Essays on Race and Ethnicity

“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within.” WILL DURANT, Caesar and Christ, Epilogue, p. 665 (1944). Our world faced many of different civilizations through its history. It started from Mesopotamia civilization which is the first civilization formed on…

Introduction The history of America is intertwined with a rich tapestry of expansion, interaction, and immigration. From the pre-Columbian era to the present day, the United States has witnessed remarkable transformations shaped by the movement of peoples, the clash of cultures, and the pursuit of…

On the first day of class, students could select which ethnic group that they would like to know more about. Only 4 to 5, students were able to sign up for the same group. When I was walking up to sign my name under a…

Introduction In the contemporary globalized world, there is an increasingly growing multicultural society that continues to present healthcare practitioners with challenges of providing suitable healthcare services for patients with different philosophy of healthcare, value systems, beliefs, life experiences, languages, and religions (Nalayeh, 2018). People’s health…

From the beginning of the creation to our present, people are still migrating to look for a better place for themselves and their families. Migrating people normally change, by discovering new world, new ideas, new people and an impact on people, this is called a…

I’m able to speak Spanish because my parents are from Mexico, so I feel a connection to the Spanish language and culture in Mexico. I speak the language every single day to communicate with my parents, and I’m very proud of the identity they have…

Research papers are always very stressful because there needs to be a good amount of information that are set up in a cohesive way that make sense to the reader. As college students we get papers a couple of months ahead of schedule and all…

The pre-modern Irish family was controlled mainly by the church and the ideologies circulating around the clergy, there has been a shift in roles, ideologies and morals to the now, modern Irish family, the one we see today. The Irish family is not so different…

The culture one assimilates with plays a role in just about everything. From the clothes you wear to language and kinship, whether you’re conscious of it or not culture will affect behavior. Cultures universally provide a sense of community and belongingness, but paradigms of abstract…

Throughout history, cultures have been developing more and more into what they are today. America became a melting pot for all of these cultures where they continue to grow and change. Cultural heritage is different for everyone as we all come from a different family…

Whether weaving athletically between defenders on a NBA basketball court, weaving multiple scriptures into an explosive sermon, or rapping about the vicissitudes of urban poverty and violence, the Afro-American race and it’s unique gifting is not spared from mental health challenges. Resolve, perseverance, and faith…

Being an American for me means to be free. The American Dream centers around the belief that anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, color and background are welcomed to pursue and succeed achieving their dreams. The American Dream is accomplished through diligent work. My personal American…

As Europeans moved beyond exploration and colonization in North and South America, they brought changes to almost every aspect of the land and its inhabitants, from the military to trade and hunting. The era of exploration began in the 15th century and continued until the…

“Growing up Hispanic has made me the person I am today, without a doubt. The biggest thing I’ve learned from my culture is the support of the ones that you love,” she said. Everybody has presumably experienced inconsiderateness or tormenting sooner or later in their…

To me, being an American citizen is being free. Being an American implies that you simply can make your possess choices about where you need to live, where you’d like to work, who you’d like to wed etc. It implies being brave, being pleased of…

As most people know, the USA is the best nation on the planet as a result of assorted variety, opportunity, and place where there are openings. According to our constitution James Madison was genius The Declaration of Independence is only most significant piece for me…

In a world filled to the brim with negativity and anguish, we can count on America to keep us grounded. How wonderful it is to be able to live in a country with the most culture, with the most open-mindedness and with the most diversity….

How we wear our hair has come to be seen as a way to express ourselves in a society where we must constantly try to differentiate ourselves from the masses, and identify as individuals. Hair is one of the most powerful symbols of individuality, both…

As if on the cover of a glossy magazine – an idealized image of the American family appears: a large beautiful house with many bedrooms and baths, a garden, a perfect lawn, several cars for each family member; children study in a prestigious school, laying…

Co-cultures “are groups of people who share values, customs, and norms related to mutual interests or characteristics besides their national citizenship” (Floyd 41). “Most people identify with multiple co-cultures at once” such as for their age group, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic level, language, etc….

The history of colonialism started during the formation of empires and powerful states. It had the aim of widening territories through wars and conflicts. It expanded enormously in the 15th century as Portugal and Spain started the age of discovery which involved controlling and exploiting…

Okeke sums up his categorization by pointing out the fact that man is at the lowest level of the hierarchical structure. As a result of that, for man to survive, he must do everything possible not to annoy any of spirits. In a situation whereby…

In literature, sometimes depending upon what you read will make you think about what is good literature and what is bad literature. My definition of ‘good literature’ is literature that helps you learn and understand as to what happened and why did it happen. ‘Remarks…

There is history of bias and discrimination against African Americans that is deeply rooted in colorism. Such prejudice exists both outside and within the African American/Black community. Discrimination based on skin tone within a racial group, known as colorism, is one of the many byproducts…

Michel De Montaigne’s book The Essays: A Selection is captivating and bold, especially considering the time that is was written in when hardly anyone would write about oneself due to sounding conceived with oneself, boring, biased, or uneducated. However, Montaigne’s book is neither of those…

Montaigne describes the barbarous people in his essay, `Des cannibales` as noble savages, who live in harmony with nature, share everything, lead a simple but honourable life and practice an uncorrupted religion without being tainted by Western societies. They hold two characteristic in high esteem,…

Is colorism about black people’s self–hatred or white people’s racism? Colorism began back in slavery when the lighter complexion was given more of a fair treatment than the darker complexion. To this present day, the lighter toned are portrayed as superior and viewed as the…

The effects of colorism have been bizarre. In the article “Why the Effects of Colorism Are So Damaging” by Nadra Kareem Nittle, mentions that colorism is consequence of racism, colorism is separation dependent on skin tone in which lighter skin is better than dark skin…

Colorsim is discrimination against darker-tone individuals. Where the light-skinned individuals are praised for being lighter and the darker-toned individuals are criticized. Colorism is an issue in today’s society people need to be more educated on it. The people of the society need to know what…

Rene Descartes’s, Discourse on Method, helps with the understanding of both Michel de Montaigne’s Essay, Catalina de Erauso’s autobiography, as well as Peter Paul Rubens painting, Descent from the Cross. Their ideas added to the ways in which Europe helped conceptualized the New World. Each…

Bacon’s Rebellion within the early fall of 1676, armed horsemen cantered on the Middlesex road. Tumult, riot, and rebellion had come back to Virginia. The troubles had begun aloof from the Indians and English were still in touch (as they weren’t in Middlesex), and also…

The Virginians grow tobacco, in 1617 and need labor, at first, they the Indians and African blacks had begun but was not yet the primary source of Labor in Virginia. So, to get the labor need to run their plantations, another source is the European…

“The black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness” –Marcus Garvey, (Cammock-Gayle, 2013). This is a quote from one of Marcus Garvey’s teachings that sought to give the black people a sense of pride in their blackness…

Dark Snake Killaz is a full-length narrative film about the protection from the Dakota Access Pipeline. This film investigates moves made by water defenders to stop the development of the oil pipeline and features moves made by law implementation, military, and corporate soldiers of fortune…

Mental health and illness have had a negative stigma on the African American community for decades. It is a conversation that has been ignored and looked over, but when are we going to face the real issue? Most people don’t understand the definition of mental…

Problem Statement For years now, discrimination within the criminal justice system has indubitably contributed towards the mass incarceration of African Americans. During the late 60’s President Lyndon Johnson declared a war on crime, however, this was nothing more than a discreet way target the black…

Introduction When an infrastructural project such as the Dakota Access Pipeline is going to be built on native land, the native community would heavily oppose its construction by starting a protest. The protest by the Sioux Tribe would attract a lot of attention throughout the…

Juan Flores is the author of the essay “The Structuring of Puerto Rican Identity” from his book Divided Borders: Essays on Puerto Rican Identity. In the essay, Flores examines Puerto Rican immigrants/migrants and their experience of moving from mainland Puerto Rico to an urban city…

The Syracuse University mascot used to be a very controversial topic back when the mascot was the Saltine Warrior. This racist mascot divided the community and now Otto is bringing the community one step closer to healing that divide. While the controversy and pain of…

The phrase “just pray on it” is a common saying in regards to mental health issues, disparities and emotions in the black community. Major mental disorders are often ignored due to lack of knowledge and understanding. There’s this stigma about psychological openness, and help-seeking, which…

Puerto Rico is a carribean island that became territory of the United States in 1898, after the Spanish-Cuban-American War. Puerto Ricans became United States citizens in 1917, allowing them to legally migrate to any state. An influx of Migration to the US began after the…

Matthew Rhys, who is well known for the television series “The Americans” once said, “I’ve suffered from an identity crisis my entire life. It’s why I went into acting.” This quote can relate to people in many different ways because, when you don’t know who…

The field of psychology can be supremely helpful in reducing health care disparities especially for minority individuals in America whose voices often go unheard. Findings from a 2002 medical journal stated that Spanish speaking Hispanic patients were far less likely than English speaking Hispanic patients…

Money talks. This phrase is more prevailing in the current world economy than it ever has been. It was only a matter of time before an innocent human life got a valuation placed on it and in 2017 some Americans did just that. The Dakota…

Many people often hear the word HBCU but don’t comprehend the that means behind it; an HBCU is a Historically Black College or University that was once installed earlier than 1964 with the mission of assembly the academic needs of Black Students. African American college…

Over 90% of indigenous women have experienced violence in their lifetime. 86% of those women were sexually assaulted by a non-tribal member. Although Native Americans make up a mere 1% of the total population (United States Cong. Savanna’s Act), the US Department of Justice estimates…

By the year 1970, the Chicano movement was heavily dominated by young students in high schools and colleges. González explains how they focused on problems that they experienced at their educational institutions, and how they were committed to the concept of cultural regeneration. By definition,…

I was born and raised in the still developing, air polluted, birthplace of hip hop: The Bronx. I am an Afro-Latina Queer woman and I have no shame of where I come from; despite it being rough around the edges. The Bronx is honorably raw,…

In her essay, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” (1987), Gloria Anzaldúa asserts that foreigners were treated as inferior because of their language. She does this by giving her readers insights into her own life, through the usage of imagery and description. Anzaldúa hopes that…

The Chicana Feminist Movement came to be as a result of other identity movements that emerged from the 1960s in the U.S. With the combination of their unique experiences with race, gender, sexuality, and class, the Chicana women were able to fuel their fight against…

On Wednesday November 20, 2019 I went to go visit the exhibit “LA Starts Here” located in LA Plaza de Culture y Artes. My really close friend from high school who is currently my roommate came along to visit the museum with me. She was…

The Chicano Movement of the mid-twentieth century marked an era of revolution, resistance, and re-organization as there was a far-reaching cry for equality by Chicanx individuals. People from different generations, genders, and sexualities in the Chicanx communities joined in the movement, however, their contributions have…

“Babe, can we talk,” he asked with a nervous tone. “My parents are racist,’ my caucasian boyfriend Asher blurted out, sounding defeated and helpless. My heart made a sudden jolt and then quieted down in my chest as a crippling fear wrapped a tight grip…

Imagine living in a town where you have/had been living for a long time and suddenly, someone comes to your town and tells the world that the land has been left uninhabited. Your colonizers tell you to leave your homes and claim it to be…

Everyone knows that Malaysia is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual country, and the common languages use in Malaysia are including Malay, English, and Mandarin. In Malaysia, there is also a version of English known as ‘Manglish’ which is a mixture of English with other local languages…

As of 2017, approximately four million Filipino-Americans inhabited the U.S. which does not cover one hundred million Filipinos as a whole. Many outside of the Philippines view the country with starving citizens, flooded areas, and rare health conditions with impossible cure and treatment. Sadly, we…

Cultural assimilation is a very powerful theme that many people can relate to or identify with. It is complex, composed of features that are heavily influenced by external factors (things we can’t control) such as location/geography, ethnicity, political motives, and societal pressures. It’s also affected…

The TED Talk by Nigerian journalist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi was a rather powerful talk. ‘The Danger of a Single Story mainly talks about the negative consequences of individuals having only one stereotypical viewpoint of another country or culture and based on their own perceptions, thereby attaching stereotypical identities to others. Adichi breaks down her…

In ‘How to Tame the Wild Tongue’, Gloria Anzaldua tried to grasp why society includes a negative perspective towards Chicano’s words still because of the living of Chicano at the border between Mexico and America. Starting her story, the tooth doctor said: “We’re going to…

Throughout the semester, I have been immersed in literature written by writers of different races and ethnicities. Although the plots and characters were diverse, they all searched for self-concept. Humans have an ideal perspective of their own culture identity, this often different than the identity…

The kind of society that we live in every other person, diplomat and country preaches about human rights, equality, unity and social justice among people and states but still we witness and go through numerous headlines and articles almost every day which talks about racism,…

Since May of 2020 multiple protests have stirred up due to the killing of George Floyd. The latest victim is Jacob Blake; ‘’he was shot seven times in the back by a police officer’’. Even though Blake was able to survive the shooting, he himself…

Police brutality is an ongoing issue in American society, where innocent black Americans are being targeted and killed or beaten for no reason by white police officers. Although there are many video’s of incidents online for the world to see, not many arrests are being…

The word prohibition means the action of forbidding something, especially by law. The United States tried to do this with alcohol in the 1920s. Even though the United States thought that it would help the alcohol consumption in the states at this time, it failed…

The police serve a vital part in the public arena as its defenders. The calling of a policeman is viewed as honorable as they spare lives, get crooks and worry about the task at hand. The perfect policeman does not generally relate to the real…

Ethnicity creates the world as it is today, it allows one to freely go about their life without reverting to anything sinister. Although this is true in today’s society African Americans are regrettably being dehumanized for reasons which don’t concern them. One can reason that…

Cases of police brutality against predominately African American males have been an ongoing issue within the United States for many years and is still to this day a reoccurring issue. America has an in-depth history of Black individuals being rebellious against the continuing assault within…

As Mark Smith describes in his online article “What is education?”, education signifies the wise and respectful cultivation of learning, undertaken in the belief that everyone has the right to share knowledge. Prison, as described by Wikipedia, is a “facility in which inmates are forcibly…

Let’s, first of all, define purpose. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the purpose is the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. The purpose is at the centre of who we are and what we value. The purpose is…

The documentary “13th” displays how America has merely given slavery a new coat of paint and a new fancy name, imprisonment. The 13th Amendment says that slavery shall not be permitted except as a punishment for a crime committed and Congress can enforce this law…

 Across a Hundred Mountains, Reyna Grande demonstrates how crossing to America offers immigrants a new start, a better lifestyle, and more opportunities to grow and succeed, idealizing the American Dream. This idealization of the American Dream profoundly changes family relationships in several ways: it creates…

Andre Acimen once said, “Some people have an identity. I have an alibi. I have a shadow self.” This quote accurately sums up the struggle the characters face regarding their identity and how it defines them. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is about…

Racism is an unstable factory that classifies people by their gender such as race, nationality or religion, and other classifications. Discrimination is the main factor that is derived from these factors, throughout the world, and its history it has been a major concern to the…

The way one communicates and the decisions that are made can be summarized into a single word, personality. Regardless of whether we are brought into the world with our personality or we structure it as we develop, one’s way of life, decisions, and assessment of…

Japan has a very interesting cultural background. As a healthcare professional it is important to be culturally cognitive to provide patient, and family-centered end-of-life care. These cultural differences play a large role in how the Japanese view death and their afterlife care. Some 50% of…

African American civil rights movements have elevated the style and functionality of recent protests and rights movements by defying the odds through each time period as oppositions towards African-Americans grew with the hatred towards them and actions taken to suppress them. In the dawn of…

During the 19th century, the similarities that were shared between the abolitionist movement and the women’s rights movement were; non-elite white woman’s lives were essentially maintained with work force while, black woman mainly stayed doing house work and were subjected to the same violence throughout…

Freedom motivates individuals to become creative, innovative, self-learners, and expressive. However, these individuals’ motivations become suppressed if they have no right to perform them in a group environment or in the society. Consequently, this had led the United States through the equal rights evolution and…

Was the French Revolution successful? There are many observations and different points of view from other people. For what I believe is that the French Revolution was not a success. I have many reasons why this was not a success. One of many reasons why…

Religion and culture are very closely tied together. Religion is a very large part of culture. Culture can include religion, food, music, art, and many other things. Religion can also shape art and other recreational activities that contribute to culture. Examples of this can be…