Is racism a problem of the past? Some people may not associate racism with their daily life, but in reality racism is all around; we just need to open up our eyes and see it. “Killing Rage” by Bell Hooks is a good representation of how racism, stereotypes, and the mass media all contribute to African Americans place in society.

Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights of the African American people. They wanted equal rights and desegregation, but even today we do not have equal rights or a desegregated society. Sure it still exists, but to a lesser extent than it did in Malcolm X’s time. Racism is the practice of racial discrimination or segregation. There are three basic forms of racism, open racism, violent racism, and covert racism, they all express forms of hatred towards distinct ethnic groups. These basic forms of racism, although different in form, all have the same main purpose, to promote racism. Open racism expresses freedom of racial thought and speech. Open racists promote their views through strictly persuasive tactics. This form of racism is allowed in our society because of the First Amendment. Open racism is currently almost nonexisten

t and steadily declining, because it is considered politically incorrect and socially unacceptable. Violent racism promotes racism through violence, fear, and persuasive methods. This form of racism is not protected by the First Amendment because it promotes violence to express its ideas. Covert racism expresses ideas of racism in disguised forms; sometimes the covert racist is not even aware of the fact that he is racist. “They kept explaining to her in loud voices as though she is a child, as though she is a foreigner who does not speak airline English.” (102) “White folks promote black victimization, encourage passivity by rewarding those folks who whine, grovel, beg, and obey.” (108) We have no right to make them “obey” us; we are not superior to them. Some people treat blacks as if they are from another planet and others as if they are animals. If they were aliens then we would know nothing about them, and well that is not true. They are people, they too have feelings just like you and I. “I feel that the vast majority of black folks who are subjected daily to forms of racial harassment have accepted this as one of the social conditions of our life in white supremacist.” (104) Personally, I think that this is kind of sad. I think that one of the most important things in life is to let people know who you really are. To me, this is just a way to put things in the back of the cupboard. You should always express your feelings and let others know when they hurt you. If necessary, give them a dose of their own medicine. That is why I agree with what Hooks wrote when she expressed her rage. “I felt a ‘killing rage.’ I wanted to stab him softly, to shoot him with the gun I wished I had in my purse and as I watched his pain, I would say to him tenderly ‘racism hurts.’” (104) Even though she was only thinking these awful things; she became overwhelmed with grief and began to sob. In my opinion, that white man deserved to be thought upon in that way. Life can be complicated, and it really doesn’t need to be clouded anymore by the shear stupidity of people in our society. Can’t we just all get along without making a

Some topics in this essay:
X’s Racism, African Americans, African American, Americans Society, Bell Hooks, african americans, Doe Racism, King Jr, black rage, racism stereotypes, , african american, black people, mass media, Denzel Washington, african americans society, people victims, racism racism, equal rights, stereotypes mass media, violent racism, racism stereotypes mass, black people victims, basic forms racism,