Premium Essay

Racial Slur

Submitted By
Words 1688
Pages 7
During my junior year from fall 2014 to spring 2015, I was a copy editor for the school newspaper. It was a relaxed environment, and everyone knows each other very well. Employees are allowed to do as they please as long as they are efficient and prompt with their work and due dates. Music, food, and profanity is allowed. One evening as I was working, a colleague of mine decided to play music for the entire office. He chose a Pandora station that did not have censored lyrics. I was nervous when a certain song by Lil Wayne played, because his songs are strife with the ‘N-word’. As the song progressed, my colleague continued to rap the word aloud with no hesitation or regard toward me being present. I did not say anything or report him to the …show more content…
I would also advise him on the proper stations that only play censored lyrics. If I noticed that the behavior did not change, I should have taken the initiative to discuss the situation with the head of the publication. Blowing the whistle would not have only benefited me. It would have been my opportunity to stand up for the African-American community as a whole. With the racial issues that the country still faces today, I am disappointed with myself for not saying anything. The word is used to demean my race and make us feel that we do not belong in this country at all. Josiah Royce writes in “Loyalty” that the definition of loyalty is the “devotion of a person to a cause,” (316). He also states, “Many people find that they have a need of loyalty. Loyalty is a good thing for them,” (317). Loyalty to a cause would have been good for me because it would have given me a supportive reason to be uncomfortable with the music. I should have been whistleblowing for the activists who fought for me to be able to attend this university. I should have blew the whistle for the minorities who were not allowed to edit for this publication. Most importantly. I would have been standing up for the African-Americans today who have been called that word while a police officer or figure of authority showed no sign of respect or regard for their lives. It was my professional responsibility to speak up for myself, and no one else’s. Since I chose to leave in the middle of the semester, the copy editing team was short a staff member. I was unemployed for a certain amount of time, and I have chosen not to use the publication as a reference. As I analyze this situation, I realize that whistleblowing would have given me more positive outcomes, than bad. I would have been able to keep the staff balanced, I would have maintained a steady income throughout the end of my

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Prejudice And Racial Slurs

...Back in the days, conflicts, prejudice and racial slurs was not only how people lived during segregation, but what they lived by. It gave a stereotype for each race, especially African Americans. Everything that happened in our history with negative views, decisions and actions influenced today’s economy, community, society and nation. The result of all the conflicts evolved from where it used to be, but the same type of styles from then is still active every day. Conflicts are an all-time thing that will always happen between others and groups as well. These conflicts are a part of life. There are many conflict’s associated with each problem, this includes intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup and intergroup. The type of conflict a y...

Words: 1106 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Vince Lombardi Research Paper

...Lombardi was born in Brooklyn New York in 1913 to an Italian Immigrant. When growing up, Vince went through a hard time and always battled continuous prejudice and excessive stereotyping as a result of his native Italian roots. Developing in New York at the time, there did not exist much racial diversity thus an Italian native living in Brooklyn in the 1920s was a big deal. During this period, ethnic backgrounds of individuals were treated the same as racial differences. Vince’s experience in handling racial segregation impacted his life. His experiences made him stand by the view that every person should be treated equally regardless of their race or ethnic backgrounds. This view in Vince’s life would be translated in his career later in life as an NFL coach at Parkers his stint as head coach running from 1959. During this time racial tensions were high in the US, this drove Lombardi’s non-tolerance for...

Words: 1162 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Black Lives Matter

...plays a big part in today’s society, however racial profiling is not always the case when it comes to where the problem lies. Although some people believe racism only targets one race, there are several others who are affect by it at well. Racial profiling plays a part in todays society and it affect everybody as a whole. People tend to respond to it without thinking it through and this creates a problem. Some believe they are born racist why others are taught it. How can us as a whole rise above the trials and tribulations that racial profiling has to offer. Do we dare to be different or do we ignore the problem? There are several ways we can think outside the box and help with this problem one individual at a time. Racism plays a big part in today’s society, however racial profiling is not always the case when it comes down to where the problem lies. Racial profiling is a problem because people feel like they are being targeted at times that they are really not, which in return put people on the defensive. People tend to automatically think that it is a race issue when in fact at times it is not. Being able to identify and separate the two are hard for some who are set in their ways and want to believe that everything that happens to them has to deal with race. People tend to live by what they were taught. If a person was raced up with racial slurs and racial profiling they tend to believe that. In fact...

Words: 737 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Racism And Discrimination In The Bean Trees By Barbara Kingsolver

...Racism and Discrimination in America According to MerriamWebster.com Racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. As for discrimination it is the prejudice or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment. If these words exist in the dictionary it is bound to exist in the real world, and it does. Millions of minorities today are treated immorally just because of the color of their skin. People treat them as if they’re trash; people who don’t deserve to be treated humanely. In the US especially, African American, Latinos, and Native Americans have been the target of these racist and discrimination. To begin, African Americans...

Words: 1511 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

To Kill A Mockingbird Should Be Banned Essay

...To Kill a Mockingbirdwas first challenged in Eden Valley, Minnesota, in nineteen seventy-seven (Banned,1). The book was challenged at Park Hill, Missouri, in a middle school for containing a bunch of racial slurs. It was challenged in Bentwood, Tennessee, middle school for also using the n-word. It was retained in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, for using the n-word. Black parents in Casa Grande, Arizona protested against the book in an elementary school district. It was banned from Lindale, Texas because the book “conflicted with the values of the community.” The book was banned from classrooms and other schools in Accomack, Virginia (Allen,1). In Accomack County, there are about 5,000 kids in their schools and about thirty-seven percent consists of blacks. Schools in Warren, Illinois, said the book To Kill a Mockingbird does “psychological damage to the positive integration process” (Banned,1). According to the Vernon Verona Sherrill, New York school district, To Kill a Mockingbird is a “filthy, trashy novel.” To Kill a Mockingbirdwas...

Words: 339 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Journal Entry

...wing of the library! Everyone was staring at him. I was too. It was just amazing. My friend Lily actually worked up enough courage to speak to him. She said he is really nice and very funny. She also said that he is majoring in Political Science just like she is. Eventually they will have some classes together. She is thrilled at the idea. At times I wonder how some people can make wrongs out of everything that happens to be right. I believe every person has the right to education! Listening to some of my friend’s negative thoughts and opinions of James enrolling in our school deeply saddens me; at times it even disgusted me. Why won’t every one believe in equality? All through the halls were ever James was, there was a jerk yelling racial slurs his way and even sending threats! It does not look like the harassment will cease anytime soon. I hope he continues to pursue what it is that he seeks! I really want to meet this guy! I would love to know his character! Maybe Lily can introduce us. Hopefully he will be on campus tomorrow. Oh, you know what, Lily did not say if he was living on campus or not....

Words: 368 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Creating a Better World

...Creating a Better World On February 17, 2015 some First Nation families in Regina complained about the racist taunts directed at their teenage hockey players. Treena Amyotte filed a grievance in January about other players hurling slurs at her 14-year old son. “One kid will say something like, ‘go back to the res’, or call them a ‘dirty Indian’ or something”, Amyotte told CBC News. Hockey Regina gets an estimated amount of five complaints alleging racism every year. (cbc.ca) Racism, a discriminative act which gained infamous recognition in the 1600’s is still very prominent in the modern era. Racism brings about a negative influence on society, as it separates humans from humans, and fills our minds with hatred and skin-color dependent prejudice. Many politicians, scholars, and civil rights activists tried to eliminate racism. A few personalities, like Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King, Jr. succeeded to reduce racism in most parts of the world. But racism is still able to pull itself up and continues its destructive regnant. (Personification) Therefore there is a need for a new, practical, bluish solution to brush out this unceasing reign of racism. Michael Jackson, famous pop-star, had a skin disease called Vitiligo; which causes his skin pigments to turn white. Hence many people thought Michael Jackson, who is genetically black, is white. (Interrupted Movement) (todayifoundout.com) What if our bodies were painted? (Rhetorical Question) If everyone’s skin color is the...

Words: 702 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Discimination in the Workplace

...found someone else more qualified for the job. You are utterly perplex as to who could’ve been better for the job than you. Then, as time goes on, you find out that it was a young white man who has less experience than you. As a matter of fact, the only thing he had over you was the color of his skin. This was a made up story but, to many people in this country, it is a real horror. This is only one of the many examples of instances where people are withheld a standing in jobs due to their racial background. Racial discrimination in the workplace is a real issue and it must end. Allow me to show you various different events in which racial discrimination took part and ruined lives. Allow me to tell you of a young African American man who used to work in a factory. The man’s name was Wayne A. Elliott and he worked in a factory that made military air plane parts. While he was working there he would constantly be harassed by his white co-workers. They would do things like call him racial slurs, send him “back-to-Africa” tickets, and even go as far as to draw hangman’s noose in his office, as seen on paragraph three in “Racism in the workplace, by Aaron Bernstein (Aaron Bernstein). These are all things that made Wayne feel like he was trapped and helpless. He also felt really scared. So much so that he tried to rally the other African Americans that work there to come against the oppression of their white co-workers. This just made the harassment worse and in the end, it lead to...

Words: 1929 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

History

...Racial Equality in a modern society Racial Equality Brian Dugas University of Phoenix In the decades previous to the nineteen fifties, African Americans were the subject of more discrimination than any other race or religion in all aspects of being treated both as a person, and a race. These people were up until almost the mid 1900’s as slaves, even though slavery was abolished long before, even in the mid 1900’s, African Americans were still considered “second class citizens”, not seen as equals in the eyes of others. It was during the 1950’s that African Americans, and other racial authorative groups collaborated to change their status in society. This challenge of fighting against discrimination and for racial equality among racial groups became one of the most important times in United States history; it was the beginning of what we know as the Civil Rights Movement. The fight for racial equality started long before the 1950’s, in the early 1900’s, the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) was created by Booker T. Washington, and Webb Du Bios, Mr. Washington was actually an ex-slave. As the NAACP grew in numbers and support, the NAACP also published its own newspaper, showing progress, and enticing people to come forward to support for their rights. One of its first victories was the laws of segregation in housing, and also the right of African Americans to jury duty. The NAACP helped in establishing other groups...

Words: 1858 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

A Raisin in the Sun

...the segregation of schools in May of 1954. The desegregation of schools has helped people of all races grow up together in a non-hostile environment where they can develop relationships with people of other races. Throughout the play A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry criticizes the racial and discriminatory climate of America in the 1950s and early 60s. It becomes obvious to the reader that the racial tension Hansberry experienced growing up reflected on the way her literature is written. Moss and Wilson state that, “Lorraine Hansberry’s South Side childhood, particularly her father’s battle to move into a white neighborhood, provided the background for the events in the play” (314). Hansberry experienced many of the situations she placed the Younger family at first hand. Hansberry’s father, Carl Hansberry, was put in a similar circumstance when he moved his family into a predominately white community at the opposition of the white neighbors. He eventually won a civil rights case on discrimination. Speaking of the United States, Adler states, “A Raisin in the Sun is a moving drama about securing one’s dignity within a system that discriminates against, even enslaves, its racial minorities” (824). Lena Younger, known as Mama, is in her...

Words: 1083 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

George Zimmerman Trial

...State of Florida v. George Zimmerman Abstract Our group chose to do the highly debatable case regarding George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin. Based on the various parts from group members, it would seem we have both sides of the case so there will be discussion from either point of view. Our paper is not going to sway the reader in either direction, but simply state the facts for each side and give an overview of the case from our perspective. Introduction Within the last year, our country has seen one of the most high-profile murder cases unfold. This case is none other than the State of Florida v. George Zimmerman, for the charges of second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin. It took the State roughly two weeks to file an affidavit that stated Zimmerman profiled and confronted Trayvon Martin then shot and killed him when Martin was doing nothing wrong (Colby, Hamacher, & Emmanuel, 2012). This case became a highly political case as well as a racially invoked case. There are always two sides to every case and with that being said, this case could be pulled very far in either direction based on any given individual’s beliefs. George Zimmerman entered a not guilty plea with “stand your ground” as his defense for the charges filed against him. This case did go to trial where 10 jurors, 6 main and 4 alternatives; all female. Background Information George Zimmerman was involved with his local neighborhood watch program. He frequently walked with his dog while doing his...

Words: 2828 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

My Opinion, Henrietta Lacks' Response and Dr.Kings Dream

...Dr. King once said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Dr. King had a vision that one day everyone could be seen as equal and that they would only be judged by their character. He knew that during his time, African Americans were at a disadvantage compared to the whites. The African Americans had fewer rights, and Dr. King sought to change that fact and help for the equality of all. While obtaining freedom and rights have been achieved in Dr. King’s dream, everyone being seen as equal or being judged by the content of a person’s character has not fully been fulfilled. I believe that Henrietta lacks would have responded to Dr. King’s speech with joy and acceptance. First off, Henrietta lacks was born in Roanoke, Virginia, on August 1, 1920 and had 9 other siblings. Henrietta was raised by her grandfather after her mother died. Henrietta attended school, but she stopped in the sixth grade. While walking to school she passed the white school where children threw rocks and taunted her. Later on, Henrietta married David and moved north. She was also soon diagnosed with cervical cancer and was treated as a research experiment. Scientists took her cells without her permission and discovered that her cancer cells didn’t die. Though they made much success, they gave her no credit because she was black. Henrietta would have loved a time where she wasn’t...

Words: 636 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Dr. Kenneth B Clark

...The psychologist I have chosen to write about is Dr. Kenneth B Clark. Kenneth Bancroft Clark was an American psychologist and an educator. Clark was the first African American to be a full teneured professor at the city college of New York where he taught from 1942 through 1975, and to be a member of the New York State board of regents. Kenneth B Clark was the author of a 1950’s report done on racial discrimination that was cited in the 1954 U.S. supreme court decision Brown V Board of education of Topeka, Kans. An early leader in the civil rights movement he founded the North side Center For Child Development and Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Clarks work includes, Prejudice And Your Child and Dark Ghetto, just to name a couple. I believe Kenneth Clark made some very important discoveries for the world of psychology. Clark got into the minds of African American children and let the world see how they thought, how they felt, and what they believed from growing up in a caucasion dominated society. One of Clark’s most well known tests was on a group of African American children. The test was called the “Doll Test”. What Clark did was he took a caucasion baby doll and a African American baby doll and put them side by side, then he asked a series of questions to each individual child one at a time. Some of the questions asked by Clark were questions like, which doll is prettier, which doll is smarter, and which doll would you rather have and why?. The results of...

Words: 606 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

African Americans and Their Fight for Equality

...with others and their perceptions on segregation, discrimination and isolation. According to Lawson (2010), racial segregation was a system derived from the efforts of white Americans to keep African Americans in subordinate status by denying them equal access to public facilities and ensuring that blacks lived apart from whites. During the era of slavery, most African Americans resided in the South in mainly rural areas. Though we have faced many problems bigger than segregation, discrimination and isolation, there was an even bigger problem, which was slavery. Slavery is where a person could own another person, which back then was normal for those who resided in the South. Slaves did most of the work where they lived and most of them worked in mines or on plantations, while some became servants. Some people thought slavery was wrong, where as some thought that it was acceptable. The majority of slaves worked as plantation slaves in the production of cotton, sugar, tobacco and rice. From the beginnings of slavery British North America around 1619, when a Dutch ship brought 20 enslaved Africans to the Virginia Colony at Jamestown, nearly 240 years passed until the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution officially ended slavery. There were so many things that African-Americans did to end segregation. Segregation is the practice of keeping ethnic, racial, religious, or gender groups separate,...

Words: 1459 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Snapshot B

...Group Snapshot B Fill the boxes with the appropriate information. The boxes will extend as you enter data. If you need more space, use another page. Remember, this is about the groups' history and development in the USA. Student's Name |LaRhonda Jones | | | Project |My Ethnic Group and Discrimination | Ethnic Group Chosen |Black | 1.) Reason (s) for choosing that group |The reason why I chose this group because black was in the past was discriminated against. | | | | | ORIGINS 2.) How the group came to be a part of the US |Date(s) of Immigration Wave,| Reason(s) ...

Words: 711 - Pages: 3