The Concept of Racial Tension - Research Paper Example

Introduction Racial tension is the situation that exists between different people where there occurs no trust between them. In several cases in middle class there have been observations of the blacks being violated and sometimes attacked by the whites. The attacks have been major from the accusation of the blacks being criminals or prostitutes. Racial tension has been observed as many of the blacks are always linked to those that are not good in the community that they live. Whites on the other hand have seen themselves to be victims of racial discrimination since there are countries such as South Africa that have formed policies of positive action and empowerment that only aims to the black without attending to the needs of the white (Grunsell, 203). The claims of white discrimination have been through the several murders of white farmers in those countries. Investigations have however thrown away the argument as they think that the murder have been through motivations in robbery rather than the thought racial tension. Racial tension Some whites due to racial tension have tried to rewrite history. There was once a claim that blacks were the main cause of apartheid. This shows the extent that there have been racial discrimination and all that was thought to be bad in the old times were linked to the blacks. In some of the countries such as South Africa, racial tension has been seen to grow as a result of economic stagnation in the country. In these economies, there is higher rate of unemployment that is mostly linked to the blacks. The economic growth has been too higher to reduce the rate of unemployment in the blacks. In such countries the level of unemployment continues to rise in blacks while the white are still privileged and are given the first opportunities in the job sector. Racism is blamed for these occurrences. Many whites see the privileges that they have and the policies that favor them and despite the wealth that they have. They see the black as those that are not exposed to any privilege in job sector (Grunsell, 209). After the blacks receiving democracy in most of their countries, there still has been ruling by the whites. Studies that have been carried out have brought out the fact that there is a belief that the whites and the blacks will be difficult to come to trust each other. Policies that have been put forward to solve the issues of racism have failed as there are overpowered by the mistrust that occur between the two groups. In the current situation there is the situation of racial tension all over the world. There has been a deepening of racial tension in Malaysia. The government of India recently released an advice that was directed to its foreign students that study in different parts of the world mostly in Australia stating to them that there still exist racial tension mainly between the whites and Indians. In China, racial tension has been between Hun and Uighur communities that occupy Xinjiang. The tension was enhanced in 2009. Racial tension originates long ago and in 1920, it was observed after Black-Americans began to protest for their rights. The movements that were formed struggled so that there could be rights to all the races. In the years, there continued racial violence ass all the races were struggling to gain fame and become the majority the resistance that was there by those that were considered to be the minority in the groups caused more war and violence. Racial tension has resulted to different situations in countries and in institutions. In institutions, the factor has been seen to lead to fight among group of students as others tend to think to be more superior (Grunsell, 301). International students have much faced racial tension as they are viewed with suspicion in the institutions that they learn hence exposed to treatments that are poor as compared to the other students. Racial tension causes There are several factors that led to racial tension. The factor includes religion, policies that are put forward to be used by the government discrimination and prejudice. Out of the causes, the main factors that lead to racial tension are discrimination and prejudice (Mason, 98). Prejudice is simply being found in someone to the others; especially they are from different races. They may treat the other races irrespectively and violently. First, people will not take it seriously. However, when the cases happen frequently and massively, people won’t take them as specials cases. The races that besieged will tend to feel anxious and strike back in order to protect themselves. Therefore, it tends to create racial tension. For examples, incidents of violence against Indians in Australia were happened frequently in last few months. Later on, an Indian student was killed. These instances have caused damages that have been between Indians and Australians that leads to the increase in racial tension. African-Americans are also still discriminated by the Americans even after the completion of world war. There has still been the mentality that the whites developed that the blacks were slaves and should not be treated like the other whites. The blacks received treatment that was not similar to the others. Whites on the other hand have seen themselves to be victims of racial discrimination since there are countries such as South Africa that have formed policies of positive action and empowerment that only aims to the black without attending to the needs of the white. Policies that are put by the government have been seen to lead to racial tension. In different countries policies have been developed that makes the countries to be divided into counties. The formation of the counties separates people into different races. The policies that are formed by the government also tend to benefit some races without the consideration of whether they are the majority or the minority in the country. The race that is not favored by the policies feels that they are dissatisfied. In this aspect, the other races that feel dissatisfied may decide to protest against the treatments that they undergo (Mason, 150). The most factors that contribute to racial tension are religion. Religion has made most of the countries to be multiracial. People in different regions and countries may have different religion. A given religion in a country may be held by a given race. Religion makes the race not to be freethinkers but they only think on the general issues but according to the religion to which they belong. Their minds and behaviors are affected by the religion that they belong. They think that those that follow other religion are not right hence a start of discrimination (Mason, 203). Those that are much radial will not accept anything or proposal that is brought from other religion. An example of the tension was observed in Malaysia most Christians in the country are Chinese or Indians and the other broad population of about 60 % are Muslims. Through racism, 8 churches were attacked due to the war that was between the Muslims and Christians over the word Allah. Racial tension increased in the country was much enhanced when there was an increase in mosques in the country (Memmi, 54). From the instance, it can be noted that racial tension are simply affected by the beliefs that people have on their religion. The white have also claimed to be discriminated and exposed to racial tension. The claims of white discrimination have been through the several murders of white farmers in those countries. The claims were made without the consideration of the situations that they expose the blacks to that in turn leads to their death. Investigations have however thrown away the argument as they think that the murder have been through motivations in robbery rather than the thought racial tension. Fight against racial tension There are several laws and policies that have been put up by governments to make sure that there is reduction in racial tension. In 1919, there was proposal that was made that there should be inclusion of racial equality in Covenant of the League of Nations. The advice was supported by many as they thought that it would reduce tension in racism. The provision was however not passed in the meetings of the organization. Japan in 1943 declared the fight against racial discrimination. They tried through all activities that they thought could bring about racial equality but the policies that were put forward did not work well. In a chatter of United Nations formed in 1945, there was provision that supported the respect for human rights and also freedom for all that lived in a country or region without the consideration of an individual’s race. European Union in 2001 banned racism that was together with all other forms of discrimination. The banning was not limited to institutions but to all that were under the union. Section 21 of the article prohibited discrimination that would occur in terms ethnicity, color, race, religion, language, political opinion or ethnic origin. When the chapter was put into work there would be reduction in racial tensions that occur due to people trying to gain fame or become the majority. In countries such as South Africa there have been efforts by the president to reduce the tensions that come due to racism in the country (Merino, 67). The tensions have been seen in the country to bring about the fear of violence in the country. Violence increased in the region due to the killing of more whites in the country. Conclusion From the analysis it can be concluded that the main causes that are linked to racial tension are government policies, religion, prejudice and discrimination. For this issue, there should be taken to make sure that the issue of racial tension is put to control. After the blacks receiving democracy in most of their countries, there still has been ruling by the whites. Studies that have been carried out have brought out the fact that there is a belief that the whites and the blacks will be difficult to come to trust each other. Policies that have been put forward to solve the issues of racism have failed as there are overpowered by the mistrust that occur between the two groups The control should be put into place due to increase in multiracial society that have increased due to the issues of globalization. The fight can be achieved when there is the view of people from different races as being equal. Conflicts that occur in the world will be reduced if the instances of racism are stopped. Work cited Grunsell, Angela. Racism. London: Gloucester Press, 2001. Print. Marx, Gary T. Racial Conflict. Boston: Little, Brown, 2007. Print. Mason, Philip. An Essay on Racial Tension. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2004. Print. Memmi, Albert. Racism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2000. Print. Merino, Noël. Racism. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Print. Misir, Prem. Racial Ethnic Imbalance in Guyana Public Bureaucracies. Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 2010. Print. Sears, David O, and Donald R Kinder. Racial Tension and Voting In Los Angeles. [Los Angeles]: [Institute of Government and Public Affairs, University of California. Print. Williams, Mary E. Racism. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Print. Read More