How Extensive is Racism in Public Schools?
In the progressively liberal, mostly White community of Eugene, Oregon, a study found that racism exists and may be on the increase. The report stressed the frequency of racial jokes and slurs, derogatory racial stereotyping and (less often) violent acts left unpunished by school authorities. Augustine Garcia notes that our inner cities and areas of high density immigration (California, Florida) are experiencing the intimidation and irrational violence of Neo-Nazi skinheads and racial gangs. Children from dysfunctional families are particularly susceptible to peer pressure to adopt a racist posture. It is not just the condescension and violence exhibited toward minorities that must be taken into account when looking at incidents of racism. Restrictions on minorities’ opportunity to succeed are often racially determined. For example, Asian-Americans incur resentment for academic excellence and “overachieving.” If racism is explicit at the street level of society, it is often implicit an
