Equality

Long before the first European settlers traveled west across the Atlantic Ocean and set foot on what would eventually become the United States of America, existed an entire population of nomadic people within the North American continent. It is estimated that 10 million people were living within the area that now constitutes the present-day borders of the United States. It is a widely held belief that tribes of nomadic people from Asia crossed the Bering Sea approximately 12,000 years ago. By the time European explorers arrived in America, the nomadic people had come together and formed the estimated 562 federally recognized American Indian tribes. Prior to the arrival of European settlers in 1492, American Indians remained isolated from the world. As interactions with English, Spanish and French explorers increased, so did the rates of disease, illness, and death amongst the Indian population. It is estimated that roughly 90% of the Indian population perished. The lives of Native Americans would be forever changed. Over the next 400 years the Native Americans would be systematically removed from their native land whether by treaty or military action against. Forced on to reservations, the Native Americans would once again be isolated. However this time they would be looked upon as second-class citizens.

Using an argumentative approach we will show that the Native American Indians both past and present have faced a life time of discriminatory and racist policies. We will look at three different areas in which examples of discrimination and racism can be found: (1) Country of birth and Time in History. In this first part we will look at the European settlement in Native American lands, Native American society prior to the Europeans arrival, and a time-line of discrimination throughout history. (2) Media and other Organizations. Here we will take a look at how the Native American has been stereotyped with negative connotations throughout the media,...