Racism Essay, Research Paper

The Aryan Nations. The American Nazi Party. What are these groups? Why are they

present in a land of supposed equality of all men? They are there because there

are millions of Americans that believe in their message of white pride. The

African American population is growing and Americans are now a mixed group of

people. Black people are white people’s neighbours, doctors, friends. With a

growing unity between the two races, why does racism continue? The answer is

simple. Racists from many years ago raise their kids in clans and white

supremacy groups and teach them the ways of hatred. These kids grow up

"brain-washed" that black people are their enemies and, taught by

example, will continue this trend (The Volume Library; 1988). The Ku Klux Klan

has been around since the end of the civil war. It is a roller coaster of a

history. From extreme power, to rapid decline, and slow reemergence (Software

Toolworks Encyclopedia; 1992). The clan, who is notorious for its violence, has

a relatively innocent beginning. It was formed from some veterans from the

confederate army and was first called the Kuklos Clan which, in Greek, meant

Circle Clan. One person thought it would be a good idea to call it the "Ku

Klux Klan" as a parody of the fraternity names which always had three Greek

alphabet letters in it. They created the Clan to be mischievous and to do it

without anyone knowing who they were which accounts for their costumes and

masks. They, like most whites, were upset that the black people were free

because black people were a constant reminder of the bitter defeat of the South.

So to have fun they terrorized black people. Eventually the group grew,

fluctuating, but grew to become the first white supremacy group in America and

with that growth, their hatred grew as well into what was seen in the early and

middle 1900’s and what is seen today. Along with the KKK, other anti-black,

pro-white groups formed and stemmed out all over the U.S.A. The Neo Nazis who

are more commonly know by the term "Skin Heads", are a growing force

in hate groups. There hatred of Hispanics, Jews, Blacks, and others are now the

fastest growing force in America. The Skin Head movement is usually done by the

younger kids. These kids are drawn to the Aryan Nations and Neo Nazis by the

promise of free drugs, free booze, heavy metal music, ultimate freedom and

rebellion. A lot of these kids stay because of family troubles at home and, like

in a gang, feel like they have a family with the group and feel loved. "The

skinheads are a family… A lot of us don’t have what you’d call a home"

commented Joshua, who is a 16 year old recruiter in California (United They

Hate; Michael Kronenwetter). The race war was in full force by the 1960’s. With

the growth of white supremacy and their groups, black too had a weapon. Martin

Luther King Jr. lead his people to march in Washington to end segregation and to

form black unity for an equal and better America. Malcolm X, who was a Muslim,

may have come from a different religion than his Christian counterpart, but had

a very similar message and a similar fate. Both were assassinated. Today the

hate groups of America have spread into Canada and are particularly common in

Manitoba. The major sects are of the same name as their American cousins with a

very similar message. Racism, despite much opposition, will never end. As long

as there is fighting among a Jew and a Palestinian or hatred between a white and

a black, Racism will be there. Only a utopian society can achieve such a dream.

It is in human nature to have a few people that do not understand or possibly

hate those who are different but, in fact, we are not different, we are

judgmental and we are discriminatory, we segregate. We are unique individuals

but among races we are equal and the same.