Racial Inequality and RacismRacial Inequality and Racism

Structures of Group InequalityStructures of Group Inequality

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What does it mean to say that What does it mean to say that racism is “systemic?”racism is “systemic?”

1.1. It does It does notnot mean that most people in the society mean that most people in the society are prejudiced, though they may be.are prejudiced, though they may be.

2.2. The inequality between slaves and slaveowners The inequality between slaves and slaveowners cumulates; it does not end with the death of the cumulates; it does not end with the death of the slaveowner or the abolition of slavery.slaveowner or the abolition of slavery.

3.3. The system changed its form but not its nature.The system changed its form but not its nature.

4.4. It involves many interdependent characteristics.It involves many interdependent characteristics.

5.5. The Northern elite benefited indirectly.The Northern elite benefited indirectly.

6.6. The relations to Native Americans, Hispanics, The relations to Native Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans or white ethnics are part of a Asian Americans or white ethnics are part of a system whose distinctive US traits are racist.system whose distinctive US traits are racist.

What is a “race,” sociologicallyWhat is a “race,” sociologicallyA race is any group that is considered (by A race is any group that is considered (by itself and by others) to be a race. itself and by others) to be a race. Races are socially constructed.Races are socially constructed.Visible differences are neither necessary Visible differences are neither necessary nor sufficient for sociological races.nor sufficient for sociological races.Therefore relations between ethnic and Therefore relations between ethnic and religious groups may become or may stop religious groups may become or may stop being treated as racial.being treated as racial.– E.g. Cherokee, South Phil., Israel, U.S. ArmyE.g. Cherokee, South Phil., Israel, U.S. Army– Access to resources is a main part of those Access to resources is a main part of those

relations.relations.

The one drop rule in the US.The one drop rule in the US.

Traditionally, U.S. black-white race Traditionally, U.S. black-white race relations have been governed by the relations have been governed by the unusual rule that one is “black” if any of unusual rule that one is “black” if any of one’s ancestors is “black.”one’s ancestors is “black.”This was necessitated by the unique set of This was necessitated by the unique set of social, legal and political structures of social, legal and political structures of slavery and Jim Crow.slavery and Jim Crow.i.e. gov’t mandated segregation when i.e. gov’t mandated segregation when most “blacks” had white ancestors.most “blacks” had white ancestors.

What are the racial regimes?What are the racial regimes?

1.1. GenocideGenocide: the attempted extermination of an : the attempted extermination of an entire people.entire people.

2.2. ExpulsionExpulsion: the forced transfer of a population : the forced transfer of a population to another area or to camps.to another area or to camps.

3.3. SubjugationSubjugation: the creation of a second class : the creation of a second class citizenship.citizenship.

4.4. SegregationSegregation: systematic social separation.: systematic social separation.

5.5. AssimilationAssimilation: social melting pot.: social melting pot.

What have been the regimes in What have been the regimes in the US?the US?

All five regimes appear in American history.All five regimes appear in American history.The text suggests that the elimination of most The text suggests that the elimination of most Native American tribes was unintended. I Native American tribes was unintended. I disagree.disagree.Chattel slavery was a unique institution, Chattel slavery was a unique institution, although all forms of slavery are extremely although all forms of slavery are extremely degrading and destructive of the family, etc.degrading and destructive of the family, etc.And Jim Crow was a nearly unparalleled And Jim Crow was a nearly unparalleled institutional subjugation.institutional subjugation.

How much is U.S. race is a How much is U.S. race is a matter of black v. white?matter of black v. white?

Often the central issue is how similar black/white Often the central issue is how similar black/white relations are to ethnicity.relations are to ethnicity.Feagin argues that they are dissimilar, but black/ Feagin argues that they are dissimilar, but black/ white relations are central because:white relations are central because:relations of Europeans to Native Americans, Chinese, relations of Europeans to Native Americans, Chinese, and Hispanic Americans were shaped by slavery.and Hispanic Americans were shaped by slavery.Immigrant groups struggled to define themselves as Immigrant groups struggled to define themselves as “not black” by separating themselves from blacks.“not black” by separating themselves from blacks.Sociology, Micro, Macro and Mega Sociology, Micro, Macro and Mega spends about 4 spends about 4 times as much space on other groups.times as much space on other groups.

Peculiarities of U.S. slavery Peculiarities of U.S. slavery

Race relations in the US have a distinct dynamic Race relations in the US have a distinct dynamic largely because slavery was unique.largely because slavery was unique.Unlike Latin America, in the U.S. the definition of Unlike Latin America, in the U.S. the definition of slaves as property was not checked by any slaves as property was not checked by any structure of family or other kinds of rights.structure of family or other kinds of rights.And it was often accompanied by rituals of And it was often accompanied by rituals of dehumanization.dehumanization.E.g. slaves eating from a trough,E.g. slaves eating from a trough,female slaves as fair game, andfemale slaves as fair game, andslave testimony or rights as impossible.slave testimony or rights as impossible.Laws against teaching slaves to read.Laws against teaching slaves to read.

But isn’t that ancient history?But isn’t that ancient history?Many people say that that was then and Many people say that that was then and this is now; blacks should get over it.this is now; blacks should get over it.For Feagin, if Fred has stolen money from For Feagin, if Fred has stolen money from Joe, Fred can ask Joe to “Get over it” only Joe, Fred can ask Joe to “Get over it” only after he has given back the money.after he has given back the money.One index of how a society has One index of how a society has progressed is who it honors.progressed is who it honors.Who is the American that has the most Who is the American that has the most monuments to his memory?monuments to his memory?Bedford Forrest – founder of the KKK.Bedford Forrest – founder of the KKK.Why?Why?

The dynamic of race todayThe dynamic of race today

Table 21.4 (*p.406) details “four centuries of Table 21.4 (*p.406) details “four centuries of legal progress and setbacks.” legal progress and setbacks.” different people conceive of that dynamic in different people conceive of that dynamic in different ways.different ways.There has been a sharp decline of views such There has been a sharp decline of views such as “There should be laws against intermarriage,” as “There should be laws against intermarriage,” (though 10% to 20% of the white pop. still (though 10% to 20% of the white pop. still agrees with such items.)agrees with such items.)But there has also been a decline in support for But there has also been a decline in support for reducing existing inequalities.reducing existing inequalities.

The relation of racial inequalitiesThe relation of racial inequalitiesMyrdal’s argument was that group Myrdal’s argument was that group advantages reinforce each other, advantages reinforce each other, often as a self-fulfilling prophecy.often as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Resources Access to further resources

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• Example: A businessman who cannot get credit, is likely to go out of business, and therefore, he is a bad risk.

•Other examples: health, education, crime, social contacts, addictions, neighborhood quality, work responsibility, work commitment,

What is the relation between What is the relation between prejudice and racial inequalityprejudice and racial inequalityMyrdal’s argument was that racism and Myrdal’s argument was that racism and racial inequality reinforce each other.racial inequality reinforce each other.

Racism Racial Inequality

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• This is sometimes wrongly interpreted to mean that “racism” is the individual sentiment that produces discriminatory behavior.

Myrdal vs. FeaginMyrdal vs. Feagin

Feagin criticizes Myrdal as proposing a Feagin criticizes Myrdal as proposing a model that seems to suggest an attitudinal model that seems to suggest an attitudinal model:model:

Prejudice Discrimination RacismPrejudice Discrimination Racism

Feagin, as the theorist of institutionalized Feagin, as the theorist of institutionalized discrimination, argues that the relations go: discrimination, argues that the relations go: Race inequality Discrimination PrejudiceRace inequality Discrimination Prejudice

For example, profiling has an equally strong For example, profiling has an equally strong effect whether or not it is based on fact.effect whether or not it is based on fact.

Implications of Cumulative Implications of Cumulative Causation for Myrdal:Causation for Myrdal:

1.1. The system is pervasiveThe system is pervasiveIt creates a cascade of pervasive differencesIt creates a cascade of pervasive differencesthat appears as second nature,that appears as second nature,but is socially producedbut is socially produced

2.2. The system is modifiableThe system is modifiableSuch systems are unstableSuch systems are unstableand amplify interventions.and amplify interventions.

3.3. But only by broad spectrum interventionsBut only by broad spectrum interventionsIt has the inertia of an avalancheIt has the inertia of an avalanche

These qualitative dynamic conclusions These qualitative dynamic conclusions follow even when one cannot estimate follow even when one cannot estimate specific component paths.specific component paths.

Institutional discrimination and Institutional discrimination and systemic racismsystemic racism

Feagin suggests that over American Feagin suggests that over American history, racism, as a pervasive history, racism, as a pervasive institutional system has maintained itself institutional system has maintained itself as a structure of inequality and privilege.as a structure of inequality and privilege.

Racism is not a matter of prejudice.Racism is not a matter of prejudice.

It is can be maintained by relatively little It is can be maintained by relatively little individually prejudiced action (except individually prejudiced action (except opposition to change efforts).opposition to change efforts).

How much racial inequality is How much racial inequality is there?there?

Feagin Racism directly or indirectly costs the Feagin Racism directly or indirectly costs the average black American about 10% of their average black American about 10% of their life span; 40% of their income; and 90% of life span; 40% of their income; and 90% of their wealth.their wealth.

Sociology, Micro, Macro and Mega: 1990Sociology, Micro, Macro and Mega: 1990

WhiteWhite BlackBlack HispanicHispanic

% 4 yrs col. 22%% 4 yrs col. 22% 11%11% 9%9%

% in poverty 11%% in poverty 11%32%32% 28%28%

Median incomeMedian income $36,915 $36,915 $21,423$21,423 $23,431$23,431

Individual, Institutional and Individual, Institutional and Cultural racismCultural racism

Individual racismIndividual racism is individual prejudice and/or is individual prejudice and/or discriminationdiscrimination

Institutional racismInstitutional racism are institutionalized are institutionalized structures that disadvantage a group, and which structures that disadvantage a group, and which are often maintained for reasons having little to are often maintained for reasons having little to do with prejudice.do with prejudice.

Cultural racism Cultural racism is a belief in the superiority of is a belief in the superiority of European culture.European culture.

Can blacks be racistCan blacks be racist

Obviously Obviously anyone can be individually anyone can be individually racist or prejudiced.racist or prejudiced.But if racism is defined as the use of But if racism is defined as the use of or connection with a monopoly of or connection with a monopoly of society’s institutionalized power, society’s institutionalized power, then you can only do that if you have then you can only do that if you have that monopoly.that monopoly.Pit bull liability is not a matter of Pit bull liability is not a matter of intentintent

The relation between The relation between prejudice and discrimination: prejudice and discrimination:

LaPierreLaPierreIn a classic study (from 1934) LaPierre In a classic study (from 1934) LaPierre p.*398 found almost no correlation p.*398 found almost no correlation between the willingness of hotels and between the willingness of hotels and restaurants to discriminate in practice and restaurants to discriminate in practice and their saying that they would do so.their saying that they would do so.

Situational constraints and pressures were Situational constraints and pressures were more important than set individual more important than set individual motives. motives.

Merton on the relation between Merton on the relation between prejudice and discrimination:prejudice and discrimination:

Merton’s typology *p.398 Merton’s typology *p.398

Situational pressures may produce all four Situational pressures may produce all four cases:cases:

PrejudicePrejudice No prejudiceNo prejudice

DiscriminationDiscrimination “ “Active Active

Bigot”Bigot”

“ “Fair weather Fair weather

liberal”liberal”

No No DiscriminationDiscrimination

“ “Timid Timid

Bigot”Bigot”

“ “All weather All weather

liberal”liberal”