Ethnic Discrimination
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For centuries we have believed that the white Americans have been born and raised in this country, however, this is false. According to Richard Schaefer Race and Ethical Groups (2006), Todays population is entirely the product of people who chose to leave familiar places and come to a new country. The only true Americans that did not have to immigrate are the Native Americans. Most of the white population today originally came from Europe, Poland, and various other countries.
The white Americans have immigrated to the United States for centuries, mostly due to financial failure and expectations of a better life with higher wages. Having a better life was not the only reason, dislike, bigotry, and the wish of reuniting a family was also part of the reason for seeking a new life in this new country. While many followed their ears to what they had heard to make them come to this new world, about 1 in 5 chose to follow their heart and return to their home land (Richard Schaefer, 2006).
For centuries white Americans have been involved in many acts of discrimination against nearly every ethnic and racial group. The white Americans brought over African Americans from Africa and later enslaved and segregated them. The whites also tortured, raped, killed, and stole from the Native Americans. If this was not bad enough, our white race also introduced the Native Americans to disease they had never known before. In the years to follow it has not gotten better, we have not learned from our ancestors mistakes.
Whites have participated in Institutional discrimination, even thought we may not consciously think we are, we are depriving others. While we think we are making the right decisions by eliminating individuals with felony records and drug charges from applying and obtaining employment, we are actually committing institutional discrimination because it disproportionally reduces employment for those of color.
Because white Americans are the majority in this country they are the cause of the duel labor market. In this country our races is set in their ways and believe that we should have all the high paying jobs, and all the insurance benefits, while others in minority groups have to work menial jobs. The minorities are left with the menial jobs that informal economics are criticizing for promoting highly unfair and dangerous work conditions.
Redlining seems to be alive and well despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As whites we are unhappy with change and because of this we make it very hard for other races and ethnic groups to buy homes in our neighborhoods or join clubs. Redlining occurs in most social clubs, even though it is known to be discrimination. Most social clubs have limitations forbidding memberships to minorities, Jews, and women. (Richard Schaefer, 2006). With Supreme Court rulings, this is no longer allowed; however, there are some memberships and restrictive