Racism

Paper Summary:

Racism is directly caused by the belief that some races or groups are superior to others. This paper discusses the causes of racism in South Africa which led to the infamous Apartheid laws. It examines how these laws affected the way people lived, worked and formed relationships. The paper also looks at the effects of apartheid, including poverty, malnutrition and violence.

From the Paper:

"According to research, there are four factors that contribute to the formation of racism (Van Dijk, 1995). The first is known as grouping, and occurs when certain groups perceive others as outsiders and exclude them. This creates feelings of superiority and inferiority. Scapegoating occurs when a particular group is blamed when something goes wrong. For example, ethnic minorities in a country are often used as a scapegoat during times of economic crisis. In Germany, the Nazis blamed the Jews for their problems. In South Africa, the blacks were seen as the problem. Another factor that causes racism is power. In many cases, one group's desire to become more powerful than another creates a sense of racism and discrimination. In addition, fear and ignorance are contributing factors to racism. People create stigmas and assign scapegoats because they are afraid. This fear often stems from ignorance, as people fear what they do not understand."

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• Persuasive Essay # 129742 : "Racism in Contemporary Canada"
• Analytical Essay # 87707 : "Racism and Slavery: An Analysis of Causes and Implications"

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