THE EXISTENCE OF RACISM IN MIGRATION

December 16, 2020

Migration is a process where people move from one place to another; it may be temporary or permanent. It is a global phenomenon that is caused mostly by the economic aspect. A promise of a “better life” makes it more intriguing to everyone. There are many positive effects of migration. It allows a lot of people to have higher incomes, better jobs, etc. But it cannot be denied that there are also negative sides to this which affect the person’s life and society. One of the biggest problems of migration is racism. It has been around since the 1400s but still relevant even up to this generation. The beautiful façade of migration hides the cruel reality the immigrants have experienced.

The existence of racism started in the 15th century between black and white people during the slavery colonization. It makes sense now why this issue is still relevant today because the root that causes the problem are the people who are judging one's ethnicity. Based on the report of Charlie Moore on April 19, 2016, Europe's migration crisis led to a sharp increase in extremist and racist attacks in Austria. The increasing rate of migration also increases the ethnic and racial diversity of societies. It makes every country faced difficulties by adapting people of different races, language, cultures, etc.

Furthermore, racial discrimination will never end if supremacism continues to exist. A report on April 15, 2017, by Katherine Culliton-Gonzales, stated that national headlines, social media posts, and local news segments have been dominated by reports of racist slogans and the terrorism of white supremacy. The march of white supremacists in Charlottesville that turned violent was "to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump" according to the former KKK grand wizard David Duke. Trump has proposed slashing legal immigration in ways that would cut off access to citizenship for generations of majority black and brown immigrants.

Lastly, immigrants especially women faced barriers in the workforce. Not paying minimum wage, unjust terminations, sexual harassment, etc. are the challenges that the immigrants have experienced in the workplace. According to the testimony of Luis Zavala, a 45-year-old construction worker in Louisiana, he and the two dozen others in his crew had gathered in the small town of Kenner where they were about to be given unpaid wages owned by their boss. Instead, to put an end to a bitter dispute, they were surrounded by armed police and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was cuffed and laid out on the ground. Then Zavala stated "They came very aggressively, with their guns pointed. They threw me on the floor. They put their foot on my back. It was very terrifying"

There is no doubt that migration profoundly changed the world. From its economic state down to its social factors. It has brought a lot of positive impacts, but everyone should also acknowledge the harsh reality the immigrants have encountered. Migration has contributed to polarization in different countries. Due to the rise of racism, immigrants will continue to be categorized as to where they should belong. Hence, racism is still a relentless issue that destroys every person’s human rights. Racism will never end if the root of the problem, the people, will never accept each other’s differences.