Racism in United States: Impact on African Americans and Authoritarianism

This essay discusses the impact of racism on African Americans in the United States and its link to authoritarianism. It analyzes two articles that highlight the power dynamics in society and how it victimizes the African Americans. The first article talks about the impact of urban decline on low-income city residents and how housing segregation constrains the black communities to low-income areas. The second article discusses the criminal justice system and its implications for the dispossessed. The essay highlights the similarity of the articles in terms of power dynamics and victimization of African Americans. It also discusses the link between racism and authoritarianism in the United States.

Running head: RACISM IN UNITED STATES
Racism in United States
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1RACISM IN UNITED STATES
Racism refers to the belief that one race is superior as compared to the other that
results into discrimination along with prejudice towards certain section of the society. Racism
pervades in the United States since colonial era as there are certain rights that are provided to
the white Americans which is denied to the people belonging to other races. This essay
contrasts and states the similarity of the viewpoint of two articles and how they surface in the
form of US authoritarianism.
The article named “College Students or Criminals” argues that globalization has
provided the city residents with various opportunities however these opportunities are not
provided to those people who belong to the socially marginalised position. There are certain
portions of United States that is suffering from the impact of urban decline and the
educational opportunities become limited for those who are low-income city residents. It
corroborates the fact that housing segregation constrains the black communities to that of the
low-income areas. According to me, the marginalised people get access to the community
colleges but they do not form part of conversation on account of the relegated position
relegated position that is attributed to them. On the other hand, the article “Deadly
Symbiosis” talks about the criminal justice system and its implications for those in the society
who are dispossessed. I think that the prison acts as a peculiar institution confines the
African-Americans and labels them as inferior in the society (Omi & Winant, 2014).

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According to me, the rate of imprisonment of the African-Americans have risen to a
great extent in the society owing to the belief that exists in the society that the African-
Americans should be put in the proper inferior position that relegates them to a confined
position. I think that carceral system that exists in the United States is linked to structural
homology along with cultural fusion. There are political forces that are responsible for
reshaping the structure pertaining to ‘Black Belt’ that has contributed in making the ghetto
like a prison. The symbiosis between the prison and the ghetto helps in perpetuating the
socioeconomic marginality of that of the black sub-proletariat. I think that it has played an
important role in remaking the aspect of ‘race’ in United States (Wacquant, 2001).
The article, “College Students or Criminals” has talked about the importance of
college proximity for a student and how it becomes an important factor in relation to their
receiving of education. Public transportation acts as a variable pertaining to college
accessibility and it is of great importance for the low-income students. According to me, the
hierarchy of the colleges can help in understanding literature pertaining to community
colleges that are placed at bottom of the hierarchy (Dache-Gerbino & White, 2016). It shows
the subordinate position of the blacks in the American social structure. “Deadly Symbiosis”
on the other hand talks regarding how the class segregation overlays the concept of racial
segregation. It has been found that Black Belts have undergone massive de-population and a
large number of the residents have been left unemployed. I think that the fact that the negro
enterprises being mostly beauty parlours, grocery store and the barber shops speaks largely of
the inferior position of the African negros in the United States (Wacquant, 2001). The
similarity of the articles lie in the fact that both speak regarding the power dynamics in the
society and how it victimizes the African Americans.

3RACISM IN UNITED STATES
Authoritarianism refers to form of the government that has limited political freedom
and a strong central power. There exists a strong link between racism and authoritarianism in
the United States. Most of the people in the society have a benign attitude towards the other
group of interest. Democracy helps in protecting the rights of the minorities. The housing
segregation puts the black communities at the low income areas and the opportunities that
they get in terms of education is limited that hampers their development within the social
structure (Miller & Garran, 2017). I think that the fact that the negro enterprises comprise
mainly of beauty parlours and the grocery stores speaks of their low status in the society.
They do not enjoy privileged position in the society owing to their inferior vocations. The
society and the white people in the United States acts in the authoritarian manner and the
blacks are labelled by them as being inferior.
Globalization has helped in providing city residents with opportunities that is
deprived to those people who are in the socially marginalised position. Marginalised people
study in the community colleges but they do not become part of the conversation due to their
position in the social structure. Carceral system within the United States is related to
structural homology and that of cultural fusion. Political forces help in re-shaping ‘Black
Belt’ structure that makes the ghetto like a prison in the United States.

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References:
Dache-Gerbino, A., & White, J. A. (2016). College students or criminals? A postcolonial
geographic analysis of the social field of whiteness at an urban community college
branch campus and suburban main campus. Community college review, 44(1), 49-69.
Miller, J., & Garran, A. M. (2017). Racism in the United States: Implications for the helping
professions. Springer Publishing Company.
Omi, M., & Winant, H. (2014). Racial formation in the United States. Routledge.
Wacquant, L. (2001). Deadly symbiosis: When ghetto and prison meet and
mesh. Punishment & Society, 3(1), 95-133.

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