Struggles faced by people of colour

The struggle that people of colour face are greatly as a result of the beliefs held by whites in the past where they believed that the whites were superior to any other race. Although great achievements have been made in the fight against discrimination on the basis of colour and race, there exists various constructs in society that continue to place people of colour at a disadvantage solely on the basis of their race. Increased diversity in society has led to the emergence of stereotypes that dictate norms which people follow and use to determine the nature of interactions that exist between members of the community as well as the attitudes they develop towards one another and society in general. While the goal is often to promote peaceful coexistence, people of colour are constantly discriminated against and most face different forms of oppression on a regular basis.

            Discrimination is the greatest challenge that people of colour have to face as it denies them access to opportunities that would enable them to lead better lives. Discrimination in schools for instance denies people of colour access to good quality education and the skills and knowledge needed to secure employment (Anderson et al, 2015). A significant number of people of colour live in poor neighbourhoods and find it difficult to access basic essentials such as food and shelter. Most of the people in such communities cannot afford to take their children to school and majority end up dropping out. Parents who can afford to educate their children also have to settle for poor quality education (Perez, 2020). Since education is one of the best tools to help raise people from poverty, lack to quality of education has placed people of colour in a recurring cycle where children are forced to lead the same lives as their parents.

            Discrimination is extended to the workplace especially when trying to secure jobs. Despite the challenges that exist when seeking education, people of colour who manage to complete their studies find it just as challenging to secure employment (Weller, 2019). Although most organization hire employees based off of their academic qualifications, it is common for employers to pick a white candidate over someone of colour. The decision is greatly influenced by the notion that whites are superior to people of colour and will therefore do a better job (RTOR, 2020). Although such misconceptions are based on outdated beliefs and stereotypes, they play a major role in the discrimination that people of colour are subjected to.

            The challenge in securing employment does not end in the recruitment stage but further extends in other aspects of an individual’s career. Majority of the menial work is reserved to people of colour while whites normally occupy the top positions. The difference in employment levels is greatly as a result of the quality of education that people of colour receive before seeking employment (Mitchell, 2020). Whites for instance are given better opportunities in pursuit of their education and majority get to graduate and excel in careers of their choosing. For people of colour however, education is somewhat limited and most study to the best of their ability before seeking employment (Ryan, 2011). Whites are therefore more qualified and continue to benefit from the benefits offered to them due to the colour of their skins. People of colour on the other hand are forced to settle for low paying jobs in the hope that the opportunity offered and added experience will increase their chances of securing a better life.

            Access to opportunities for people of colour is also hindered by society’s tendency to favour whites over people of colour. In a work setting for instance, whites are more likely to get job promotions, bonuses and awards compared to people of colour (Spencer, 2016). Although different organizations try to promote diversity by discouraging racism, whites are more likely to be promoted compared to people of colour especially on decision where candidates from the opposing races appear equal on paper (Cammarota et al, 2006). People of colour therefore find it difficult to excel in their careers and this forces them to live in the same communities that continue to place people of colour at a disadvantage.

            Discrimination on the basis of race has become so prevalent that people of colour have formed lobby groups and movements such as the Black lives matter to try and end the challenges that people of colour face. The Black Lives Matter movement for example seeks to end all forms of discrimination, oppression and violence against African Americans (NAEH, 2020). In the United States, people of colour fall victim to police brutality and the use of excessive force due to their differences in skin colour. Stereotypes that were used to define African Americans in the past have created an environment where police consider African Americans as being more prone to crime compared to people from other races (Saxon, 2019). This has led to police using more force than necessary when apprehending African American suspects. Other law enforcement officers are influenced by race and treat African American suspects as being inferior to other races such as whites.

            The different treatment extends not only to arrests but also during sentencing. Majority of inmates incarcerated in prisons are African Americans and people of colour despite whites engaging in similar, if not more criminal activity. Since African Americans are more likely to be convicted of a crime than whites, the population in prisons for people of colour tends to be higher because whites are not convicted as much (Perez, 2020). The systems that exists in society make it difficult for people of colour to overcome the challenges they face and constantly place them at a disadvantage.

            The challenges that people of colour face are greatly as a result of the continued belief that some races are superior, and therefor require preferential treatment. When whites are offered more opportunities than other races, it places others at a disadvantage because the opportunities that exist in society are meant to benefit everyone equally. There various protests, lobbyist movements and political intervention has made attempts to try and overcome some of the challenges that people of colour face. Changes made by learning institutions and employers attempt to reduce the disadvantage that people of colour face and create an equal playing field for people of all races. Although a lot needs to be done to resolve all the challenges that people of colour are subjected to, the existing developments suggest that the challenges that people of colour face today will not be as prevalent in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Cammarota J, (2006) “Beyond resistance! Youth activism and community change: New   democratic possibilities for practice and policy for America’s youth” Routledge

Mitchell F, (2020) “Covid-19’s disproportionate effects on children of colour will change the       next generation” Urban Wire

National Alliance to end Homelessness, (2020) “Racial inequality” retrieved from,             https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-             homelessness/inequality/

Perez E, (2020) “People of colour are protesting, here’s what you need to know about this            new identity” The Washington Post, retrieved from,             https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/02/people-color-are-protesting-             heres-what-you-need-know-about-this-new-identity/

RTOR, (2020) “The massive challenges faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of         Colour) who live with mental health disorders” retrieved from,     https://www.rtor.org/2020/07/21/the-massive-challenges-faced-by-bipoc-black- indigenous-and-people-of-color-who-live-with-mental-health-disorders/

Ryan, J. (2011). Struggling for inclusion educational leadership in a neoliberal world.     Charlotte, NC: Information Age Pub.

Saxon S, (2019) “Study: People of colour face severe racial disparities in American          healthcare” Colorlines, retrieved from, https://www.colorlines.com/articles/study-         people-color-face-severe-racial-disparities-american-health-care

Spencer M, (2016) “The new coloured people: The mixed-race movement in America” NYU        Press

The Aspen Institute, (2005). “Structural Racism and Youth Development: Issues, Challenges,      and Implications.” Washington, D.C.

Weller E, (2019) “African Americans face systematic obstacles to getting good jobs” Centre        for American Progress, retrieved from,             https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2019/12/05/478150/africa         n-americans-face-systematic-obstacles-getting-good-jobs