Although in this day and age, blacks and whites are, to a large degree, integrated, there is still widespread segregation between the two races. This occurs in housing, education, job opportunity, financial interactions, sports, government and, sadly, between individuals. Women find themselves closed out of certain jobs and paid less than male counterparts doing the same job.

The use of discriminatory language, toward minorities and women is everywhere. Som

e examples might include referring to women as the “weaker sex”. I have heard “a lady doesn’t act that way”. Another example is “girls are not good in math or science”. This puts women in an inferior position by establishing unrealistic expectations and presumptions, as well as real barriers. I have heard “blacks are lazy” and “black people are not to be trusted”. This translates into discriminatory behavior toward African Americans based on stereotype, not fact.

How do people react when seeing a mixed race couple walking hand in hand? They generally stare and many will make a comment. Why, because they have heard the message of “stay with your own kind”. If you hear that often enough, you believe it is inappropriate to be with someone from a different race or culture. I have a good friend who is from South America. He fell in love with a black girl. He could not bring her home, because of the bigotry of his mother who refused to accept this young woman.

“The present decision.will not only stimulate aggressions, more or less brutal and irritating, upon the admitted rights of colored citizens, but will encourage the belief that it is possible, by means of state enactments, to defeat the beneficient purposes which the people of the United States had in view when they adopted the recent [the 13th and 14th] amendments of the Constitution.” Justice John Harlan

Cultural events show the same thing. Television programs generally show one race neighborhoods. (The Huxtables lived in an all black neighborhood and he was a Dr. she was a Lawyer) This was certainly a choice not based on finances. They could leve anywhere. That means they chose to continue to live in the “Black” neighborhood. This reinforces the stay with your own message. That message directly affects how people interact.

Why do people cross the street when they see a group of black teenagers coming? Maybe it is the message that they hear about crime being perpetrated by black youths. That message or communication affects my behavior (I crossed the street) even though I have no way of knowing if these youths would harm me. It is a stereotype perpetrated by communication through the popular media and everyday communication.

Some topics in this essay:
African Americans, Board Education, Red Lining, Florida City, Dr Lawyer, Howard University, South America, Caucasians Additionally, Muslims Christians, Justice Harlan, african americans, supreme court, separate equal, affirmative action, supreme court justice, white woman, day age, male counterparts, interact interact, behavior affect, board education, communication behavior affect, african americans women,