Explain why the African-American, and the American-Indians seem to have a more difficult time gaining political and economic power in the United States. Charles Darwin revolutionized biology with his Origin of Species. In this book, he stated his theories of evolution. According to him, man evolved from a struggle, and was the fittest during the survival of the fittest. However, his theory fails to explain why African Americans and American-Indians seem to have a difficult time in the United States, which is essentially social Darwinism. Yet, in someway it does. African-Americans and American-Indians are although not intellectually inferior to others, have had a difficult time gaining political and economic power due to the history of their social inequality, their psychological pride, and their fear. The main reason for their inability to acquire such power is the history of their inequality. The African-Americans were slaves to the American public for more than 200 years after their initial arrival. Even after the emancipation, this aspect of inferiority has haunted them. The African Americans were still unable to vote due to groups like the KKK and were still socially unequal due to segregation and things like the Jim Crow Laws. This means that they were still in the bottom class poor. This poverty deters them from attaining equality and power. As for the American-Indians, the same thing can be said. When the Europeans arrived to the New World, the Indians were looked down upon due to their religion. They were socially unequal, and even the government recognized this fact. Some Cherokee Indians wanted to Americanize but were not successful sorely because of their history and their status quo. So, it is obvious that they have had a long history of social in equality rather then the Asians and the Jews. Even if the whites wanted to spread equality, many are deterred by the psychological bond and pride that African-Americans and many Native-Americans have. The United States of America was built on the belief of individuality. This kind of individuality doesnt exist to the same extent in African-American and Native American cultures. African Americans and Native Americans are often united in their own culture, and conformity. This makes it easier for the whites to target them because now youre not just targeting a person, youre targeting a whole group. This makes it easier for the whites to create their Out-group bias and associate some poor black men with the whole Race. This type of out-group bias makes them susceptible for labeling and is essentially categorizing them. So, the fact that they conform with their own type make them more apt for labeling and thus, discrimination. This type of bias makes it really difficult for them to gain power. Also, the Af rican Americans have black pride and the same kind of thing goes for the Native Americans. This leads to the next point: fear. Finally, the final factor contributing to this is the psychological fear, which enables the whites to justify their rational. The African Americans and the Native Americans because the dominant white culture doesnt trust them, and vice versa. This trust factor is very important for political power. The history of fear of unknown with the Indians has led to many cruel wars. These wars have again, aroused the fear factor. So, the whites have an inner, subconscious psychological fear of blacks. Also due to the just world phenomenon which many believe, many whites are blaming the African Americans and the Native Americans for their current situation. It is their fear that a non-dominent minority will govern them, that subconsciously controls them. The fact that they subconciously fear of them, explains why they dont get the same opportunity. So, In conclusion, the African-Americans and the American Indians are a difficult time gaining political and economic power due to the history of the social inferiority and outcast, the conformity and the bond they present and the fear of them. We must try to end discrimination as much as possible and eventually it will disappear. Racism, pollution and the rest of it are themselves very close to extinction. -R.Buckmister Fuller