As a civil rights lawyer, it is important to care about a client’s needs. As a client, it is important to know the many freedoms that our government protects. One of the most important human needs is to be valued. When people hate other people because of external differences, something is wrong. What causes people to become racist or discriminatory in other ways? According to the Washington Post, racism is environmental. People develop negative associations based on how they are taught as children. When parents model poor behavior, children take up the cues. This is why it is ever so important to immerse our children in environments that are positive toward everyone. Diverse experiences teach us that we all have the same color on the inside.
When dealing with a civil rights issue, it can be tempting to just let it slide, particularly if you are not the victim. That passivity may be appropriate for little indiscretions, but it is not good to practice for major breaches of conduct. When someone at work is using bad language about your ethnic or cultural affiliation, you need to take it up with authority. When you are experiencing hiring discrimination simply because you do not match the preferred bias of your prospective employer, it needs to be dealt with. One of the most powerful ways to deal with civil rights issues is to get professional legal help. A civil rights lawyer can identify the laws that cover the particular type of discrimination you are facing.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans any discrimination in public accommodations. It guarantees equal treatment under the law. If you are finding that people are treating you differently than US policy demands, you should get help. As mentioned before, a lawyer who specializes in civil rights cases is a great way to get assistance for your family.
One way to enforce civil rights equality is to encourage relationships with people who are different than you. Practice reaching out to groups who believe things that you privately consider strange. This will help you get over your bias toward them. Time spent with others tends to decrease the stereotypes that we form about different groups. People often have more in common than they at first believe. Hosting social events that feature inclusion as their goal is important. Humans get a sense of power and belonging by surrounding themselves with those who agree with them and reinforce their beliefs. This causes many people to have large blind spots in their character.
What are other forms of discrimination that should be fought? There is the still-present bias against women. United States laws prohibit discrimination based on a person’s gender. Women are rarely found in high-ranking executive positions in the United States. Recent presidential elections indicate that women still lack the political popularity to successfully win a presidential election, although they are trying.
There is discrimination based on a person’s age. Ageism is wrong because it neglects the fact that a person who is old or young compared to what is popular can be very useful. It is common for the older generation to look down upon people who are younger than them and vice versa. Union contracts disproportionately give the good benefits to those who have more years with their organization. This is wrong. Such discrimination limits economic opportunity. Because the voting population of the United States tends to have a disproportionate share of seniors, a lot of US healthcare benefits cater to the older population, neglecting the younger generation. Young people rebel from the wisdom of their elders. This is also wrong.
Whatever type of discrimination you are facing, now is the time to take action. If your time is spent watching the headlines, you are forgetting what really matters. What really matters is eliminating discrimination from your own heart. Think about your relationships. Think about who you prefer to associate with. Then think about those you do not like. Make a decision to spend time with and help those other people.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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