemporary society.
Racist society used to treat or differentiate people because of their skin
colour, they speak a different language or have different religious beliefs etc. Also,
when people in society behaves differently to another person based on their colour,
skin or culture (Williams, Lawrence and Davis, 2019). For developing better
understanding of social norms it can be seen that some people are victims of race
due to their looks; their appearance may be different, or they may speak a different
language. Some people wear certain types of clothing because of their religion and
may get harassed because of this. Systemic racism in certain societies is also
reoffered to as international racism; which occurs on a greater platform (Timothy,
2018). It is present in political and societal organizations. It describes when racism
becomes so ingrained, it is seen as ‘normal (Tate and Page, 2018).
Earlier than 1965 racism was not illegal in Britain and people from Africa and
Asia were bought by the government to England as labour. However, on arrival they
faced racism and discrimination (Reid, Cormack and Paine, 2019). Racism became
implanted into the nation's structures of power, culture, education and identity.
Racism in the United Kingdom is deeply linked to its relationship with its previous
colonies and citizens that included the British Empire, many of whom settled in Great
Britain, particularly following World War II (Hudson, 2017). Racism was moderated
by the attitudes and rules of the British class system, in which during the 19th
century, race mattered far less than social distinction. The term is also applied to
political, economic, or legal institutions and systems that engages in spreading

discrimination based on race. Many believe that race is determined by biology, it is
now widely accepted that this classification system was in fact created for social and
political reasons.
In the year of 1919, there were significant number of racist attacks on
'coloured' communities in different areas of UK. One of the most well-known racist
attacks (1993) was murder of Stephen Lawrence a black teenager. Furthermore,
when Germany was defeated in World War I, anti-Semitism was successfully
exploited by the Nazi Party, and it detained power in 1933 and applied policies of
systematic discrimination, persecution, and eventual mass murder of Jews in
Germany and in the territories occupied by the country during World War II. Those
who openly declared or practiced racism stated that members of low-status races
should be limited to low-status jobs and that members of the leading race should
have exclusive access to political power, economic resources, high-status jobs etc.
In the 18th century, racism was at the heart of North American slavery and the
colonization activities of western Europeans. The idea of race in society was created
to expand the differences between people of European origin and those of African
descent whose families had been involuntarily caged and transported to the
Americans. By characterizing Africans and their African American descendants as
lesser human beings, the advocates of slavery attempted to justify and maintain the
system of exploitation.
Racism affects both intentional and unintentional social concepts, as it has
crucial impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Racism
also affect school, work, system. Racism is part of structures and systems that we
live in. Racism has impacted society directly. For instance; health and physical
violence, this can cause negative psychological and physiological effects. For

example, ethnic differences in socioeconomic status can indirectly result in
differential access to care, while health providers use ethnic bias to influence the
quality and outcomes of healthcare interactions.
Racism also influences social/political life and individual choice. In, 1965 the
Race Relation Act banned racial discrimination in public places and initiated to erase
hatred of the grounds for (colour, race, or ethnic or national origins) an offence. This
act came into force on the 08th December 1965. Lastly, in 1968 the Race Relations
Act, made it unlawful acts of discrimination within employment and housing.
From the above study it has been summarized that racism has several
negative impacts on the society. Racism has contributed to our understanding of
contemporary society by knowing data about numbers of racist attacks on coloured
communities in different areas of the UK. These data helped out in knowing the
extent to which racism affect people in all physical and mental manner. It has also
summarized that racism increases the gap between the rich and the poor. Further it
has discussed that racism act that came into force in 1965 banned racial
discrimination at public places and it protected people against race discrimination.
This act also helped companies in promoting diversity and equality within business.