One said 'You niggers have to learn to respect police officers.' The other one said, 'If you yell or make any noise, I will kill you.' Then one held me and the other shoved the plunger up my behind. He pulled it out, shoved it in my mouth, broke my teeth and said, 'That's your *censored*, nigger.'"(Abner Louima) The police officers that allegedly performed this act of racial violence on August 9, 1997 had no reason to brutally beat and sodomize Abner Louima. They beat him for the fact that he was an African-American. I will show how I researched a poem by Maya Angelou and how racism occurred in "The Bluest Eye". First, we need to understand what racism is. Racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Racism is slightly different in my point of view. Racism is a person's attitude, ignorance and beliefs that causes one to believe their race is superior. It spreads to each generation causing a never-ending cycle. It occurs in every day life. Violence, destruction and ultimately death are sometimes the results of racism. It is unfair treatment to minorities being judged primarily because of the color of their skin. Every race is affected in some way, but African-Americans are affected more significantly than any other race. Racism begins in the home where it is taught. "You have to be taught to hate and fear / You have to be taught from year to year / It has to be drummed in our dear little ear / You have to be carefully taught!" (Roger & Hammerstein) Racism occurs at home, work, anytime and anyplace. It began years ago and continues today.In Maya Angelou's Still I Rise, racism was discussed. The poet emphasizes "I rise" (L.30, 32, 36, 38, 41-43) to express that no matter how much someone puts you down, you can overcome the situation. Consider lines 1 through 4:You may write me down in historyW...
