Long way to go to end racism

By Jay Kim

Everyone probably knows that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was the hero who led the emancipation of American slaves. President Lincoln’s struggle for emancipation was truly heroic. In January 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect, and in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery, was passed.

However, southern plantation owners would not easily give up slaves whom they had exploited for so long. The Civil War broke out, and it killed nearly 600,000 people, most of whom were white. Due to the emancipation, President Lincoln was re-elected with overwhelming support, but he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. only 45 days into his second term by John Wilkes Booth, an actor from the South.

Though a steep price was paid for emancipation, Americans praised it as a just and brave decision. Lincoln’s emancipation of slaves was extolled throughout the world. Later, heroes of black Americans like Martin Luther King emerged to fight with their lives against the social inequality that black people suffered in the U.S.

Even after King was assassinated at the hands of white people, the great message of his “I Have a Dream” speech continued to spread, and the status of black people steadily improved in the U.S. The U.S. Congress passed numerous bills to prevent discrimination against black Americans, as well as other minorities, including Asian Americans.

As racial discrimination gradually disappeared, more black Americans have entered colleges by taking advantage of admission preference programs, and after graduation, many black American were able to enter many high offices of the government. A black judge was appointed in the Supreme Court, and many black people, such as former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, rose to brilliant heights. It is also true that much effort was made to improve the socio-economic status of black people by providing various assistance programs for their businesses.

However, psychological resistance against preferential policies for black people upset some white people, some of whom believed they were put at a disadvantage because of the preference given to black people. There was a significant backlash from white people, especially those who thought they were the target of reverse discrimination.

Furthermore, while the whole nation welcomed the election of a black president when President Obama won overwhelmingly, it is also true that the anxiety of some white Americans who oppose the progress of history was worsening as they watched the continued expansion of equal rights for black people.

There are as many kinds of discrimination in this world as there are kinds of people. Among them, religious discrimination and racial discrimination would be the most serious problems. Even now, it is happening around the world that people are killed for religious differences. It would not be easy as well to get rid of social prejudice against black people, no matter how strict the laws might be, because racial discrimination is so entrenched.

These days, the Korean media has been reporting the incidents of police shooting black people in an implicitly critical tone, using words like “Rage of Ferguson” and “A white officer, within two seconds [of arriving] at the site, shot and killed a black boy holding a toy gun.” An overwhelming number media reports and newspaper articles are questioning how such incidents could happen in the U.S., a nation always calling for human rights.

Whenever I read a news article about the U.S., it gives me an impression that the U.S. is a frightening place where one might be shot and killed anytime. But according to a poll in the past, almost 100 percent of black Americans answered that they liked their country and were proud to be Americans. Asked in which country they would prefer to live in, most chose the U.S., and none chose an Asian country. Despite the apparent racial conflict, the U.S. is still the homeland to which black Americans feel attached.

Although Europe has a reputation for being a good place to live, a white policeman shot a young black man to death in London in August 2011. Looting and arson followed across the country, leading to much larger riots than those in Ferguson. Then or now, white people wanted and still want police power to be expanded to make it even stronger, with their prejudice that automatically associates black people with criminals.

According to a 2012 report from the U.S. Department of Justice, the number of criminal incidents committed involving black teenagers was higher than the number involving white teenagers: six times higher in homicide, 10 times higher in theft, and three times higher in rape and violence.

Unfortunately, whenever they read a report like this, people form negative opinions about black people, and this social prejudice incites further crimes involving black people. Thus the vicious cycle continues.

Still, racial discrimination has decreased remarkably since I first came to the U.S. I am certain that the racial problems in the U.S. will improve gradually over time with a united effort from the government and the people. We Korean Americans should be much more sympathetic to racial discrimination against blacks. After all, without Dr. King, Asian Americans would not be able to enjoy special minority programs.

Jay Kim is a former U.S. congressman. He is chairman of the Kim Chang Joon U.S.-Korea Foundation. For more information, visit Kim's website at