Evolution Of Racism In America

Racism in America began in Northern American shores during the 17 th century. Racism was

initiated by the European who wanted to subdue and conquer land within Northern America. The

Europeans believed that the Americans were savages and heathens and only European culture

and Christianity could make them civilized. As a result, attempts to wipe out the tradition

practiced by Native Americans began. Mass murder, genocide and land grabbing were on the rise

as the bloodthirsty European abused the Native Americans.

During the same century, another racism occurred, but this round was against African-

Americans. Majority of the black Americans during the 17 th century were slaves who had been

kidnapped from various parts of Africa. Their white master treated them in an inhuman way.

They were tortured, beaten, forced to follow Christianity and in other cases lynched or hanged.

For the few African Americans who did not serve as slaves were not spared either. They could

not vote or own property because the discriminatory laws barred them from doing so.

Another racism that was witnessed in America was against the Japanese Americans. Racism

against the Japanese Americans started at the beginning of the World War II when the Pearl

Harbor in Hawaii was bombed. The racism intensified after an executive order was signed by

President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942. The order deemed the Japanese Americans has enemies

of the state. Over 120,000 Japanese Americans born and raised in America were harassed,

discriminated and sent to the camps under government surveillance.

The last racism in America targeted the Muslims in what was referred to as Islamophobia. This is

the latest form of discrimination in America and is characterized by discrimination, harassment,

and prejudice toward Islam. Islamophobia became worse in America in 1998 after the terror

attack as well as the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Over the last decade, Muslims

living in the United States have been subject to racial profiling, phone surveillance, interview by

the FBI.