The Dichotomy of Race in American Politics

It has been socially unacceptable to talk about race relations long before there was a United States. The United States with all of her riches and dignity was founded in the roots of slavery and oppression. However, because of the inherit moral turpitude the topic of race in America has taken a back seat and remained out of the mainstream culture. The written, spoken and otherwise expressed "mantra" of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has always been countered with the subterfuge of conduct that is contrary to our community standards of justice, honesty, or good morals.

Our American ideology was taken from this dichotomy. We have always been divided into exclusive contradictory groups. It has been mended and woven into our culture.

The social, economical and political gains that black people have made has come at the high cost of human life. As we continue to progress there will undoubtedly be more sacrifices that many of us will proudly make. As Americans continue to attempt to unite the duality that separates the races, we will be faced with challenges that appear different than those of our forefathers but have the same effect on our communities.

For example, discrimination may not be overt with racial overtones but the racism that faces our generation is shrouded in a clandestine illusory promise of equality. The laws of discrimination have been erased with the Jim Crow South. First Reconstruction and then The Civil Right's Movement were era's in our nations recent history that helped to ensure that Constitution applied to all Americans regardless of race, color or ethnicity. We may no longer be faced with the black letter laws, rules or regulations of racial discrimination but the policies of its effects still exist. In order to understand the policies of racism's effects, one must understand the effects of racism. The power to divide and oppress goes far beyond legislative statutes and executive agency rules and regulations.

The effects of racism are evidenced by the disparity among whites and blacks in America in almost every level or caste of American society. While no one may contest this reality the reasons for the disparity is what divides many.