“Racism is taught in our society, it is not automatic. It is learned behaviour toward persons with dissimilar physical characteristics.” – Alex Haley

Racism is something where one human or race thinks that they are more superior than the other based on their biological characteristics or features. It can be traced even way back during the 18th century where western Europeans have enslaved Africans to build their empire. By the 19th century, racism matured and has spread throughout the world causing wars and conflict like where the Holocaust and slavery took place (n.d). During these events, the actions being done to the victim race being taught already proves the act of racism.

The theory that will be used here is the conflict theory. The Conflict theory may be used to look at events that involve a lot of immorality, violence, wars, injustice, and other forms of discrimination by explaining that there is a natural disparity in a society that causes these problems. According to Karl Marx’s conflict theory (2019), that by maintaining dominance, power and authority we can have social order. For example, those with great wealth will take advantage or abuse those who are different and “lower” than them. Society always preys on the weak to maximize their own benefits.

Our country, the Philippines, has no specific law whatsoever in handling this kind of phenomena. We say that one is in the act of being a racist, an individual can do what he or she wants to the person given that what they will do will not violate any laws. Social inequalities also takes part in racism. Filipinos are racists to their own kind. Comparing with each other depending on their social status and mocking those that are below them.

There are many forms or racism like the individual racism and the systematic racism. Individual racism refers to a person’s racist assumptions or behaviours that one is always bigger or better than the other person. The systematic racism includes the policies and practices which is firmly established in credible institutions, which results in the exclusion or promotion of a specific group. Out of these two, individual racism is the problem. The personal point of view of these “higher” classed Filipinos will only change when the opposing class will strive and reach their social level.

Racism has been present throughout the human history in order for “high classed” people to stay in power. People will always find a way to justify their views even if it is wrong. This causes rifts in society. In conclusion, racism is a disservice to society because it divides rather than unites.

References:

Chappelow, J. (2019, April). Conflict theory. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/conflict-theory.asp

Racism. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://en.unesco.org/courier/october-1960