inquiry 9

Intro

This inquiry is about racism. We found this topic interesting Because racism has been going of for a long time and why it has been going on for so long. We have decided to find a solution to stop racism. This was not easy, but after consulting and overviewing our pmi table we found that the best solutions are 1. to educate people to make more awareness by news and having kids interact in activities and 2. To make laws that enforce racial equality.

What is Racism

Hi

Racism is a race discriminating against another race. It happens everywhere, noticeable or not.

A race is the category we put people in. This decision is based on skin color, hair type, eye shape and facial form.

You can be doing this without you even realizing or you can be doing it deliberately. Some people think racism is violent but it doesn't have to be. It can be name calling or excluding people because of their culture or skin color.

You are also racist if you discriminate against people because of their religion and beliefs.

An American Doctor of the name Satra Browne came to New Zealand, thinking that she was escaping most of the racism. But she was mistaken.

The dictionary definition of the word ‘racism’ is: “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.”

There are 4 different types of racism. Internalized racism lies within individuals, interpersonal racism occurs between individuals. institutional racism is occurs within institutions and systems of power and structural racism is is racial bias among institutions and across society. All of these impact people. Internalized racism is within an individual and is made up of our beliefs about racism. It can be prejudice towards a different race or a negative belief towards someone. Interpersonal racism is between people. It’s when you interact with other people's racial beliefs and it affects their public interactions.

Institutional racism occurs between systems and industries. It is about biased policies and institutions (school,workplaces…). People in the institution use its power when supporting racism. Structural racism is when people inside institutions and society are racist.

What is being done about racism?

At the moment there are protests like the black lives matter movement, education that creates awareness and other things that go against racism. On the 14 of June 2020 thousands of New Zealanders joined the Black Lives Matter movement in Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin. Teachers and small groups come into school to educate kids about racism and discrimination. The US government says “ Combating systemic racism requires aggressive action to address structures, policies, and practices that contribute to the wealth gap, to health disparities, and to inequalities in educational access, outcomes, and beyond.”. 6 They are trying a few different approaches. The government is advancing in racial equality. Right off the bat Joe Biden ordered the federal government to keep at a comprehensive approach advancing equity.

How has racism changed over time?

racism has been around for a very long time when it really started to become a huge problem when people were taken in as slaves in 1669s. This went on for a long time. It was not good for the enslaved people that had to persevere through awful things that very few people have to do today. Slavery started in 1776 in America and ended in 1865 so that means racism in America lasted for 89 years. So the first way it changed is it started of as a very bad thing that killed people and made many people do what they don't want to do

Why is there racism?

Quite a lot of what we do and say comes from when we are young and you will copy what other people did when you were young and you would think that it is ok because other people are doing it so if their parents or some they know is being racist then they will copy them. Not just that is is also who you hang out with so if you hang out with friends that are racist and do bad things you are more likely to do it yourself even if your friends are not peer pressuring you⁵. Because of this as long as there is only 1 racist person they can tell everyone to do it and if you trust him you will think he knows what he is talking about so at least some people will follow. These days we often put a label on people. Oh they where that they are rich oh they have a ripped bag they must be poor and even if you're not trying you will still probably do it. We blame what happened to us or what we did. So if they are going through something tough at home they might take their anger out on someone and that can lead for them to say they don't mean but other people don't know they are going through something that can lead to people saying or doing something they might not mean. So there is racism because there are always going to be people that 1 don't like people of other races and people are going to be growing up with those people there for influencing them as well. We might reduce racism but there will always be little tiny things that will always affect those people of other races.

The effects of racism?

Racism is not just a few people discriminating against others, intentionally or not. Systemic racism is also part of our society. It is embedded in the laws and education making it hard to combat it. A study showed that people of colour have less chance of getting a job, earn less money, have a higher death rate at birth and more. It also showed that black people are 7x more likely to be suspended and 4x more likely to be arrested even if they do the same thing as a white person would. While applying for a job, if you have a black sounding last name you have less chance of being called before the other people even if you have the same degrees and knowledge as the other person. Statistically if you have a white and black person in the same job the black person will get paid about 25% less income just for being black. Black people don't get it fair because of systemic racism in our DNA.

In the 17th and 18th century they made a theory that black people are inferior. Even tho racism is over the people and things that fueled it are still here and are still fueling racism

Racism has been firmly established as an important determinant of health and an underlying cause of ethnic health inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. 1 out of 3 racism is an organised system of oppression involving the social construction and valuing of racial/ethnic groups based on ideologies of superiority⁴ being racist can really affect people meataly and lead to addiction problems to try to get away from it so they might take drugs. Even if you just say something small that you might not think is bad it could really mentaly affect the people or person you are doing it to

there are the small effects that can affect people like just saying a joke and they could that the very serious and this could keep building up then it becomes a big thing or it could start as a big thing like attacks and real violence

What can be done about racism in NZ?

We all have human rights, including being treated fai

Since COVID-19 there has been a steady rise in racism against Chinese and Asians. But you can help flatten the curve by 1. Not making racist comments. Racism is fueled by hatred words. 2. Try not to spread misinformation since rumors and false information can sometimes spread rapidly overpowering the truth. 3. Not making racist comments and not spreading false information is very important. But some people won't follow these helpful steps to stop racism. This is why we need people standing up for the community of people receiving racist comments. When appropriate, interfere to try to stop the bullying or harassment.

What we

can do.

We have found 3 possible solutions to our problem. One is educating people. This can be through little groups that present at schools to bring the point across or in the news. The goal is to create more awareness about racism and the effects it has on people.

The second solution we came up with is to create laws that enforce racial equality. This means that people of color get the same pay as a white people (in the same job) and more.

Our final solution is more for individuals. A small thing can make a big difference. Avoiding being racist and stepping forward when it does occur.

1st solution, educating people

Our 1st solution is to educate people. Doing this will tell the people you are educating why it is bad in general then you could narrow it down to what it can do, what it does do. To inform people of this we are not going to have a big old boring assembly you could have games of kahoot or you could make some kind or game about it just so they don't just walk into a assembly they don’t want to go to then sit there for a hour listening to something they will forget as soon as they step out of the assembly. You want to make them have a good time with it so they go “oh yeah this really is a big problem”. Or just make it so that being racist is just not cool and make it normal to not be racist.

the 2nd solution is to have laws that enforce racial equality even more.

So this is our 2nd solution and it is to enforce laws even more to make it you can go to court for being racist

The 3rd solution making sure to react responsible when

encountering racism

This means if it happens to you try not to make a big deal of it and just go tell someone.

Thesis

We found that the best solution is to inform and educate people as well as making laws that enforce racial equality. While making students sit in an assembly might not be as effective, having it on the news will create more awareness and doing fun things in class like doing kahoots on racism. We didn't choose our third option because it's based on everyone working together. While the majority might help out there will always be people or doing the right thing.