Importance of History: Impact of Racial Discrimination on Society

This report examines the importance of history by analyzing the impact of racial discrimination, specifically focusing on the experiences of African Americans. It begins by highlighting a personal anecdote about a student facing discrimination due to her hairstyle, then delves into the historical context of racial discrimination in the United States, emphasizing the 1960s. The report argues that understanding this historical context is crucial for addressing and mitigating subtle forms of racism present in society today. The assignment underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of history to comprehend the current societal landscape, particularly in the context of racial bias and discrimination. It stresses that awareness of historical discrimination is essential for creating a more equitable and just society, particularly in the workplace, and for promoting unbiased practices.

Running head: IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY
Importance of History
Name of Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY
The importance of studying history is that it helps individuals to understand the past
that they have come from, and subsequently the present that we live in. To know how and
why our world is the way that it is today, it will be imperative to know the history. I met an
African American girl who was complaining about the fact that she was rejected from a job
because they did not believe that her hairstyle was appropriate for a formal setting, when
what she had was neat and tidy braids tied up in a ponytail. She was ranting about the racial
discrimination that goes on unnoticed in the society, and I was utterly shocked by her
connection between these two matters.
I then decided to look into the matter and realized that African American girls and
women were facing this all over the country, where their hairstyle is considered to be
“ghetto” and they needed to have their hair blow-dried and straight to represent the society’s
urge to achieve the European standards of women. To be able to understand why African
Americans are facing difficulties in getting a job in the market, it is important to have
knowledge of the start of racial discrimination in the 1960s with respect to the United States.
If company executives are more aware of the history of racial discrimination, then they will
be able to make more active efforts in ensuring that they are not biased when recruiting
people of all races. Subtle racism exists everywhere in the society and it is not enough for
only the African American community to be aware of it or have knowledge of it, it is the
present that we are living in being shaped by the history we’ve had – it’s important to know.