Racism as Interpreted by Harrison S.

Racism is defined as a belief that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement usually involving the idea that one's race is superior and has the right to rule others. In my mind, racism is any comment, action, or thought that degrades another person based on their race. Racism was very prominent in our society in the days of slavery and also through the early to mid years of the 1900s. Racism still occurs in today's world, however, it is now considered socially unacceptable, whereas it was accepted by whites in the 1950s. Many public figures can be punished, lose their jobs and reputations for racial slurs that may have originally been intended as jokes. Take for example talk show host, Don Imus, who in 2007 described the Rutgers women's basketball team as a bunch of "rough... nappy headed h*s." Despite efforts to kill racism in today's society, people like Imus keep it alive through their racial slurs and other actions.