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In this essay, I am going to present the reality beyond the idea of multiculturalism which first developed by Martin Luther King in 60 s who was against racist movements in USA and I will try to show whether racism is over or not among todays world nations, especially in Turkey. Its a true fact that, unfortunately, multiculturalism replaced with narrow nationalism, cultural isolationism and xenophobia in recent years throughout the world as well. Obviously, when I think about racism or inequality, first America occurs to my mind. In American history Martin Luther King fights with racist movements non-violently and he achieved to held people to think about equality, not only in USA but also in throughout the world. Bell Hooks assert: King taught us to understand that if we are to have peace on earth that our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation (Hooks, p, 237). That is to say, we need to have peace on earth and we have to be beyond the idea of racism and nationalism or other groups for providing world peace.
For this reason, King tried to teach importance of multiculturalism universally. Every kind of people could enjoy our society otherwise; we could not have peace on earth. Because of his uniting notions, he decided to support multiculturalism in America. Britannica encyclopedia states that: Martin Luther King was leader of the black freedom movement who was able to turn protests into a crusade and to translate local conflicts into moral issues of nation-wide concern. Successful in awakening the black masses and galvanizing them into action, he won his greatest victories by appealing to the consciences of white Americans and thus bringing political leverage to bear on the federal government in Washington. The strategy that broke the segregation laws of the South, however, proved inadequate to solve more complex racial problems elsewhere... (Britannica, p, 337).
He struggled hard with the taboos of white Americans but at last his dream came true. Thus, black and white people became equal. As in his famous speech which held in 28. August. 1968, King says that I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character... (Britannica, p, 335).
On the other hand, after Martin Luther Kings attempts for freedom, civil rights act passed then black and white men became equal under laws. King encouraged black people to develop their world perspective before the word multiculturalism appeared. Besides, he tried to instill the idea of equality in all people. He thinks that all men on the earth created equally and they have equal rights. But, it is going opposite nowadays in USA and other parts of the world. It is true that, there is no racism in USA as much as before.
Black people can be successful in all parts of art and business. But something is wrong with black people. I mean the fight towards equality is not over yet. It clear that the great amount of American population consists of Black people and they have right to vote equally but they have still no black president. In addition to that, when we look at their films, white people and black peoples films are separated there are no black men if majority is white. In some serial films which run in Turkey, they use black people for the role of servant, thieves or liars for instance; in The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.
However, they supported cultural isolationism, nationalism and xenophobia nowadays in USA. Truly, not the only people in the USA but around the world as well. But there is a one group in USA which arise again called as The Ku Klux Klan. Britannica encyclopedia states that The Ku Klux Klan was most powerful during 1920 s when membership rose to nearly 3 million. The Klan aimed to alienate non-whites and other religious groups from the rest of American society.
The Klan was a hate group and displayed their hatred by killing thousands of people and destroying the lives of many others. They were based in South but spread their hate across America. (Britannica, p 350). Even today, the Klan exists not harmful as much as before but they try to remind old days to the black people. In her article Aylin Livaneli says that: The Ku Klux Klan reappeared. I wrote about them last week. They wanted to protest multiculturalism and equality.
Around 6000 people stopped them who were sided by love and peace. After some little arguments the group scattered by police. But this group presents the new type of the Ku Klux Klan... (Livaneli, p, 15) On the other hand, USA is not only racist but also they are fond of xenophobia. In some parts of USA like Ohio, people are still racist and xenophobia saves its presence. Doan Ulu asserts: In American media File Glertekin called as a woman with penal servitude.
She is now in Ohio State Prison and in Ohio state xenophobia and racism still save its presence. Thats why she sentenced to 8 years although she is innocent. They accused her to kill a 5 months old baby by shaken baby syndrome while she tried to remove a rubbish from her throat. (Ulu, p, 16). As you read above, people still have racist ideas in America, especially in Ohio and their views effects the judgment either. We do not know that Mrs.
Glertekin is really guilty or not but even if she is guilty I think it should happened accidentally. Because she has not got any past crime and she is a student of master degree. I mean, her past life is away from cruelty. In short, she must have accused because of her identity.
Unfortunately, those cultural isolationism and xenophobia are not disappeared in Europe as well. In Germany racism and xenophobia is still important problem in their politics. Minority people in Germany such as; Jewish, non-whites or Turks are in danger because of the Neo-Nazi groups. This racist groups attack minority people and give harm to them. A news passed in Hrriyet's main page dated 24. Nov. 92 and it says that: Neo-Nazi group bombed a Turkish family's home and all Turks died in this massacre (Hrriyet, p, 1).
As you read above, in Germany, government could not put a stop to Neo- Nazi protests or attacks. Besides, in Germany, major problem is economy because all these minority groups live in Germany for well-paid jobs. With the effects of Industrial Revolution, Germany needs many employers but its population is not enough to provide. Therefore people from other nations started to immigrate to Germany.
But when the population of immigrants started to increase, economic balance destroyed and the capital started to go outside of Germany. Thats why, Germans starts to be unemployed and they start to attack minority groups such as; Turks. Because of their economical problems they do not want minority groups in their country. In other words, it is not different in Turkey or in other European nation.
I mean, cultural isolationism still exists in all countries. In Turkey, as well as many countries, there are many different people having different cultural background as Kurdish, Armenian, Greek or Jewish. Moreover, in Turkey, biggest problem is human rights and democracy, these trends are not sufficient. Leaders are not qualified to solve the problem of PKK.
They arrested the leader of PKK, Abdullah can but they did not conclude PKK terror yet. There is a civil war in the east of Turkey. In this area people cast out. They all suffer from poverty and ignorance. And they think that government stop doing something for them because of their identity.
Being Kurd or Alaouite is a problem for Turkish citizens because of the governments assimilation policy. They try to humiliate and isolate Kurdish culture. Furthermore, Turkish government does not give permission to Kurds to use their language, schools, television channels, radio channels and their news papers as well. I do not agree with that policy of Turkish government, it is wrong.
I mean, no one can force to another to follow only one culture or language. Anatolia is the place which all ancient cultures and languages mixed up. So, in this area, there is mosaic of cultures no one can destroy this mosaic by prohibitions or protestations. Turks are used to multiculturalism in the time of Ottoman. Because in those times, government policy was to widen by giving freedom to people in its structure. By this policy, ottoman empire continues many years and they achieve to build the different variety of cultures in one area.
But in nowadays, leaders are not intelligent enough to use the tactics of Ottoman Sultans. There is a narrow nationalism in Turkey that people are not tolerant to different cultures. For this reason there occurs a civil war between Kurdish people and Turks. I think, this friction between Kurds and Turks is not resemble to black and whites in USA. Turks and Kurds live brotherly in east since many years without argument. But when Turkey starts to develop and technology increases some developed nations feared from Turkeys increasing.
So, they helped some bad intention people to start a friction between Kurds and Turks. Because of that, in east, every year many Turkish soldiers and Kurds die while serving their state. Finally, racism is a big problem and In recent years, racism turns into narrow nationalism, cultural isolationism and xenophobia throughout the world especially in USA. In addition to that these movements spread to all nations in the world such as; Turkey. Turkey lost many citizens for this stupid civil war. Therefore, in order to stop racism you must first start at the home.
Racism a type of belief that brought up through families. If a child is raised in a racist home than that child is likely to carry those beliefs with him or her and eventually on to their children. In order to stop this cycle you must start with the children. It is easier to instill your ideas on a child than to change the opinions of an adult. Then you must give it time to change as well. That is to say, racism or cultural diversity can be get rid of completely with some good intention and with sensitive citizens.
BIBLIOGRAPHY During, Simon, The Cultural Studies Reader, London: Routledge, 1993, pp. 233 - 240. Hooks, Bell, A Revolutionary, Cultural Reader, ed. Simon During, London: Routledge, 1993, pp. 233 - 240. Britannica, Livaneli, Aylin, Racism, Hrriyet, Section 3, 30 / 1099, pp. 15 Ulu, Doan, A woman with penal servitude, Hrriyet, Section 2, 11 / 04 / 99, pp. 16 Hrriyet main page news, Mln Massacre, Hrriyet, Section 1, 24 / 11 / 92, pp. 1
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Research essay sample on Multiculturalism In Martin Luther King Teaching
