How to Resolve Racist Conflict

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Over the years, racism has been a bane to human societies. Any action, conduct, or deed that bars a person of a particular race from feeling entitled to or enjoying their personal dignity and equality for any given reason can be racism.

It is important to know that racism occurs in various forms and dimensions. It does not necessarily have to involve intimidation, violence, abuse, or harassment. It may also take the form of exclusion. You may see people of a particular race excluding other people from other races from certain activities because of their origin, sex, color, or other reasons. 

What is Racist Conflict?

Conflicts usually arise in most interpersonal relationships, and as such, it is an expected occurrence. Studies have shown racist ideas are more observable and prevalent in modern societies. However, the struggle and movement against racism and its evils have instigated conflict both at domestic and global levels.

Racist conflicts have been so rampant and quite notorious in human societies, reaching a height in the 21st century. Constant discomfort and unease which arise from racism have generated into conflicts which have led into further conflicts over the years. We shall highlight some of the factors that have influenced racist conflict over the years.

Some of the factors influencing racist conflicts are:

• Discrimination

This is one of the major factors which has dramatically influenced racist conflict in human societies. You need to understand that the act of discrimination against a particular race by another race making one superior to the former will instigate conflicts both internally and externally. You see people discriminating against others as a race. You see people discriminating against other people because of where they come from, how they look, speak, and such different reasons. For instance, before 1963, the government of Alabama didn’t know better. The government prevented African-American students from studying at the University of Alabama in the United States as a result of racism. 

• Alienation

For your information, racist ideas and beliefs led to the alienation of some individuals, and as a result of the alienation, such individuals became hostile, and the hostility, invariably, leads to conflict.

• Marginalization

The numbers of individuals marginalized due to racism are innumerable. You need to understand that the marginalized group becomes aggrieved, and their grievances rise to conflicts, which hinders friendly and peaceful relations. Marginalization has contributed significantly to racist conflicts.

• Media Publications

Undoubtedly, information published in the media has also influenced racist conflict. It is quite noticeable that information in newspapers, magazines, television, radios, etc., portrays racism in such a subtle manner. These media houses make it seem harmless (without malicious intent) and thereby overlooking its negative effect. Racial stereotypes are being kept alive by the media, and this gave rise to racist conflict.

Interest as a Major cause of Racist Conflict

Experts have agreed that the root of racist belief is ‘self-interest.’ You see people exclude and discriminate against other people solely for their interest. Most people want to dominate others regardless.

The feeling of superiority and domination over others is one of the ideas of racism. As a result of this, other groups become disgruntled and tend to resort to conflicts to be free from dominance. Self-interest increases racial resentment.

Ibrahim X. Kendi opined in his book ‘Stamped from the Beginning’ that the racists have used racism as an excuse to suppress resistance to racial inequalities in America.

You need to know that history has shown that Europeans during the seventeenth and eighteenth-century forced Africans into slavery because of their interest. They believed they were superior to Africans, naturally making them suitable to work as laborers on their farmlands, plantations, and other strenuous activities under inhumane conditions. They tried justifying their actions by claiming that slaves were less human. Because of all these resentments, racist conflict increased globally.

How to resolve Racist Conflict

To resolve racist conflicts, we shall examine the following:

Equality

One of the means to resolve racist conflict is to ensure that all individuals treat other individuals equally and fairly regardless of their race, color, sex, or other differences. A typical example of this is when people successfully elected Edward Brooke as a senator in the United States, and he served from 1960 through 1970. You need to understand that once people treat other people equally and fairly, grievances will fade off and as such the conflict will be easily resolved.

Abolition of Discriminatory Regulations.

For racist conflict to be resolved, the government should abolish laws that are discriminatory in nature. You must note that any law designed to favor one group over the other should be retracted because of its potential to cause conflicts. Laws favoring a sect over the additional support of racist ideas and beliefs, and marginalized groups become more vulnerable. 

Specific rules, both written and unwritten, that discriminate against some groups while protecting the interest of others are discriminatory and damaging to peaceful relations amongst people, especially in a heterogeneous society. Lawmakers should remove laws and regulations that tend to make a group superior to the other. Once lawmakers do this, they can resolve conflicts. 

Recognition of Racism

To resolve racist conflict, one must be able to identify and recognize racism. Racist conflict is rampant because people believe that racism is mainly discrimination, slavery, blatant references to race, or ethnic segregation. Because people have failed to recognize, identify, and accept responsibility, racist conflict has continued to thrive.  Once racism is identified and recognized, viable means to tackle it can be easily formulated. Therefore, one need to recognise racism so as to resolve racist conflict.

Effective Communication

You must note that one of the vital means of resolving racist conflict is effective communication. Individuals, as well as groups, should engage in a genuine conversation about race, inequality, injustice, discrimination, and such other issues of concern. Once you listen and communicate with aggrieved individuals, it tends to resolve racist conflict. Once the perspectives of others are well understood, conflicts will be resolved easily. 

Collective efforts of States

No state can fully assert to be free of racism. It has been stated in custom essay writing service  that for racist conflict to be resolved, states must work and act collectively. However, it is important to note that efforts to resolve racist conflict must be intensified globally. States must work hand in hand to resolve the conflict.

 Conclusion

Racist conflict has been so persistent as a result of the bitterness and resentment people face from racist ideas and beliefs. People generally view racism as just discrimination, slavery or segregation not knowing that racism is not limited to that only. You see some individuals being favored, respected and placed over others. Those who are discriminated against faces a lot of obstacles and hindrances, thereby finding it exceptionally difficult to break free from societal ills such as poverty, unemployment, low self-esteem, illiteracy e.t.c.

To ensure that racist conflict is completely resolved, you need to understand that it must be tackled universally. States must come together to resolve the conflict and the efforts to resolve it must be collective. It must be resolved internally and internationally to achieve an egalitarian society devoid of racial-motivated prejudice.