Tang Huoyly, Sreng Serey Roath, Chhorson Viraksedth 8B

Should Political power be used to implement a new system

that is more equitable for racial minorities?

- What Happens When Prejudice and Power Combine in a

Racist System?

It is widely recognized that racism has come to be an everyday occurrence. Every

day, an endless amount of individuals face harassment, threats, and abuse simply
because of their skin color, ethnicity, or religion. Discrimination towards these
people is not in one area it is a global issue that affects the whole world. Many
may understand that racism is just negative thoughts or actions directed at others,
it is much deeper. It happens when these biased attitudes are combined with the
power to discriminate, oppress, or restrict the rights of certain groups. Racism
occurs when negative attitudes are mixed with the power to mistreat certain
groups, holding them back, and limiting their rights. Not only does racism cause
inequalities in our society but it also causes the limits of creativity of the mind.
This experience can and will become dangerous to a growing child as they have
not developed a fully adapted knowledge of our everyday society. When prejudice
and power join forces, they create a system that keeps inequality going. This
makes racism a big and ongoing challenge in the fight for fairness and justice.

- What is racism?
Racism is the belief that humans can be divided into various distinct and unique
biological groups referred to as 'races'. A causal link exists between the genes
people inherit and their traits and personality, intellect, morality, and other cultural,
and behavioral features; some races are superior to others. Racism played a
central role in North American slavery and the colonization efforts of Western
Europeans, especially in the 18th century. Since the late 20th century the notion of
biological race has been recognized as a cultural invention, completely
unsupported by science. Most humans in the community have said that racism is
wrong, and society has shifted away from racism.

- How does racism affect us people today?

Racism can have a devastating effect on the lives of those targeted. They can
suffer physically and mentally, in addition to impacts on their working lives,
finances, and social connectedness all due to discrimination.

Racism doesn't just affect the person who experiences it firsthand, but it also
affects their family and the community at large. The negative impacts of racism
cause emotional distress, limit access to opportunities, and leave a continuing
cycle of trauma that spans generations. Racism divides communities, creates
tension, and worsens inequality.

- What are the effects of racism on health and mental

health?

Effects of racism on an individual:

• Emotional :
- Damagement on mental health; Distress, PTSD, insomnia depression,
anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, etc.
- Humiliates the individual identity and dignity
- Changes in behavior and routine to the worse
- Suicide
• Physical:
- Injuries and their effects which may lead to ill physical and mental stability
- Loss of damages to property
- Premature death
• Financial
- Medical cost
- Fixing property loss, damage, or repair.
- Avoiding public transport, paving extra for alternatives
- Change of employment or housing.
- Illegal denial of Social Security
- Leaving the country
• Social Life
- Medical cost
- Fixing property loss, damage, or repair.
- Avoiding public transport, paving extra for alternatives
- Change of employment or housing.
 - Illegal denial of Social Security
- Leaving the country
- What are the causes of Racial discrimination?
Racism is not just limited to individual attitudes and behaviors; it also
encompasses systemic oppression, where a particular racial group is
systematically disadvantaged in terms of social, economic, and political
opportunities. This article aims to delve into ten fundamental causes of racism,
particularly focusing on the systemic and individual factors contributing to racism
against Black people.

Cause 1: Greed and self-interest

European investors relied on enslaved individuals for centuries to cultivate

tobacco, sugar, and cotton. Economic motives, rather than solely animosity, drove
this practice. Many experts argue that racist beliefs were intentionally fostered to
maintain self-interest and maximize profits.

Cause 2: Scientific racism

While many say ignorance sparks racism, some of history's most intelligent minds
were behind racist ideas. Near the end of the 18th century, science replaced
religion and superstition as the main source of knowledge because it relied on
evidence and experimentation, leading to more reliable explanations. In the way
scientists started categorizing animals and plants, they also began categorizing
humans.
Scientific racism only grew stronger as the years went by. The Nazis relied heavily
on classifications, eugenics, and other racist junk science when justifying their
genocide. While no longer held in high regard, scientific racism continues to this day
thanks to groups like the Pioneer, which supports publication writing about races having
different levels of intelligence.

Cause 3: Discriminatory policies

It is important to remember that policies that discriminate based on race only

serve to support and reinforce racist beliefs. They send a message to society that
certain individuals do not deserve the same treatment and opportunities as others
simply because of their race. Discrimination has harmful effects regardless of any
justifications used. For example, consider the housing laws in the United States.
For decades, rules prevented black people from owning houses in certain
neighborhoods, leading them to reside in lower-quality houses and limiting their
ability to accumulate wealth.

Cause 4: Representation in media

The media depicts people of different races in books, TV, movies, and music, it
also shapes how we think about race. Rather than just reflecting cultural attitudes,
it actively shapes our culture and can spread negative ideas about race to young
people and those who are new to the culture. For instance, in a discussion in 2022
about how the media influences views on racism, it was pointed out that new
immigrants often see Black people in negative media roles, such as criminals or
abuse victims, which can make them feel scared or uneasy around Black people.

The impact of racism in media isn't always intentional, but it can have harmful
effects. The media needs to be more mindful of these portrayals and work
towards promoting positive and inclusive perspectives on race.

- What makes the Whites think they have “power” over the
blacks? ( From the personal perspective of the Tr. Dean Paterson )
In around 1850, the Europeans arrived in South Africa to expand their land,
compete with other European empires, and gain control of routes to India. As they
settled in, they discovered that African land was best for farming and decided to
take control of the country. At this moment, Africans were being enslaved to work
on farms, making their lives incredibly difficult. The South Africans opposed the
idea of European leadership, leading to a war. The South Africans were defeated
due to the advanced technology of the Europeans. In response, the Africans
engaged in a "Political war", using intellectual means to fight back. The
Europeans, shocked by their loss, began to exhibit racism.

- Is there a possible way to end racism altogether? Will the

world be better without it?
There is always a possible way to improve the world, but that also depends
on how other people feel. It is not easy when people think differently, Most people
claim to hate racism, but if they aren’t able to identify what it is, it will inevitably
continue to thrive. People are even shamed for speaking up and told that by
“changing the definition of racism,” they’re stripping the word “racism” of its
meaning
We can end it by:
 - Acknowledge racism in all its forms
- Overturn racist and discriminatory laws
- Commit to anti-racism

And of course, the world will be better without racism, as we can have some
type of peace. But we can't be accurate about that, as people have a different
mindset of thinking

- What is racism like in the U.S.A.?

The United States signed the International Convention on Eliminating All Forms
of Racial Discrimination. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration
noted that the United States “has not always measured up to its constitutional
heritage of equality for all” but was “on the march” to compliance. The United
States finally agreed to the convention in 1994 and first reported on its progress in
performance at the convention to the committee on the elimination of racial bias in
2000. In August 2022, the Committee will review the U.S. 10th to 12th periodic
reports on ICERD compliance. This report adds key information and
recommendations to help the government meet its ICERD obligations
better.“Racial Discrimination in the United States”

- What is the difference between racism in Cambodia and

the U.S.A?
The Committee is concerned about the situation of ethnic Vietnamese, Khmer
Krom, and indigenous peoples in Cambodia, and recommends that the State make
efforts to raise awareness of issues of racism and racial discrimination. It also
highlighted reports of intimidation and attacks against human rights defenders,
including, those who have sought to exercise their rights to their communal lands.
The United States has not always lived up to its constitutional promise of equality
for all, but it is steadily progressing toward achieving that goal.

- Our perspective:
From our perspective, racism is a serious problem that needs to be considered as
a problem to be solved around the world. My teammates and I found a way to
solve it, and it would be beneficial for it to be put around the world. Racism in
Cambodia I didn't expect much since we love tourism and see foreigners, but
some are mainly racist to Vietnamese.
 -Sources:
- No Author “What is racism” -(17/08/24) trustworthy

➕ https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/what-racism
“What is racism” trustworthy

➕Britannica “ritannica.com/question/What-is-racism” -(22/08/24)

- No Author “Effects of Racism” trustworthy

➕“https://inar.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Effects-of-Racism-final.pdf”
-(22/08/24)

➕“10 root causes of racism”

https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/root-causes-of-racism/

(25/08/24) trustworthy

➕“How can we stop racism”

https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/how-can-we-stop-racism/
(1/09/24) Trustworthy

➕ https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/08/08/
HRW has been accused of bias because it is said to be “credulous of civilians
witnesses in places Giza and Afghanistan” but skeptical of anyone in uniform

(1/09/24) trustworthy

- No Author “What is racism” (1/09/24)

OHCHR which is the Office of the High Commissions does not Guarantee the
accuracy or reliability of the information.

➕https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/12/un-committee-elimination-ra
cial-discrimination-publishes-findings-cambodia