March 10, 2016
Empathy Towards Inequality
In the United States, racism has been a problem since slaves have been brought there. Everyone in the United States is to be free, and have certain rights, such as, Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Not everyone in the United States was granted that freedom. African Americans were considered property, and laws were made to keep African Americans from gaining citizenship and protection. In 1863, slavery was abolished and African Americans achieved equal legal treatment in the 1960s, from the Civil Rights Movement. Even though people have tried to make sure there was equality for everyone, racism was still a big problem in the United States. The United States is becoming more empathetic, but certain groups of people are still being treated differently.
The United States is becoming more empathetic about racism because people are changing their language when they say certain things. People used to call African Americans “Negros,” but society has changed and even “the Army officially end the practice… personnel to be addressed as ‘Negro’” (Hall). Even technology is changing the way they address this “Census stop listing it as an option” (Hall). Some African Americans say “it was wrong for me to use it” (Francis). Empathy is being shown because people are willingly changing their speech in order to not offend anyone.
The United States is also becoming more empathetic to racism because there have been new opportunities for African Americans. People realized they should not segregate the schools when they saw that “school for Negroes could not provide them equal educational opportunities” (Warren 141). Schools realized it would be best if schools integrated so they did not “deprive them of some of the benefits” (Warren 142). Even schools in the south have given African Americans opportunities in school dances “if everyone could go… officials finally accepted the offer” (“Mississippi Prom”). Empathy is being...