America is a divided nation

Gabriela Redondo/Contributing Writer

Has our nation always been divided?

The simple answer is yes. Since the beginning of American history, it has always been better to be white than the other. White people with power have had to reconstruct the definition of whiteness over time to remain in control. This ideology of whiteness was made up to be used as a tool to reserve power. Hence, this has shaped the society and culture we live in today.

We have been fed to believe that racism is dead, hatred no longer exists and that we are all equal under this nation. However, I find this painful to accept. How can one accept this to be the absolute truth when there are white nationalists terrorizing minority groups.

From the moment Donald Trump was elected president there has been a  dramatic rise in incidents of racist and xenophobic harassment across the country. There is no doubt that white supremacists feel remarkably comfortable living in Trump’s America advocating hate and fear.

A video even surfaced on the Internet of white nationalists saluting the President Elect, “Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!” during an annual conference at the National Policy Institute.

According to The Atlantic, Richard B. Spencer, who has popularized the term “alt-right” to describe the movement he leads, said during the conference that “America was until this past generation, a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity.”

“It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us,” Spencer said.

America was not built for the freedom of all and has been defined by its dark, gruesome past. From the genocide of Native Americans to the enslavement of African Americans this so called “great nation” was built on hatred, racism and bigotry.

After 238 years, these ideologies are still deeply rooted in our society and are manifesting themselves every day.

 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Image retrieved from Flickr.

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