Race: Stephen Colbert

RACE 

America as a whole has come a long way since the times of slavery. But since slaves were freed, racism has continued to be a prevailing issue. Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. Even though racism and discrimination were set in place many years ago, even till this day no one has found a cure for this disease. In the hysterical Political Satire, I Am American (And So Can You), the author Stephen Colbert addresses the issue of racism in society through exaggeration and sarcasm, but issues a need for Americans to change. 

The question, where did racism come from? is a question that has been asked many times by any people, but has a wide variety of interpretations. According to Colbert, before the Civil war skin color was not an issue. But following slaves being free, the use of the word "slave" did not fit anymore. As a result,” ...former slaves started calling themselves “Black” or “Negro” or “colored” (171). In short, the color of one’s skin began to matter. Then came the issue of segregation were everything was split between blacks and whites. "White people had their drinking fountains, and Black people had their drinking fountains. White people had their schools, and Black people had their drinking fountains"(172). Presenting the origins of racism in this way at first glance may seem funny, but what Colbert is saying is true. Before the slaves were free, a slave was just a slave. But when African Americans were no longer slaves they began calling them by the color of their skin. And because of this distinction of color that paved the way for racism. Based on the course of history and what Colbert is saying, the idea of how racism came about can only be depicted in one way, irrational. It simply does not make any sense why this ideology came about or why it is continued to be practiced today. By presenting this point it makes one not only see society in a different way but want to change it. No one wants to follow ideas that do not make any sense, just because they have been around for a long time. And that is the outcome that Colbert wanted. He wants people not to just see color when they look at someone else but see another fellow human simple as color divide us. This goes into the next claim made by the author. The problem in America is not necessarily racism, but race.

In continuation of the origins of racism Colbert discusses the root of this problem, which is race. Without race there would be no racism is an argument that is presented. But this then raises the question, how do you erase race? Luckily this question is answered for us in the book. “NEWS FLASH: I don’t see race. THIS JUST IN: I used to see race” (172). We as humans made the decision to value race which has been linked to a series of problems. If we decide not to see race that would eliminate race along with racism. If we made race important, we can also make race non-existent. The outcome of how society turns out to be lies in the hands of the individuals that are living in it. Colbert is telling the audience that we have the power to do whatever we want. If we want to change things it is not impossible.