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* [[Xenophobia]] |
* [[Xenophobia]] |
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*{{wikipedia}} |
*{{wikipedia}} |
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| + | *''[http://books.google.com/books?id=VO2fJMOdQ24C&pg=PP1&ots=QHhu9x5lw5&source=citation&sig=9TzcAdwfJi7BA_aRovUgdnwQ5BI&hl=en Star Trek and Racism]'' |
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[[Category:Culture]] |
[[Category:Culture]] |
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Revision as of 19:04, 27 May 2008
Racism is the belief that one race is inherently superior or inferior due to certain characteristics, be they physical (e.g. skin, eye or hair color, or the genetic makeup of one's species) or cultural (e.g. a race's language, philosophy, religion, traditions, or level of technological development).
Earth regions that have experienced racism include the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries and Germany under the Nazi regime.
Benny Russell faced racism in 1950s New York City when he attempted to get his story published in Incredible Tales magazine, as it had a black captain in command of a space station. (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")
When Vic Fontaine's program was affected by the jack-in-the-box laid in it by programmer Felix, Benjamin Sisko admitted to Kasidy Yates that he eschewed the holo-program because he felt it ignored the suffering of African-Americans during the time period in which it was set. (DS9: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang")
In the 23rd century, the natives of the planet Cheron conducted a devastating war based solely on the racial differences of its inhabitants. While both races of their planet were half white and half black, the sides of their body which displayed those colors varied. As a result the ruling class, which was white on the left side and black on the right, suppressed the other race in which the coloration was reversed. By 2268, the racial campaign by the ruling class and rebellion by the oppressed had rendered the planet nearly uninhabitable. (TOS: "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield")
When the Cardassians occupied Bajor, they believed themselves to be racially superior to Bajorans since they had much more advanced technology. (DS9: "Waltz")
Racism still existed in the 24th century among some humans as seen with Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hobson and his attitude toward his commanding officer Data. Hobson felt an android was unfit to be a captain and suggested that certain other species were not "meant" for certain assignments, such as a Klingon being a counselor. (TNG: "Redemption II")
In the 24th century, photonic lifeforms faced discrimination from organics, making holographic rights an important social issue. (VOY: "Flesh and Blood", "Author, Author")