Discuss Racism in America

Historically , racism has always been a major issue in the United States dating back to colonization . The Anti-Racism Media Education forum describes racism as `an underlying belief in the superiority of one race over another and its right to dominate (Anti-Racism Media Education Traditionally , racism in America has been characterized by conduct demonstrative of an inferiority assigned to Native Americans , African Americans and other immigrant groups and both their ancestors and descendants (Schultz ) The plight of the African American has given rise to a number of literary works and television documentaries . The

br attention given to the plight of the African American is a result of the long history of segregation , oppression charaterized by violence unprecedented on American soil outside of the civil war (Dray Although , racism against African Americans is by and large contained today it still exists at certain levels of society

Edgar Allen Poe adequately protrays the general racist attitude toward the African American in his short story The Gold Bug . The Gold Bug was first published in 1845 . Jupiter , the old black slave knows his place in the hierachy struture of the middle to late 1800s . Unquestionably Jupiter is the servant and Legrand is his white master . There were times when Jupiter is compelled to voice an opinion which differs from his master , but is quickly put in his place in unflattering terms . For example , in the following exchange Poe acquaints the reader with the level of racism directed at the African American of the times depicted and the acquiesnce of the African American

` "Why I mean de bug 'Tis berry hebby bug . Spose I drop him down fuss and den de limb won 't break wid just de weight ob one nigger "You infernal scoundrel " cried Legrand , apparently much relieved "what do you mean by telling me such nonsense as that ? As sure as you drop that beetle I 'll break your neck . Look here , Jupiter , do you hear me "Yes , massa , needn 't hollo at poor nigger dat style (Poe

Poe leaves the reader with the impression that the big , strong , black Jupiter is afraid of the aging weak master . The only power Legrand holds over Jupiter is his `superiority ' of race . The fact that Legrand is white gives him a power of entitlement . At the same time , the fact that Jupiter is black requires him to be submissive to the white master (Poe

Poe 's portrayal of Jupiter leaves one with the impression that he is as ignorant as he is strong . This is reflective of the racist undertones of the times . The African American was perceived as ignorant and physically strong and these attributes were accounted for by virtue of his or her race . In one incident we are to believe that Jupiter does not know his left from his right although it is clear that he knows that he is lefthanded and can deduce that the eye aligned to his left hand is his left eye he is unable to make...