Inequality In America

Some may say that the United States is a country of opportunity. Many say this because the European migrants came to the United States in order to escape from oppression. However, opportunity is when all the citizens of a country get the chance to live equally in society and are treated fairly under the law, regardless of race or gender. However, the “Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson, and “The Myth of Latin Woman” by Judith Cofer show the sexism that has existed in the United States. “The Telltale Heart: Apology, Reparation, and Redress” by Charles Lawrence and Mari Matsuda presents the injustices that the federal government has committed towards specific groups of people. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, “The Library Card” by Richard Wright, and “We May be Brothers” by Chief Seattle show the racism that has been prevalent in American society. These issues may have started decades ago, but they still exist in today’s society. Racism, sexism, and injustices committed by the federal government prove that the United States is no longer the land of opportunity. Racism restricts opportunity in a country because it prevents a group of people from getting fair treatment. For example, Seattle says in his essay that when most Native Americans die, they will become a “myth among white men” (Seattle 394). This shows that Native Americans were not cared for in society once the Europeans moved to America. They clearly were not treated equally because they were neglected, which is why they would become a “myth.” Not only were Native Americans lacking opportunity, but blacks were too. When referring to a library, Wright said “negroes were not allowed to patronize its shelves” (Wright 399). Blacks were not given an opportunity in society to educate themselves, and therefore were treated unfairly under the law. Racism directed towards blacks is also presented in King’s speech. He says that they “cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one” (King 458). This demonstrates how blacks were not treated fairly by the law because they had no chance to escape poverty. They had a lack of opportunity in society simply because of the color of their skin. Although discrimination started a long time ago, it is still around today. For example, police brutality against minorities proves racism continues to exist. Racism in the United States shows how America is no longer the land of opportunity. Sexism prevents women from being treated equally in society. The sexist views of the founding fathers are reflected in the Declaration of Independence. For example, it says “all men are created equal” (Jefferson 449). This shows that sexism has existed in American society right at the nation’s birth. Jefferson did not say that men and women are created equal. Another example of sexism in the Declaration of Independence is when it says “governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” (Jefferson 449). Therefore, Jefferson believed that women should be excluded from government, since government gets its power from men and men only. Furthermore, this shows that when Declaration of Independence was signed by America’s Founders, the United States was not the land of opportunity because women were looked down upon and were excluded. Although the Declaration of Independence is not a legal document, it reflects the sexist views of America’s Founders. Cofer’s essay illustrates sexism in the United States towards Latin women. She said that white employers would talk to Latinas “as if sexual innuendo was all they understood, and worse, often gave them the choice of submitting to their advances or being fired” (Cofer 414). Cofer’s essay was written not too long ago. Therefore, it shows Latin women are being treated unfairly in society, and thus are lacking opportunity to live their lives without oppression. Sexism is still prevalent in American society. For example, women are not paid fairly in the United States. Furthermore, this sexism all started in the United States when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Sexism takes away opportunity for women to live freely and without subjugation. Discriminations committed by the federal government prove that the United States is no longer the land of opportunity because specific groups cannot live their lives freely and peacefully. For example, Lawrence and Matsuda said in their essay that “Native Hawaiians have long protested the loss of their sovereign nation, their lands, and much of their culture as a result of the U.S.-backed takeover of Hawaii” (Lawrence and Matsuda 445). This demonstrates that the United States had lost its position as the land of opportunity because the federal government has oppressed and discriminated against the Hawaiians. The Japanese were also discriminated against. Lawrence and Matsuda said that during World War II, the Japanese had lost their “careers, education, land, businesses, hand-built farm houses, and loved ones” (Lawrence and Matsuda 445). The Japanese were denied to live equally and peacefully, and therefore were denied opportunity at the hands of the United States federal government. With no one in their way to stop them, the United States was able to commit these acts without punishment. Therefore, the discrimination that the Japanese and Hawaiians endured may happen to different groups of people in the future. Since the United States government has discriminated against various groups, the United States is not the land of opportunity.
Due to the racism, sexism, and past, and possible future, injustices committed by the federal government, the United States is no longer the land of opportunity. Perhaps it was when the whites came to escape oppression, but not anymore. Racism in the United States started with discrimination against blacks and Native Americans, and it still exists today. Sexism has prevented women from being treated in the same way as men, and still occurs in the twenty-first century. The federal government’s cruel act towards minorities proves that certain people do not have the chance to live equally. Unfortunately, the federal government may get away with committing these prejudices in the future. All of these factors contribute to the failure of the United States to be the land of opportunity.