Defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce and inherent superiority of a particular race. Racism has been around as long as the concept of race itself. In Europe, the ideas of anti-Semitism were incredibly present and the Jewish people were used as scapegoats during major historical events, such as the Bubonic Plague. In modern day America, racism has been around ever since Christopher Columbus stepped foot on the continent and incorrectly identified the Native Americans as “Indians.” He stole these native people from their land and took them back to Spain as a token of his explorations, but this is only the beginning of …show more content…
With at least 12.5 million slaves, it became a huge part of the American economy. Slaves were expensive and accessible to many, but they were crucial to success for the people who would own them. Slaves were well worth their cost, surviving in horrible conditions, able to work long hours in the sun due to their melanin, and they could feed themselves with the food that they grew. At this point in history, America was almost entirely reliant on trade and support from other countries, but, with slavery, they were able to grow their own food, trade it, and build up their own economy. The African Americans who suffered so much are largely the reason why America is so economically successful today. There is no way to change the past and sometimes it should not be changed. The Great Migration, the Indian Removal Act, and slavery are all a large part in America’s success today. The only way America can make up for the past is by acknowledging the wrongdoings committed by its ancestors and by supporting the minorities that may struggle to this