Prejudice

The Prevalence of Prejudice: A Personal Perspective

Kamane M. Askins

Social Psychology

August 30, 2010

Dr. Segedin

The Prevalence of Racism and Prejudice: A Personal Perspective

Prejudice can be defined in a number of ways. It can be considered a preconceived judgment or opinion or an injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one’s rights. In this paper, I will focus on the first; a preconceived judgment or opinion. The text to follow depicts my personal beliefs as they relate to prejudice and racism. Often times, the two are thought to be one in the same. This fallacy could be farther from the truth.

Prejudice is a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic or racial minority. Racism is the belief that one race is supreme and all others are innately inferior (Schaffer & Lamm, 1994).

For whatever reason, individuals of races in my opinion, other than that of African American, tend to view us as sub-standard. We have much to contribute to society when afforded the opportunity. African Americans have contributed to society in a number of ways in which we sometimes never receive credit or are discredited.

Racism and prejudice have pervaded world history: The Greeks and people from Africa to Asia were quick to view anyone unlike themselves as in some way inferior. Racism has also been widespread in the Unites States where for centuries; notions about racial inferiority bolstered the enslavement of people from African decent.  Today, overt racism in this country has subsided to some extent because of more egalitarian cultures that urges us to judge, in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, “not by the color of my skin but by the content of my character.” (Macionis, 1998). I disagree with Macionis’ statement. I think that racism and racial prejudice are more blatant than ever. Although laws and statutes have been created...