William H. Kelly III
Associate Editor
Police killings of African-Americans, the Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter debate, the mass shooting that occurred in South Carolina at the Emanuel African-American Episcopal church on June 17 and other events and people have all contributed to racial polarization in the United States.
Racial polarization is the process whereby a population, the individuals of which have varying degrees of diversity in their ancestry, is divided into separate and distinct (from each other) racial groups.
Julian Venable, a junior biology/pre-medicine major from Jackson, Miss., believes that these incidents and issues are just signs of modern-day racism that need to end.
“I feel like it’s just judging a book by its cover. You feel intimidated by somebody because of their race but you don’t even know them,” said Venable. “You just assume they gone do something before they actually do it.”
Jasmine Jackson, a junior political science major from Little Rock, Ark., believes that African-American history is often neglected by its own people and society as a whole and may be a contributor to racial polarization.
“In order to talk about race without offending people is to discuss it as a concept that was created by man. We cannot be offended by something we created that is now embedded in us and our everyday lives. As a society we are divided into two groups as it pertains to racial tension. These two groups are those who are oblivious to the racial tension or those who are extremely concerned and effected by the tension,” said Jackson.
Jackson also weighed in on the Black Lives vs. All Lives Matter movement and stated black lives are just the current priority.
“As humans, we all know that everyone’s life is precious. However, it is not everyone who is being targeted. As of now, black lives are being taken; therefore, the Black Lives Matter movement is very relevant. As we, the African-American community, unite to assess and plan to alleviate the issues of our community, we will begin to understand that black on black crime must cease,” said Jackson.
While many believe that the focus should be on black lives matter, there are some who feel that all lives should be accounted for.
“I think all lives matter and I think black lives have been a really big controversy but I think all lives should matter versus just one. Crime isn’t only happening in the black world; it’s happening in other races but they don’t bring it to light as much,” said Alexandra Astorga, a junior biology major from Covina, Calif.
Donald Trump, a republican presidential candidate for the 2016 elections, has emerged as a polarizing figure in the area of politics with his perspectives and comments on various issues like immigration.
“All minority groups will be affected if Donald Trump is elected. Our interests and issues will be ignored,” said Jackson.
Deonte Roberts, a junior biology/pre-medicine major from New York, feels that Trump can’t provide what the people need.
“He’s on a business level, he’s not thinking about a caring level. If you want to think about African-Americans that’s more of a caring situation, which means there will be no care, it’ll be all business,” said Roberts.
Will America come together to overcome these polarizing events and people, or will the downward spiral of race relations continue? Only time will tell.
The following MC301 Students contributed information used in this story written by William H. Kelly III: Sierra Carrington, Ramon Davis, Oneshia Jones, Tenia McBride and Tyvarrus Lindsey.
