In Reinhold Niebuhr’s The Sin of Racial Prejudice, he argues the problem of racial prejudice is not caused by economic inequality. Niebuhr believes racism is so prevalent in the United States as a result of social conditioning. Gunnar Myrdal contests the idea that racism is closely linked with the economy (Niebuhr 29A). While the economy is prospering in 1948, racism still plagues the United States (Niebuhr 29A). Additionally, a feeling of superiority derives from social conditioning which makes one race of people believe their life is of more importance than another race (Niebuhr 29A). However, some believe that racial tension would diminish with a stable and flourishing economy (Niebuhr 29A). Nonetheless, racial problems can be alleviated …show more content…
Also, religion can warn people of the dangers of believing they are more valuable than others (Niebuhr 29B). In order to confront and eradicate racial tension, religious modesty and reasoning must be practiced (Niebuhr 29B). Racism is not the result of economic imbalance, but rather it is stimulated by a sense of racial superiority. With the emancipation of slavery following the Civil War, many whites worded to suppress the limited rights African Americans had. Led by white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan intimidated African Americans by resembling the ghosts of confederate soldiers by wearing white robes (Leonard). The Ku Klux Klan terrorized and killed both African Americans and whites who supported the rights of African Americans in order to restore white supremacy in the South (History.com Staff). Many whites failed to see African Americans as counterparts and believed they were not as good as themselves. Even after the reconstruction of the United States, the mistreatment of African Americans became normal and customary. Although African Americans gained citizenship and the right to vote with the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, they were extremely restricted by whites who thought of them as lesser people based on