According to the chain of life the lion is known as the "King of the Jungle". This hierarchy starts at the top with the lion; superior to all; and ends at the bottom with the smallest, the teeny insect. This chain of life seems natural and harmless. However, it is different for humans; that is Racism! Racism is the belief that human beings can be divided in to races and one race is inferior to another. One who believes in racism is racist. Because racists believe they above or superior, they feel they deserve special rights and privileges. Racism is a belief. There is no known fact, or scientific evidence support, agree, or back up the claims of superiority. Racism is worldwide and it has caused major problems. Due to the belief of racism, racial superiority: discrimination, prejudice, apartheid, segregation, racial profiling, slavery and genocide have resulted. Many people do not look for the same qualities in other groups that they admire in their own. Even so, they don't recognize the different yet impartially worthy qualities that other groups have. Racism has walked a long road; its form and face have changed as well. Racism is not the hierarchy of the jungle, it is the division of man.
To accurately pinpoint the origin of racism, would be ludicrous. However, one of the most influential thinkers of racism was Joseph - Arthur Comte de Gobineau. In the middle of the 19th century, Arthur published a four volume Essay on the Inequality of Human Races. He taught that superiority of white race over all others. Many others also followed this racist claim: Lathrop Stoddard, Houston Stewart Chamberlain, Ludwig Woltmann, and Madison Grant. Their belief excluded many by status, family, religion, or nation. Gradually, the terms "race" and "class" became interchangeable. As this approach became popular, "races" were characterized by skin or hair type. Also accompanying characteristics of intelligence, physical ability, sexuality, or trustworthiness was attributed to the definition.
