PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

Despite what many people would like to believe, prejudice and discrimination are alive and well in American society. In the name of prejudice and discrimination, there are still some people who are insulted and barred from joining certain groups. There are still some people who are prevented from grabbing educational opportunities, or from advancing in their careers and receiving fair pay for their work. There are still some people who are physically attacked and whose homes and places of worship are vandalized or desecrated, all in the name of prejudice and discrimination.

Prejudice and discrimination almost always come together, but they mean different things. Dictionary.com defines prejudice as ”an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason” or ”unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding a racial, religious, or national group.” Discrimination, on the other hand, is ”treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.”

Prejudice and discrimination are concepts both learned during the childhood years. Even if a child has parents or guardians who do not show prejudice or discrimination towards other people, not every person who lives within the child’s environment is the same. A child will be quick to notice that some elders and authority figures tend to refrain from associating with certain groups or certain types of people. Because the person observed is an authority figure, the child will learn to believe that such behavior is acceptable unless it is immediately corrected.

Prejudice and discrimination are archaic concepts that no longer have any place in society because they are harmful and they violate a person’s right to live and work with respect and dignity. This most especially applies to a society that is as diverse as the American society.