Since the time we were born, our parents have taught us things they know about almost everything. They teach us how to act when in the presence of others, how to eat, how to use the toilet, how to tie our shoelaces; the list is endless. Then, after a certain period of time, we"re off to pre-school and elementary school to learn yet more things. We are taught how to share, how to read and write, how to interact with peers and so on. But where in all of this are we taught to hate individuals who may be different? Who educates us in that department? Discriminating against others because they are a different race, gender or nationality is, in fact, learned, but from many various sources.
One of the many things that we learned in elementary school is a lesson in the history of our world. We learned about exploration, colonization of new lands, wars, and progress that has been made. One of the most significant advancements in American history is the abolishment of slavery. It was a giant leap forward for equality. There are no longer laws against blacks using the same facilities as whites, no more segregation acts, and no more other legalities tying them down. However, many individuals did not abide by these laws and prejudice and racism still do exist and are still strong. Organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan have many loyal followers whom still believe the African Americans are inferior to Caucasians. But what is the cause of this hate and why do people still feel this way when they know that it is wrong?.
A huge institution where racism is still openly practiced is in the workplace. White males typically hold higher positions in more prestigious jobs and, therefore, get paid higher wages. This systematic inequality is referred to as institutional racism and it is very wrong. Since these Caucasian males hold the high positions, the have much more money. As we all know, in the United States of America there is a huge correlation between the amount of money one has, and how much power they possess.