Examples Of Racism In American History

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Racism has deep roots in American history. Slavery, segregation, and unnecessary police charges are just a few examples of racism. But, why does racism exist? Many people believe that their race and ethnicity is superior than others, and that those who are “different” are inferior. Those who are considered, “inferior,” have to be treated differently, which results in unfairness and discrimination. This specific belief was transformed into something so cruel and intense that it even lasted for centuries, slavery.
“Slavery began in 1619, when a Dutch ship brought 20 African slaves ashore in the British colony of Jamestown, Virginia.” (History.com Site 1 Paragraph 2) Throughout time, slavery became a huge part of trade businesses, and a huge part of history. Many rich farmers who owned plantations relied on their personal slaves to do the job, and if they did not, then they would be whipped multiple times, so they would be “motivated” to get the job done. They would also be starved, because the amount of work they had to do compared to their meals was not proportional. The cruelty of slavery would last a little over two centuries, where it would end on November 19, 1863, because of Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. The Gettysburg Address abolished slavery in most states, but discrimination would still have an effect on history, and would recur in the late 1900s.
One prime example of racism was during the 1960s, when segregation and protests were considered “normal”