An American Dilemma Summary
Niebhur’s fundamental argument regarding racism is that is one that does not stem from economic instability or unrest. Niebuhr claims that the issue of racism derives from the intrinsic human qualities of pride, stubbornness, and power (Niebuhr 29A). Arguments to back any claim that racism is economically rooted is refuted and Niebuhr insists that Gunnar Myrdal, who wrote An American Dilemma, which claims that the rising economic gap between socioeconomic factions augments the racial friction between them (Niebuhr 29A). Niebhur goes on to counter this by stating that our current ability to coexistence as a people is met with economic stagnancy and rising racial conflict, so it is illogical to conclude that while our economic standings are stagnant, the latter will be rising
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After addressing this fallacy, Niebuhr explains that it is one of deeper concern; the issue of racism cannot be fixed by making it an economically even playing field for all races in the country (Niebuhr 29A). Solidifying his argument, Niebuhr tells us that we are merely creatures; we must engage religious empathy and logical enlightenment across cultures to finally banish racism from its roots. On the same hand as Niebuhr, my personal argument claims that racism is not solely economically reliant, but rather, influenced, and mostly dependent on assimilation and traditional beliefs. Throughout the civil Rights movement in the 1950’s, blacks were faced with immense amounts of de facto racism (racism not condoned by law) and this caused them to moved out of the south and into more urban and developed areas in both the south and north; however, the sheer amount of migration “led to significant increases in…segregation” (Tushnet 1). Despite this, man’s intrinsic sense of self-worship and entitlement does not end there. Consider Roosevelt signing Executive Order 9066 in February of 1942, which was “the mass forced removal of
After addressing this fallacy, Niebuhr explains that it is one of deeper concern; the issue of racism cannot be fixed by making it an economically even playing field for all races in the country (Niebuhr 29A). Solidifying his argument, Niebuhr tells us that we are merely creatures; we must engage religious empathy and logical enlightenment across cultures to finally banish racism from its roots. On the same hand as Niebuhr, my personal argument claims that racism is not solely economically reliant, but rather, influenced, and mostly dependent on assimilation and traditional beliefs. Throughout the civil Rights movement in the 1950’s, blacks were faced with immense amounts of de facto racism (racism not condoned by law) and this caused them to moved out of the south and into more urban and developed areas in both the south and north; however, the sheer amount of migration “led to significant increases in…segregation” (Tushnet 1). Despite this, man’s intrinsic sense of self-worship and entitlement does not end there. Consider Roosevelt signing Executive Order 9066 in February of 1942, which was “the mass forced removal of