HOUSTON, United States
The UN is asking the world to 'fight against racism' on the 57th anniversary of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
In the US, that battle is constantly ongoing because the problem of racism is a long way from being stamped out.
"African Americans daily in the US are always conscious of being discriminated against, racial profiled or disrespected," said Ron Jackson, a political activist and radio talk show host in Houston, Texas.
"This activity can occur anywhere, at a store, jogging in a white neighborhood or driving while Black. Over the past several years, the US has seen high-profile killings of Black people, many taking place at the hands of police officers."
George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020 after white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes until he died. Floyd's death triggered protests across the country about racism against Blacks in America.
While Jackson believes that racial discrimination in the US has improved over the decades due to stricter laws and the prosecution of those who commit hate crimes, he told Anadolu via e-mail that the problem of racism is a long way from being stamped out.
"Over the last decade the head of hatred in the US has risen again," said Jackson.
"We have seen senseless hate crimes committed in churches and synagogues."
Jackson said it is crucial that the UN recognizes a day like this to "bring attention to atrocities all over the world."
"If a light is not shed on injustice, it will be out of sight and out of the minds of the public," Jackson said.
"Society continues discrimination and hate because of a lack of understanding of ethnicities, religion and culture. Misleading political and religious leaders around the world have continued to divide people to control their behavior for the leaders' benefit."
Rogene Gee Calvert with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) advocacy group OCA-Greater Houston told Anadolu in an e-mail that putting racial discrimination in a public light around the world is important so that these injustices don't get swept under the rug.
Calvert emphasized that every person, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture or the color of their skin, must put in the work to fight against racial discrimination and not stand idly by.
"Our society must try to make everyone feel that they are valued and they have not only opportunity but equitable access for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," she said.
"This sounds Utopian but if we can promote and practice this principle, then maybe people will start to respect, value and care for each other as much as themselves."
Changing demographics
Calvert believes racism in America has gotten worse over the past decade largely because of the changing demographics throughout the US.
"More people of color and individuals from continents like Africa, Middle East, Asia , Mexico and Central America have immigrated to the United States," she said.
"These populations are younger and having children, therefore populating the country at a faster rate than the Anglo Saxon European population of the past. Plus, white people are not having children as fast or as much."
"With this changing demographics and 'face' of America, there is an uncertainty, loss, and even fear of how things are changing," added Calvert. "There is a feeling of loss of control and power."
It is that loss of control and power that Calvert believes a portion of white America has used as fuel to stoke the fire of racism.
"Change is scary when you don’t know what it will lead to and how things will be," she continued.
"For the predominant White population, their loss of identify, control and power create a fear. When leaders stoke that fear ... this group sees a way to keep things as they were and to keep their power and control."
"It makes it easy to play the 'blame' game and fits their narrative to be divisive and alienating," said Calvert.
"It is a 'them against us' mentality that makes them feel more in control."
Calvert pointed out the numbers from a 2023 AAPI Data/Momentive poll showing that nearly one in four (23%) Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans have been a victim of a hate crime, just behind Native Americans/Alaska Natives (28%) and Blacks (26%). Hispanics/Latinos (19%) and Asian Americans (19%) were further down on the list along with whites (17%).
"It seems that racial discrimination among and between different groups of people has become more normalized and accepted," said Calvert. "They have normalized the language and the action so that it is now done more outwardly and normally than previously," she added.
Jackson believes that in order to fight the prejudice, hatred and discrimination around the globe, the UN must continue its plight to condemn racial intolerance when it rears its ugly head.
"If our society is to eliminate racial discrimination, I believe we have to come to an understanding that discrimination is a 'heart issue.'" said Jackson. "In principle, we should treat people like we want to be treated!"
"Unfortunately, I have only seen races come together in natural disasters or national crisis," Jackson added. "It would take a world crisis of this magnitude to get all people of the world to work together."
Hope for more tolerant society
While Calvert is not optimistic that racism in America and around the world will go away anytime in the near future, she believes the road to a better and more tolerant society is still possible.
"At this moment, my hope is low that we will make progress in reducing or even eliminating racial discrimination altogether from this world because of the leadership of the major countries and governments, including our own," said Calvert. "The ones who are promoting racial discrimination seem to have the loudest voices even if they may not be larger in number."
"Until we can lessen their voices and dispel their proposition, their followers who are lost and hopeless will continue to follow their direction," added Calvert.
"At some point, I hope the balance will change and our ability to eliminate or at least greatly reduce racial discrimination will prevail."
