Assignment: Ethnic Groups and Discrimination

ETH /125

Douglas Dunn

1/30/11
 I am a part of the Caucasian American group whom was called the English back in the 15th and 16
Century. My group came to the United States from Europe in the year of 1607 and colonized in the first
permanent North American settlement called Jamestown. I now live in North Carolina, so this research
I am finding rather interesting. I have found out several things in which I was not aware of until
researching for this paper.

We had several unsuccessful attempts to find settlements in the Newfoundland and the famous Lost
Colony. In 1607, we finally had success and found settlement in Jamestown Virginia back in 1607. It
is known that the Caucasian Americans have shown prejudice, segregation, and racism toward African
Americans throughout American history; but The Caucasian Group did not face any prejudice, racism
or segregation. The Caucasian Race did promote prejudice segregation, and racism to all subordinate
classes of race.

It is also know that the White Americans are the product of greed, religious persecution, and little
else. With that being said, over the past 500 years this group has become the most powerful and
influential group in the world. I am guessing that is due to dominance and its members are responsible
for countless instances of discrimination and prejudice.

We know that the very first slaves the come to America, arrived in Virginia back in 1619, and it
was a way of life for well over 250 years. African Americans made up the largest number of
immigrants to come to America. They were part of the Atlantic Slave Trade. According to the Utah
education Network, 1999, the first African Americans that came to Jamestown VA, were indentured
servants. The slang word “SLAVE” is shown not to be shown on the records until 1656. So, this is
about 63 years of slavery going on “off the record”. Once the tobacco planting came into play, slavery
became legalized in both Virginia and Maryland. It was not only the Africans that endured slavery, the
Native American did as well. They banned together and worked in the fields and also shared their
living quarters together. The slaves were used for workers as they had to work in the fields of sugar,
tobacco as well as pull long cold hours in the mines and serve as house servants too. That was more for
the women though.
 During 1664 and later, all slaves were Africans, putting a label on them as “black skinned”. Even to
this day, after the slavery is over, they are still labeled as blacks. Just as the light skinned are labeled
Whites. Slavery in the United States continued for decades. Although the majority of slaves were
African and Native Americans, there were a few “White” slaves as well. The whites were usually
named or called to slavery due to breaking the laws or being convicted of something. The slavery
continued until the Civil War took place. Although the slavery has ended, discrimination is still among
us. Sad isn’t it? We went to war to end one issue and still the main one lies within us all.

The African Americans had a long hard battle among them but they stood tall and fought until the
Civil Rights Act was passed back in 1964 which then made it unacceptable to discriminate on a person
due to race, color, origin, and religion in the workplace.

I am just beside myself on finding this information. I am so glad that these days are different from
long ago. I could not imagine separating race, let alone living in a world where no one was equal. No
wonder this world has the problems and issues it has today. I was not raised to be prejudice or
discriminate against others. We are all created by the same GOD and we are what we make ourselves
to be. I teach my daughter to be the same way. It does not matter the color of ones skin, or what
religion they are, we are still GODS people and we are here to work for him. Not to judge or be
discriminating is what is best for this entire planet. I am not sure if I agree with the President or the
United States on their plan of action either. We are all equal no matter what our origin is. This is not
the 16th century anymore. I feel that we need to let it go and make the future better. I know the wars
and things in the past make it hard, but really, come on. What happen to changing for the better?
Dwelling on the past is getting us nowhere I was talking to a person the other day and they are still
mad about the World War. I can see there side and their cause, but how is dwelling on the past and
keeping the bitterness going to help us all come together?
References
Civil Rights Movement. (2/17/10). Retrieved from http://danprichard.com/wiki/
African-American slavery. (7/13/10). Retrieved from
http://www.uen.org/themepark/html/liberty/slavery.html
www.innercity.org. (6/14/03). Retrieved from http://www.innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html