Why Can’t We Live Together? Group discussion of Friday’s movie Turn in group discussion sheet but keep movie worksheets until our final exam. Group discussion of Friday’s movie Turn in group discussion sheet but keep movie worksheets until our final exam.

Social Stratification and Families Social Stratification: structured inequality in the things that count in a given society. May be based on, social class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, or whatever the mind of man can conceive. What are the things that count most in contemporary American society? How do we differentiate race, ethnicity, class?

Conflict theory Almost everything we value is or could be in short supply, including land, wealth, jobs, safe neighborhoods, cultural and religious freedoms, use of our native language, education…. Almost everything we value is or could be in short supply, including land, wealth, jobs, safe neighborhoods, cultural and religious freedoms, use of our native language, education…. Therefore the normal state of society involves conflict and competition over both material and ideal interests Therefore the normal state of society involves conflict and competition over both material and ideal interests

Racial stratification Race=group or category viewed as genetically different by those with power Race=group or category viewed as genetically different by those with power Remember Thomas theorem: “What people define as real is real in its consequences.” Just think of all the consequences that have followed from racial beliefs and practices in the U.S. Remember Thomas theorem: “What people define as real is real in its consequences.” Just think of all the consequences that have followed from racial beliefs and practices in the U.S.

Colonial period in the U.S. Why was racial classification so central to the early history of white colonization in the United States? Why was racial classification so central to the early history of white colonization in the United States? What about the anti-miscegenation laws? What about the anti-miscegenation laws? Notice: this was not a prohibition of sex but of marriage(e.g. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings) Notice: this was not a prohibition of sex but of marriage(e.g. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings)

20 th century Immigration Act of 1921 Immigration Act of 1921 Quotas based on numbers of each nationality in the country in 1890…. Severe limits on Jews and Catholics from Southern and Eastern Europe Quotas based on numbers of each nationality in the country in 1890…. Severe limits on Jews and Catholics from Southern and Eastern Europe Immigration Act of 1965…. Immigration allowed based on needed job skills or on relatives already here as citizens Immigration Act of 1965…. Immigration allowed based on needed job skills or on relatives already here as citizens

Civil Rights Movements Black civil rights movement Black civil rights movement Chicano movement Chicano movement American Indian movement American Indian movement Asian American movement Asian American movement The struggle and the glory of the American dream of equal rights… take my course, Soc 3330: “The American Civil Rights Movement” The struggle and the glory of the American dream of equal rights… take my course, Soc 3330: “The American Civil Rights Movement”

“Matters of Race: the Divide” Siler City, North Carolina… Siler City, North Carolina…

What if we worshipped together? Michael Emerson: “Race, Religion, and the Color Line (Or Is That a Color Wall?” Michael Emerson: “Race, Religion, and the Color Line (Or Is That a Color Wall?” “Religious congregations are ten times less diverse than the neighborhoods in which they reside and 20 times less diverse than our nation’s public schools.” “Religious congregations are ten times less diverse than the neighborhoods in which they reside and 20 times less diverse than our nation’s public schools.” Yet “religious faith motivated the fight against slavery and played an essential role in the Civil Rights movement.” Yet “religious faith motivated the fight against slavery and played an essential role in the Civil Rights movement.”

Biases in Social Comparison 1. Our brains exaggerate the similarities of ingroup members and their differences from outgroup members. 1. Our brains exaggerate the similarities of ingroup members and their differences from outgroup members. 2. Outgroup members are identified by their perceived differences 2. Outgroup members are identified by their perceived differences 3. Even when performing exactly the same actions, ingroup members are evaluated more favorably. 3. Even when performing exactly the same actions, ingroup members are evaluated more favorably.

Ingroup/outgroup comparisons 4. We attribute positive behavior of ingroup members to internal traits, e.g, intelligence. 5. We have better memories for negative behaviors by outgroups. 6. A negative member of an outgroup member is more likely generalized to the group. 7. One we have stereotypes, we tend to recall confirming information.

Moral people and immoral society 350,000 congregations in the United States are busy creating group identity and forming moral persons. 350,000 congregations in the United States are busy creating group identity and forming moral persons. Because of segregation, that means we help people of our own race. Members of the group with the most share it with their own group, and vice versa. Because of segregation, that means we help people of our own race. Members of the group with the most share it with their own group, and vice versa.

Can we find a solution? Emerson and colleagues spent a number of years studying the 7% of congregations that they defined as integrated. He himself spent seven years in a congregation that transformed itself from all white to one that no longer had a majority group. Emerson and colleagues spent a number of years studying the 7% of congregations that they defined as integrated. He himself spent seven years in a congregation that transformed itself from all white to one that no longer had a majority group.

What did they find? 1. Friendships across race 1. Friendships across race 2. 80% of those in mixed congregations said their racially diverse friendships came because of their involvement in their racially mixed congregation % of those in mixed congregations said their racially diverse friendships came because of their involvement in their racially mixed congregation. 3. Strong patterns of positive change in racial attitudes. 3. Strong patterns of positive change in racial attitudes.

Economic effects A great deal happened in and through these congregations to improve the economic of those least advantaged. A great deal happened in and through these congregations to improve the economic of those least advantaged. “People were hired into jobs that they otherwise might never have known about or had a chance at.” “People were hired into jobs that they otherwise might never have known about or had a chance at.” Your instructor: And these changes have major implications for the quality of family life! Your instructor: And these changes have major implications for the quality of family life!