The history of racism - Read more

 

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Battle of the races

In the past historians and scientists have tried to prove that there was a white race that was supreme to other races both physically and mentally. Back then it was commonly believed that there was more than one human race

Nogle historikere i det 18. og 19. århundrede forsøgte at påvise, at der fandtes en hvid race som skulle være den sorte race overlegen på det fysiske og på det mentale plan. Dengang troede man at menneskeheden var opdelt i flere racer. Ernest Renan (1823-1892) pointed out the blacks of Africa, the aboriginals of Australia and the indians of America as members of the " inferior race".

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Photographer: Jacob Holdt

The new world

When Christopher Columbus discovered the new world, he met the the indians. He was surprised that they human creatures, just like the Europeans. Back then, in the 15th century Europeans doubted that Indians had a soul, since they were lconsidered to be more animal than human.

Now the native Americans only make up a tiny part of the population of North America.

Racism at its worst

One of the worst manifestations of racist ideas took place in Germany under the command of Hitler. Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in 1889. His father was a mad drunkard who died when Hitler was 14. His teachers bescribed Hitler as hot-tempered, sellfish and lazy. He later travelled to Vienna to become a painter. In Vienna he built up a terrible hate of jews. In that period many jews had good jobs and were fairly wealthy, which really made Hitler envious. When Hitlers mothe died he went into politics, and founded "The German National Socialist Working Party" in 1920.

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Photographer: Thomas Yde

Their main ideas were:

In 1933 Hitler was elected as kansler, after which he declared himself dictator. Hitler then initiated a systematic persecution of jews. Hitler blamed the jews for the poverty and unemployment and made them into the scapegoats of society. He built concentration and extermination camps and more than 6 million jews died.

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Photographer:Jacob Holdt		 The future

It is yet unknown what how racism will develop in the future. In many countries there is a rising fear of racism, racist movements are growing and their actions are gettin increasingly violent. It is hard to do something about racism, in some countries all racist publications are illegal, but that surely won’t stop the racist way of thinking.

Prevention

There is no perfect way to fight racism, and no matter what racism will probably always exist, what we can do however, is to limit its extent as much as possible. We think that the best weapon against racism is knowledge. The best ways to fight racism is to think, learn, be open, get an education, ask questions and first of all: Get to know other people. The encounter with a stranger is not a risk of losing something, it is a chance of getting something. It is not only a chance to get to know other people and cultures, it is a chance of getting to know yourself and your own culture.

The world might never be free from racism and prejudices, but if we do our best, it will always be a bit better.

? - Questions:

What was Ernest Renan’s main theory?

What happened during World War II?

What do you think made Hitler do what he did?

What does the future look like when it comes to racism an prejudice?

What is the best way of fighting racism and prejudices?

 

¥ - Discuss:

Can you think of any other ways of fighting racism?

How could Hitler do the things that he did?

 

How racism arise | Racism around the world | The opinions of a racist person | The history of racism |