Race Essay, Research Paper

John HeimEngl. 2 -19Jan. 29, 2001Constitution Bestowing Racism Our founding fathers, Jefferson, Washington, etc., drafted a constitution and government to safeguard its populace from the wrongdoings of the world. The government and all its subsidiaries, such as police, politicians, laws, etc., which are meant to protect us from these universal injustices, are in all actuality spreading one particular universal injustice. This prevalent inequality is racism. How is this possible? A government, meant to protect its people, spreading injustice through ignorance. This is expressed in a variety of songs by a variety of artists of different races at a variety of times. Times may change but the same misconduct by the government still stands fast. Police are the essence of law and order but often are the foundation of lawlessness and disorder. Certain racist actions taken by a minority of police convey a message to the public that blacks are a burden to America. Depicting the African American population as a nuisance and the basis of lawlessness, law enforcement subliminally triggers racist thoughts into people who might otherwise be non-racists. “Young nigga got it bad cuz I’m brown, and not the other color so police think, they have the authority to kill a minority,” N.W.A – Fuck the Police (1988). Blacks, in reaction to the actions taken by the police, often commit riots or crimes. These reprehensible retaliations strengthen the public acceptance of the actions taken by police against Negroes, further provoking racist thoughts. Thus the police look for anything and everything possible to get a Negro in trouble with the law increasing racism and inequality. “Instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs, so the police can bother me” 2Pac – Changes (1998).

Politicians are elected representatives of the people chosen on the basis of their views and values. In order to be elected to and advance in public office, a politician must appeal to a multiplicity of people with dissimilar values and beliefs. Thus, the politician often circumvents controversial issues; often upholding an impartial view on these touchy issues, never resolving such plagues as racism, in order not to offend prospective voters. “Congressmen will gather in a circus of delay, while the constitution’s drowning in an ocean of decay,” Phil Ochs – Here’s to the State of Mississippi (1964). Some politicians go as far as being economical with the truth to achieve their goal. Their ignorance to the world around them is fueled by their ambition, which in return leaves the African Americans the target of racism without a solution. “Not another motherfuckin’ politician doin’ nothing but something for his own ambition never touch the sound we make,” Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Power of Equality. With a constitution and government entwined with shady bureaucrats furnishing subconscious messages of racism, how is the oppressed race suppose to attain equality? With police blaming their lawlessness and disorder on the Negro and congressmen never addressing the controversial problem, how is the African American ever going to achieve equality? The solution is the problem itself. “Yes, how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry? Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died? The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind,” Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind (1963).