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Nicole Simmos
Ms .Snhnier
Intro to English Comp 011
28th September 2014
Racism
Racism is a major issue today, because to many people are unaware of the severity of this
ongoing problem. It exists in the educational department, the workplace and in the criminal
justice system. Racism is a vastly growing issue today it effects all parts of the world. Racism is
a prejudicial belief in the superiority of ones own race. (Websters Dictionary)
When it comes to racism and our educational department we see discrimination in
funding, achievement and discipline. Twenty eight states in America with high minority receive
less funding per pupil. One of the highest for example is Illinois which receives a reasonable
1,223 less per student. (CQ Researcher) our achievement for African American students falls
short due to the of lack teachers and administrators who meet license and certificate
requirements, such requirements can lower the academic performance for the African Americans
leaving them with a greater chance of not completing school and dropping out. One on ten drop
outs in the U.S. face incarceration. (McNamara, Robert, and Keith Bell) African Americans are
also disciplined at an increasingly higher rate than any other ethnic group. Hispanic students are
suspended and expelled, but it is almost proportioned to their population where, as Asian and
whites are disciplined far less. African Americans have to worry far more about marks on their
school records. Studies show that minorities with a history of suspensions or expulsions are at a
greater risk to have future problems with the law, what Civil Rights refer to as school-to-prison
pipeline. 16% of adolescents are black youths, yet 38% are incarcerated in youth prisons. Other
research indicates that the zero tolerance policies, which is a policy put in place for teachers and
administrators to crack down on even minor non-violent misbehaviors. Although some states
such as Texas have taken this policy to extremes and left many African American students to

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Nicole Simmos
Ms .Snhnier
Intro to English Comp 011
28th September 2014
leave school with misdemeanor criminal records for things such as disrupting the class or
swearing. (Web site)
Racism effects the workplace as well, although there have been many laws passed to prevent this
from happening it continues to be a concern. There are different types of discrimination in the
workplace you have racial discrimination (skin tone and background), gender discrimination and
age discrimination. Racial discrimination is happening more than ever before it can occur during
the interview and even after employment is obtained. Racism in the school district vastly effects
the employment opportunities for African Americans, hence the lack of education leads to lower
earning and income. Often times when ethnic minorities are able to gain employment they tend
to be the lowest paying jobs. Labor statistic show that African Americans have the highest
unemployment levels. Women of color tend to see a large amount of discrimination in the
workplace, it has been said that women of color have more children, responsibilities and usually
are single mothers. Therefore they are only able to gain part time employment built around such
things as daycare and their childs schooling. Jobs that can be flexible with this are low paying
and lack job security. (Higginbotham, Elizabeth, and Margret L. Anderson)
Then we have the criminal justice center which is tangled with racial discrimination and
racial profiling. Two of the most talked about examples of this are the Michal Brown and
Trayvon Martin cases. Michael Brown was only eighteen at the time of his unnecessary death, he
had just graduated high school eight days before the shooting and had plans to attend college
starting August 11th two days after his death. Brown was referred by his friend and teachers as
being a gentle giant. Brown was fatally gunned down by Darren Wilson a white police officer.
Michael Brown was a victim of racial profiling he was an unarmed teen that was shoot six times,

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Nicole Simmos
Ms .Snhnier
Intro to English Comp 011
28th September 2014
while having his hands up in the air surrendering to the officer. This type of discrimination has to
end. From 03 to 09 blacks and Hispanics make up more than half the people killed at the
hands of law enforcement. (McNamara, Robert, and Keith Bell) In addition we have laws like
the Stand Your Ground laws that give civilians the right to use deadly force if they feel they
are in harms way. This law was used to acquit George Zimmerman a neighborhood watch
volunteer of second degree murder and of manslaughter in July of 2013. Zimmerman wrongfully
profiled seventeen year old Treyvon Martin strictly due to him being black and wearing a hoodie.
Zimmerman began his pursue the young teen and called 911. He was told to stop the pursuit, but
he refused to follow direction. This which could have been prevented ultimately resulted in the
unnecessary death of an unarmed teen. African Americans are also discriminated against when it
comes to fair trials, reasonable bail and capital punishment. African Americans are at a
disadvantage, due to poverty they are usually only able to be represented be public defenders in
which 1,000 public defenders handle nearly 6million cases a year, so the percent of being
represented by them and being incarcerated is very high. Not to mention capital punishment
according to the Death Penalty Information Center as of 2011 42% of those on death row, and
35% executed since 1976 were African Americans. These numbers are outrageous.
When is started this report I wanted to bring awareness to others about this ongoing
problem. I in return have brought a great awareness to myself as well. I am truly shocked at the
numbers and statistic that I found, racism is very much still alive today and we need to stop
trying to conceal it and face the issue head on. Otherwise young African Americans are going to
either lose their lives literally or be lost in the criminal system for life.