Though these harms are clearly insidious, they merely attack the physical being. An end of life would in some respects end the suffering. However, to live and continue the suffering is far worse. Though unable to measure clearly, social scientists and college professors concur that the psychological harms from any kind of racial incidents (hate crimes or otherwise) are more severe. Charles R. Lawrence, Professor of Law notes that:
Psychic injury is no less an injury than being struck in the face, and it often is far more severe Racial epithets and harassment often cause deep emotional scarring, and feelings of anxiety and fear that pervade every aspect of a victim s life. Many victims of hate propaganda have experienced physiological and emotional symptoms ranging from rapid pulse rate and difficulty in breather, to nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and suicide. (Lawrence 462).
Both the physical and psychological harms of racial incidents, upon further review, are quite disheartening. The effects may either subside immediately or permeate for weeks, perhaps years depending on both the severity of the infraction and on the victim.
This psychosocial disease named racism must be stopped. Though the causes of racism may seem perplexing to diagnose, the treatment however, is worse yet. Because of insecurities of the racist, he is more apt to adhere to his biases without regard to reason. Racists either overt but especially covert must be willing at some point to stop racism. To promote diversity, colleges fortunately employ some sort of hate codes and law ordinances intended to detract racial incidents. Counseling, peer pressure (discussion) for the victims is in order for recovery. These actions force people to question racism through measures that promote rationalism. However, much of racism clicks before reason kicks in. In two separate studies conducted by Stanford and Yale, they measured brain activity as individuals were exposed to headshots of either whites or blacks. These two universities tested student volunteers and specific portions of the brain, the amygdala and the FFA. Both areas of the brain showed significant activity, before part of the brain that controls reason activates, to show individuals classify and typify each other without reason. Students had similar reaction towards their own race and strongly against the others, regardless of whether or not they were consciously racist. This would be the other significant problem in treating racism: convincing a subconscious racist. The best methods can only be of the type that promotes awareness. (News)
In summation, individuals that attack based on race, attack their victims integrity of their self-concept. Race is an important factor to an individual s identity. The recurring influences that fuel the racist machine include fear, hatred, and ignorance. Racists fear the unknown and therefore do anything, hatred and ignorance to hate speech and hate crime, to distance themselves from those whom they are biased against. In doing so, they classify their victims and force them into a social mode that constrains and immorally typifies the victims simply for their racial heritage and not their achievements and talent. To express this objectification and subordination, racists exercise both physical and vocal means of expression (hate speech and hate crime). These harms have catastrophic results upon the physical and mental health of the oppressed that consequently remain nearly intact for a long time. The only way to treat such a festering problem like racism demands not only action, but awareness and willingness for change as well. Lastly, I end with a quotation from Thomas Jefferson: The greatest honor of man is doing good to his fellow man, not in destroying them [sic].
Works Cited
Delgado, Richard, Jean N. Linsley, and Jean Stefancic. Must we Defend Nazis?. 1997.
Ehrlich, Howard J. The Social Psychology of Prejudice. New York: Wiley, 1973.
Internet. Various sites and resources.
Lawrence, Charles R.. Duke Law Journal. June 1990.
Lott, Bernice. The Social Psychology of Interpersonal Discrimination. New York: Guilford, 1995.
News at 11pm. KRON, San Francisco. 23 Nov. 2000.
Ponterotto, Joseph G., and Paul B. Pedersen. Preventing Prejudice. London: Sage, 1993.
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