In the current society, people have several unearned advantages over others, following social class, economic background, race, gender, and ethnicity. The conferred dominance is termed as a privilege and favors a group and, at the same time, hinders another from achieving what they might desire to have in life. In the US, the aspect of privilege is rooted, and the majority of white people utilize it for their gains. However, the people of color are deprived by the lack of such honor, thus leaving them vulnerable and facing several social injustices in the system. Skin privilege is one of the main benefiting factors that white people enjoy, especially when they are corned in the same social and economic conditions in the country. However, in the case of non-whites, color is a major setback that prevents the majority from obtaining what they feel is essential to their well-being. Immigrants in the US are facing significant difficulties such as discrimination, intentional arrest, low wages, and poor neighborhoods, which hinder them from experiencing their potential and enjoying better lives.
Since I came to the US, the good life I dreamt of has become a nightmare following the systematically unearned advantage that tends to favor the whites in all aspects, including the social, economic, and political. For instance, being an African has made it challenging to secure job opportunities that match my qualification. Whenever I apply, most of the employers have been declining or offering manual jobs that are underpaying. By comparing my qualification with a number of workmates, I have the ability and qualities that should enable me to secure high-paying jobs (Cagigas, 2021). However, my white counterparts hold positions that award that better wages despite their qualification. The society I favoring them due to their skin color, while the non-whites are victims of their color. In other words, I am not privileged even though I have the right qualifications to secure job opportunities in the country.
The other common aspect I have been encountering is being ignored. When colleagues are working on a group project, in most cases, the major, who is a white male, tends to snub my contributions (Zambrana et al., 2021). The situation has made my work life pathetic and stressful. Generally, people value being noticed, and I am not exceptional. However, the societal setting has made it difficult for Africans to be recognized since they are viewed as unworthy in all facets that the whites are involved in. The restrictions are making it difficult to prosper to gain recognition for possible promotion at the workplace. In most cases, the managers reward the whites by increasing their wages as well as giving them higher ranks, especially after their involvement in different projects. While for people of color, the efforts and commitment are not appreciated, and one continues working in the same position without a substantial increment in salary. The ordeal is making African Americans uncomfortable and less confident in their workplace. It suppressed the effort to have better lives that people admire and work hard to achieve.
Generally, the workplace consists of people from different cultural backgrounds making individual beliefs differ significantly. I expected the issue of religion to be respected because, in my culture, the system allows each person to have the freedom to attend church services. However, this is contrary to what I have been experiencing currently. Employers usually insist that despite being a Christian, the job comes first, and every person must report to work on Saturday. The practice has made life more challenging because of failure to adhere to calls for firing from the job.
In the US, the African ethnic group is associated with a low economic class that makes the people disadvantaged in the country. The perception has increasingly raised the stereotyping of individuals of black origin as poor and thus able and willing to engage in illegal practices to achieve their basic needs. The aspect has made people of the color key suspect of criminal activities in the country. Therefore, it is a challenge to the group because the law enforcement units have directed much effort toward them. The majority of people belonging to the ethnicity are not feeling at home in the US; they are scared of possible police arrests and intimidations that endanger their lives (Julien & Stratton, n.d.). Black individuals do not have the capacity to roam freely in the country due to fear of police brutality that they encounter. The economic status has contributed significantly to the increasing suffering African immigrants face in society.
In social settings, people expect to have welcoming neighbors that are friendly and interactive. However, in the US, this aspect is limited and significantly influenced by skin color. Staying in a white neighborhood has several challenges, including unnecessary suspicion that can lead to police reports. Most whites perceive black people as unworthy and do not have the ability to excel in life. Several Africans have been accused of wrongdoings they never committed. Society conferred dominance to the whites that made them right in all facets. The advantage gives them the ability to practice unjust behaviors such as framing other people of color and, in most cases, the court ruling in their favor. The unfairness being experienced in the country is making Africans have difficulties living in the US.
Furthermore, the restrictions on ethnicity are making it challenging to have leisure time with individuals from the same group. Being seen together as Africans, especially in public places, might prompt immediate police interrogations. Society does not welcome and entertains the notion that people of color, too, should associate and have a fun time without causing problems. Therefore, it is an issue even to tour different places because the likelihood of being blasted is high. The level of embarrassment associated with such encounters causes depression and fear among people of color.
In general, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, and gender are critical factors that facilitate oppression in the country. The social setting rewards the whites with a number of privileges while limiting the potential of African immigrants to access and achieve the opportunities they deserve. The skin color makes Africans to be viewed as an inferior group which makes employers ignore their contribution to the workplace. They suffer job discrimination, such as low wages and lack of promotion, even if they are qualified. In addition, Africans are criticized by society following their economic background, which makes them suspects of various illegal activities. The individuals become key targets of law enforcement bodies because it is assumed they are more likely to engage in crime to meet their basic wants. Having no significant privilege is making the Africans endure hard life in the country, and as a result, an unjust system that supports the whites.
References
Cagigas, X. E. (2021). Comment on Cory, 2021: Unpacking the invisible knapsack, a necessary step toward an antiracist cultural neuropsychology. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 35(2), 221-223.
Julien, M., & Stratton, T. M. (n.d.). Are you privileged?
Zambrana, R. E., Valdez, R. B., Pittman, C. T., Bartko, T., Weber, L., & Parra‐Medina, D. (2021). Workplace stress and discrimination effects on the physical and depressive symptoms of underrepresented minority faculty. Stress and Health, 37(1), 175-185.