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What is the history of prejudice and discrimination in different regions around the world, and how has it evolved over time?

Tula Lelievre

Hey there,

That's a really great and complex question you've asked. Prejudice and discrimination have existed in various regions of the world for centuries, and it has evolved and taken on many different forms over time. Many factors like cultural, religious, and political influences have contributed to different regions' experiences with prejudice and discrimination. I'll try my best to provide a condensed overview.

In many parts of Europe, prejudice and discrimination arose in the form of religious persecution. The Crusades, which lasted from the 11th to the 13th centuries, were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims, leaving a lasting legacy of religious hostility and anti-Muslim sentiment. Similarly, England's history of anti-Semitic persecution dates back to the Middle Ages and can be traced back to the nation's early history. Jews faced widely ranging restrictions on their lives, including being forbidden to own land and being required to wear distinctive clothing.

In Asia, prejudice and discrimination have taken on various forms over time. For instance, in Japan, there existed a strict hierarchy that relegated the country's "burakumin" underclass to a lifetime of labor servitude. Historically, they were forced to work in leather tanning and other "unclean" jobs as members of the community considered certain jobs to be beneath their standing. This prejudice against burakumin still persists to some degree in modern Japan. Similarly, in India, a longstanding caste system has divided society based on birth, placing different groups into rigid social classes. It's something that persists to this day and has resulted in the unequal treatment of certain groups - particularly those from lower castes.

In America, prejudice and discrimination started with the colonization of Native American lands. This eventually led to the forced relocation and genocide of millions of Native Americans. Discrimination continued through the 20th century, particularly among African Americans, who, for instance, faced lynchings and other overt forms of violence along with institutionalized discrimination like separate schools and facilities. Although the Civil Rights Movement brought significant progress, racial inequalities still exist, with systemic disadvantages existing due to historical disadvantage.

So, in conclusion, prejudice and discrimination can be traced back to the earliest societies in human history and have evolved over time to become the complex problems we see today. Nevertheless, global sentiments remain hopeful, as more voices are speaking out against discrimination than at any time in our history. Movements for equal rights for marginalized communities across the world have won many significant victories, but challenges continue to exist and will continue to persist.