My research proposal will examine whether there will ever be an end to racism. Throughout history, racism has been a big issue. To this day, it is still a recurring problem, that no one is exactly sure how to address. There has been extensive research conducted and arguments proposed. The problem with coming up with an ending solution is that everyone has their own views based on their individual backgrounds and beliefs. I have decided to research this topic because racism has been a big part of our history for many, many years. It has continuously affected families on a daily basis, from violence, to segregation to certain opportunities decreasing. I want to research this topic because I feel that even though I don't personally believe I am racist, I acknowledge that I have been born into white privilege, causing me to obtain many more opportunities than a young black woman in my same position. I think that since we have done virtually nothing to fix our issues in our past, now would be a perfect time to initiate change. Throughout my research, I hope to shed light into the world of racism. In order to try to “answer” my question, I will read books written from both perspectives. I also believe that looking into articles and studies written by professors and/or experienced personnel might help me to get a better grasp on my topic.  

Throughout this research paper, it is revealed that it is highly difficult to end racism due to many contributing factors such as social and racial biases, background and story behind someone and the overall existence of white privilege. These factors are a reality in the lives of African Americans. This paper combines research and evidence from professors and other sources to make the case that racism will only end when we accept and address these issues.

Keywords: Biases, Context and Personal opinion, White privilege 

Will there ever be an end to racism? 

Since the beginning of modern times, racial descrimination has continued to limit the equality of African Americans from all other races across the United States. But, will there ever be an end to racism? Many have attempted to address this essential question. However, it is very difficult to go about providing a clear answer to a much asked question. The sheer difficulty in providing that answer is due to the amount of factors that are contributing to the very reason why racism exists. Some of the major factors include white privilege, descrimination, background, and innate biases. However, if we can get rid of their existence, our world as a whole will be able to rid itself of racism and we as humans will be able to unite as one.

While attempting to address the ending of racism, one could start with the ideology of white privilege. To the people who are the beneficiaries of its existence, white privilege may not mean anything. However, to African Americans, those two specific words make all the difference in opportunities made available to them. White privilege is an idea that a white person is inherently given advantages over a black person throughout their life. Fear based mechanisms such as white privilege were created in order to give white people a power over other minorities. In an interview with Professor Orlando, he talks about how over the years, the complications around white privilege have begun to change. “There has been extraordinary progress in the changing attitudes of white Americans toward Blacks and other minorities.”  (Mineo, 2018) During his interview, he touches base on how important it is that white people acknowledge that white privilege is a leading issue that needs to be addressed. Even though he mentions there has been some changing attitudes towards recognizing the existence of white privilege, in order to make a change, we must continue to hold people accountable and educate them on this topic. 

When researching the “end” to racism, it is also incredibly important to factor in the background and context of a person. During an individual's early childhood, they inherit all of their beliefs, intentions and values from their parents. Depending on the way one was raised, racism may be all they ever knew.  In order to stray away from those possible racist tendencies, one must administer themselves into another's shoes to understand their story. In the book, “A Raisin in the Sun,” Mama tells Walter, “When you start measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is” (Hansberry, 1994) Throughout the majority of the play, Mama talks about how we must overlook our differences as people and treat each other as equals. A family such as theirs’ were raised into poverty, however, on quality values. Because people such as the Younger family understand the importance of these values, they may begin to understand the hardships others around them face. In order to get a better understanding of the context of someone, it is important to be open to new ideas, perspectives and ways of thinking. 

The biggest complication when it comes to “answering” the question is the idea of personal opinion and opinion entitlement. As an American citizen, you are promised the right to your opinion and freedom of speech. However, this right makes it very difficult to get people on the same page to begin a movement. As of right now, many people still believe that black people are inferior to white people, however, it may not be just, but, it is their opinion, so they are entitled to it. This makes the idea of “ending racism” very difficult. “My overall point is that racism does exist in people, and it always will, but America and the system as a whole is not racist in any way.” (Nate, The New York Times, 2021) Nate argues that America as a whole is not racist, however, certain people may in fact have racist tendencies that get in the way while addressing the overall issue of racism. He believes that once we as a nation can get past these certain racist tendencies, we will be able to begin to overcome our problem at heart. In order to “solve” this problem, it is important to actually factor out the ideas and opinions of people.

Another highly important piece when it comes to solving the issue is to recognize biases. (social and political) In our world today, there are many biases and prejudices that are injected into the mix. Biases are an inclination shown in favor towards someone or something. When talking about racism, many biases are brought to surface, and in order to begin a movement in our ever changing world, you must begin to withdraw the biases from any arguments. Another notion that must be practiced is the willingness to envision our world through a colorblind filter, by seeing no difference between one person's skin color and the next. In order to make a much needed change, our society as a whole must recognize that these two things have a very important role. “I think it is plain to me that there is discrimination and widespread disparate treatment of communities of color and other ethnic minorities in this country.” (Carrega, The Gale in Context, 2021) When asked to define racism, Carrega says, “it is plain to me.” He goes on to talk about the amount of racism that is implemented throughout our society, how poorly we treat each other, and how big of a problem racism has come to be. However, he talks about how if we take some of those biases out of the media, begin to forget our past and think about the future, then we have a strong chance at ending racism. 

Will there ever be an end to racism? It seems that there is no automatic “answer” to this substantial and extensive question and it all depends on many important details. The existence of white privilege, context of a person, and effects from racist tendencies before our time. However it is obvious to have come to a substantial conclusion that the ending of racism starts with people like us as a whole. It starts with the ending of racial segregation, systemic racism and detaching from our racist tendencies of the past. All of these small factors contribute to making that colossal change to ending racism continuously in the future. Once we are able to put these together and agree as one, we will be able to make that much needed change for society and end racism for the better. 

Works Cited: 

Davidson, Sally. “Challenging the structures of racism.” The Gale in Context, Summer 2020,

go-gale-com.douglascountylibraries.idm.oclc.org/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T001&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=13415&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=9&docId=GALE%7CA638610926&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZLRC-MOD1&prodId=LitRC&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA638610926&searchId=R7&userGroupName=cast18629&inPS=true

Daniels, Nicole. “What Students Are Saying About Race and Racism in America.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 18 February  2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/learning/what-students-are-saying-about-race-and-racism-in-america.html.  

Carrega, Christina. “Merrick Garland draws sharp contrast with William Barr by saying 'it is plain to me' that systemic racism exists in US.” CNN, The Gale in Context, 23 February, 2021, go-gale-com.douglascountylibraries.idm.oclc.org/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=MultiTab&hitCount=1&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA652751625&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZXAY-MOD1&prodId=OVIC&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA652751625&searchId=R10&userGroupName=cast18629&inPS=true 

Hansberry, Lorraine. “The Raisin in Sun.” “A Dream Deferred”, edited by Langston Hughes, Vintage Books, 1994, pg. 145

Ionesco, Eugène. “The Hermit.” Seaver Books, 1987, pg. 33 

McDaneld, Jen. “The Revolution and the Rhetoric of Racism.” The Gale in Context, June 2013,

go-gale-com.douglascountylibraries.idm.oclc.org/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T001&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=16982&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=35&docId=GALE%7CA353997221&docType=Essay&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZLRC-MOD1&prodId=LitRC&pageNum=2&contentSet=GALE%7CA353997221&searchId=R11&userGroupName=cast18629&inPS=true

Mineo, Liz. “Orlando Patterson Explains Why America Can't Escape Its Racist Roots.” Harvard Gazette, Harvard Gazette, 19 August 2020, news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/orlando-patterson-explains-why-america-cant-escape-its-racist-roots/. 

Natividad, Ivan. “To End White Supremacy, Attack Racist Policy, Not People.” Berkeley News, 25 January 2021, news.berkeley.edu/2021/01/25/to-end-white-supremacy-attack-racist-policy-not-people/. 

Tucker, William H. “The Ideology of Racism: Misusing Science to Justify Racial Discrimination.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/ideology-racism-misusing-science-justify-racial-discrimination. 

Witte, Melissa DE. “Stanford Scholars Examine Racism, Social Change and How to Build a More Just Future.” Stanford News, 6 Feb. 2021, news.stanford.edu/2020/06/02/understanding-institutional-racism-protest-social-change/. 

Mineo, Liz. “Orlando Patterson Explains Why America Can't Escape Its Racist Roots.” Harvard Gazette, Harvard Gazette, 19 Aug. 2020, news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/orlando-patterson-explains-why-america-cant-escape-its-racist-roots/. 

news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/orlando-patterson-explains-why-america-cant-escape-its-racist-roots/

Liz Mineo, a Harvard staff writer, lets us in on an interview between the Harvard Gazette and Mr. Orlando Patterson. They investigate the recent death of George Floyd, social and political biases when addressing racism, and the overall question; will there ever be an end to racism. Patterson talks about America’s racist roots and tendencies, which leads to our unwillingness to change. This interview ends with him believing that America can exhibit progress, however, we may never be able to completely “end racism”. 

Natividad, Ivan. “To End White Supremacy, Attack Racist Policy, Not People.” Berkeley News, 25 Jan. 2021, news.berkeley.edu/2021/01/25/to-end-white-supremacy-attack-racist-policy-not-people/. 

news.berkeley.edu/2021/01/25/to-end-white-supremacy-attack-racist-policy-not-people/

Ivan Natividad, a writer from UC Berkeley, worked with a Berkeley professor, John Powell in order to break down the possibility of ending racism. He talks about how politics and how our new president (Joseph R. Biden) plans to combat and defeat white supremacy. Powell mentions that in order to combat white supremacy, it is incredibly important that everyone is involved and recognized in the process. He also says that we must all be equal and agree with one another. If this is not followed, certain individuals will acquire more power, and we will be in our original position. He also talks about the reality of being able to stop racism, and how it will be a very slow process because quick change causes a high level of anxiety and certain fears.

Tucker, William H. “The Ideology of Racism: Misusing Science to Justify Racial Discrimination.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/ideology-racism-misusing-science-justify-racial-discrimination. 

un.org/en/chronicle/article/ideology-racism-misusing-science-justify-racial-discrimination

William Tucker, a professor at Rutgers University-Camden begins to talk about the past, and lengthy ideas of how science effected or “justified” racial discrimination. One was the belief of certain biological dangers involved in racial interbreeding, causing offspring with disabilities, etc. He talks about how those scientific ideologies have affected our generations for centuries, and how if we are able to rid them of our world, we may have a better shot at ending racism. 

Witte, Melissa DE. “Stanford Scholars Examine Racism, Social Change and How to Build a More Just Future.” Stanford News, 6 Feb. 2021, news.stanford.edu/2020/06/02/understanding-institutional-racism-protest-social-change/. 

news.stanford.edu/2020/06/02/understanding-institutional-racism-protest-social-change/

Melissa Witte, a writer at Stanford, asked two phycology professors, Robb Willer and Jennifer Eberhardt, to identify social biases throughout the police, and what we can possibly do to prepare ourselves for the future without racism. Jennifer Eberhardt talks about the racial and social biases through the police, she believes that once these are identified, we may have an easier time going about the end of racism. She then talks to Robb Willer about the importance of spreading the word and awareness in order to make a change. He talks about how other professors of behavioral psychology have investigated the effects of how social movements can affect an issue. These social movements have had very positive effects in the past, so they believe that they could have the same effect to end racism.