Racism, The Stigma of Human Civilization

Racism, a stigma of Human Civilization even in 2020.

What is Racism?

Racism is a act of prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed against someone of a different race. It gives people fear, doubt, shame and sometimes guilt. Racism gives people an awful perspective of life.

Context

The killing of African American George Floyd in the police custody after so many years, when the four police men were alleged of beating Rodney King to death in the Los Angeles, raises the question of institutional Racism in America.

The incident once again brought concerns over the law- enforcement's bias against the African American minority, with Floyd's death being cited as the most recent incident of the Racially-driven police brutality.

Floyd, a Minnesota resident, was arrested on Monday. Because he was accused of using a fake $20 note at a shop. Police said, Floyd physically resisted at the time of arresting. But the allegation proved to be wrong by mobile phone footage of several passers-by. In a video available in the social media we can clearly see that Floyd was repeatedly saying "I can't Breath". But the white policeman constantly kneeled on him till he got unconscious. His unconscious body then taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"I cant breath", that was Floyd's last sentence, while he was been restrained by the police men. If we do comparison between the incident and the death of Eric Garner in 2014, Garner, an unarmed African American man, had uttered the same words 11 times as he was held in a choke hold by a police officer in New York City of United Sates before he died.

Racial Violence in America

Starting from 2016, Philando Castile was shot seven times at close range during a traffic stop. The police officer was acquitted of all charges in 2017. Another incident of 2016, 37 year old Alton Sterling was selling CDs outside a convenience store. He was pinned to the ground and shot by the Police.

A Study in the American journal of public health from 2018, showed that the mortality rate by police for the Black men is 1.9-2.4 per 1 lakh and for the white men it is 0.6-0.7.

A Washington post database showed that an African American were likely to be killed 2.5 times more than a white by the police.

Protests at Present Time

After George Floyd's death toll rises in protests across the country. As of now at least Five people have died, numerous have injured and millions of dollars property is vandalized. "I can't Breath" last sentence of Floyd, is made the slogan among the Protesters.

At least 140 cities are reverberating from the clash. several police personnel and civilians are injured. Many people were arrested and fires. Vandalism and looting of property, building and establishment was done in a long run.

Civil Rights Movement

It was a mass protest movement against racial segregation and discrimination in the southern United states. That came into national prominence in the mid 1950's.

This movement was to resist racial oppression and to abolish Slavery. At the end of this movement they were granted basic civil rights through the passage of Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments of the US constitution.

Possible Way Forward

Those incidents stated above clearly put a question mark on the basic civil rights given to the Black. We are standing in the 20th Century and witnessing these type of overt racism. We are going to the Moon, Mars. We are trying to establish connection with Allien but unfortunately after so long of Human Civilization we are unable to abolish the forms of racism.

In case of India, whether you are talking about the Hindu Sadhus, mob lynched to death at Palghar or you can talk about Tavrez Ansari. Ultimately Humanity is so vulnerable in today's reality.

We have to think about this... We are educating ourselves literally but we have to be humane first. Because humanity comes before religion, Caste, race and so on. Gandhi said "Eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind" . And it is the bitter truth of our society we are going towards it. Ultimately I want to request everyone, whoever is reading this blog, kindly try to be humane to everyone despite of what religion, caste, race they are belonging to... Because its better not to be late.