Racism and Prejudice Essay

Camara Harells excerpt, The Meaning and Impact of Racism, addresses the distinct difference amid prepossession and racism. Many people have a misconception of what racism is, and repeatedly enforce the two give voices interchangeably. Harell has provided a framework that explains the true definitions, and in addition explains what it takes to be labeled, by definition, a racist.People generally confuse the meanings of prejudice and racism, and do not fully understand how to use each word in the proper manner. However, there is a huge difference in what each word means. Social psychologist, James Jones, describes prejudice as a negative attitude toward a person or conference establish upon a social comparison process in which the individuals own crowd is taken as the positive point of summons (Jones, 1991). Prejudice is having preconceived judgment and an irrational hostility towards a group without having fair reasoning or adequate knowledge it is a fancy and opinion, and no t necessarily an action upon that individual or group. Harell argues that it is inappropriate to use the terms racism and prejudice synonymously (1999). Racism is defined as using a force of power against an inferior racial group with the aid of an entire culture (Harell, 1999). It is neither an idea or notion, just rather the power and act upon suppressing a racial group.Harell and Jones provide informative, expert reasoning that differentiates prejudice and racism. The main difference being that prejudice is broadly a thought and opinion, while racism is a verb and is the act of subjugating a group.Works CitedHarell, Camara. (1999). The Meaning and Impact of Racism. Manichean Psychology Racism and the Minds of African Descent, pages 1-14. Jones, James. (1991). Racism A Cultural Analysis of the Problem. In Black Psychology, 3d ed., ed. R. Jones, 609-36. Berkeley Cobb and Henry.