Racial And Gender Discrimination example essay topic

Racial and Gender Discrimination There are many types of discrimination, but two main types that hurt most are racial and gender. Discrimination is an unfair difference in treatment of people based on their race, gender, religion or disability. Being discriminated against is very hurtful, as Sojourner Truth expresses how she feels about discrimination against her because of her gender in 'Ain't I a Woman?' She speaks about wanting to have the same rights as men. And, the film on The Runaway by Terry Kay shows racial discrimination against the black people in the town.

In fact, some people tend to discriminate against others for no apparent reason, so such victims go through a struggle to show that they are equal in race and gender. Being discriminated against because of her gender, Sojourner Truth 'claims her identity as a woman and as equal to men'. She gives a speech that will show many people that men and women could be equal. Truth makes it clear to everyone that though she is also a woman, 'nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place" Most people make it difficult for women like Truth, to live a normal life. Even through their struggles, they tend to achieve more than what such people think they would.

Truth escapes from slavery and later becomes a famous speaker. But, 'Although she never learned to write on paper, the words of her speeches often wrote on her listeners's ouls', Truth learns to inspire people within. She wants people to feel her emotions from her speeches. That is why she feels that we are 'all God's children' and she insists that "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!" Truth's argument makes both sexes equal in all ways, and even gives women more power. Even though gender discrimination hurts, Truth has triumphed over it and has become a model. Racial discrimination is also very common and hurts very much.

During slavery era, white people had black people as slaves in their own household. Black people would have to satisfy their white masters. If the white people were not satisfied, they would try to hurt the black people somehow. In the film, The Runaway by Terry Kay, Sonny and his family struggle to live in their town.

His sisters, Ramona and Cicely, are both raped by a white man, Mr. Davis, who has killed their father and still uses them as housemaids. When Cicely tells her mother about what has happened, they decide not to tell anyone because they are afraid someone in her family is going to get killed. Finally, someone has the nerve to kill Mr. Davis, the white man who has killed and raped both sisters. That person is the wife of the killer / rapist, while everyone thinks it is Sonny, Ramona's and Cicely's brother. Sonny is acquitted of all charges through the help of his friend, Luke, a white boy. After all, justice is done, the killer of their father and the rapist of the sisters is finally dead.

Everyone's fear of living is gone. Even though, they have struggled to get to this point in their life, it is worth it, because with the help of the defense attorney, the Sheriff and Luke, they have put behind them racial discrimination. Racial and gender discrimination are just two of many types of discrimination. These people, Truth, Sonny and his family have put up with this discrimination but have spoken their minds to everyone to notice it happening.

Truth, Sonny and his family have shown to everyone that they are all equal no matter what race or gender they are.

Bibliography

The Runaway by Terry Kay. Director Arthur Allan Seidel man. Performers Dean Cain and Maya Angelou. Videocassette. Hallmark Hall of Fame Special Presentation. Truth, Sojourner. 'Ain't I a Woman?' The Presence of Others. 3rd ed. Ed. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J Ruszkiewicz. New York: Bedford, 2000.345-349.