The Sociology of Race & Ethnicity Is race real?

Opening Question: Is race real? Is it biologically meaningful? Is it socially meaningful? How do we explain the social problems of RACISM and PREJUDICE?

Important Terms: Racism – Systematic ideologies and practices that seek to justify or cause the unequal distribution of privileges or rights among different racial groups. Prejudice – An unjustified (usually negative) attitude toward an individual based on their membership to a particular group Discrimination – behavior or actions, usually negative, towards an individual based on their sex/race/social class, etc. Privilege – The advantages that members of the dominant group have over minority groups. (Minority doesn’t just refer to skin color)

Functionalism & Race/Ethnicity Race and ethnicity are two of the various parts of a cohesive society – they are necessary to understanding who we are and where we fit into the social structure. …Beyond that…because functionalism stresses the unifying role of culture it is ill-equipped to understand divisive forces like discrimination and racism.

Conflict Theory on Race & Ethnicity Karl Marx argued that perceived “racial differences” actually come from the social inequality created from wealth versus poverty. For example, “White vs Black” racism in America began because wealthier colonials saw African slaves as “savages” and felt superior to them. During the industrial revolution, this racism continued by helping whites secure better jobs and maintaining a position of privilege in society.

Conflict Theory: Marx cont’d This “system of inequality” continues to today though it is much less visible *Classism is the new racism? (Duneir & Molotch). The economic, political, and social hierarchy that has been in place all throughout our countries history continues to disadvantage minorities and give the majority a place of privilege in society. Marx therefore blames the system of capitalism for the social problem of racism! W.E.B. DuBois viewed the solution to this problem as minorities fighting for an education to remain competitive in a system where the cards are stacked against them.

Symbolic Interactionism Max Weber (1906), although not traditionally known as a symbolic interactionist, laid the roots for what would be symbolic interactionism's underlying philosophy on race and ethnicity: Weber argued that biological traits were not the true basis for race, but instead race was merely a social construct – or a social category. This theory was later reinforced in 2000 by The Human Genome Project.

Symbolic Interactionism… Social Constructionism is the theoretical perspectives that emphasizes socialization as the principal agent in determining reality. According to SC race is NOT real…at least not in any biologically meaningful way…it is only real as a social construct or social category. We create and perpetuate the belief that race is meaningful.

In other words… From a SI perspective, race is merely a label that is created, reinforced, and reproduced socially.