Social Stratification between Whites and Blacks - Admission/Application Essay Example

Should the White Individuals be responsible for the Past Ethno-Racial Discrimination Observed by their Ancestry against the Black Community? name: Professor’s mane: Module title: Module ID: Submission date: Abstract: The present research is interested in exploring the concept whether or not the skin color of the individuals and reaction they experience contains the potential to transcend their past. The paper also looks for exploring whether or not revenge of oppression from the descendants of the individuals responsible for could be taken or not. Hence, the study is also determined to discover whether or not the constitution allows to oppress contemporary era White population to “pay” for a historical past they simply inherited though it does not have its share in oppression of the ancestors of black population at the hands of their forefathers in past. The study will also examine whether or not the enforcement of some particular state interventions articulated for catering to historically racially oppressed populations serves as another form of oppression. Hence, the research will attempt to examine and answer all of the above-mentioned questions related to racial prejudice and discriminations have been in vogue for the last four centuries. The Paper: Social stratification is rightly regarded to be a universal phenomenon, where the individuals belonging to diverse regions of the world look divided into different categories including clans, castes, creeds, communities, tribes, groups, nations and societies (Ember & Ember, 2003, p. 413). The ethnic, racial, regional and religious backgrounds, as well as social statuses, economic positions, gender, physical appearance, skin color, age-group and sexual orientation serve as the most important indicators of the division of people into groups and communities (Kerbo, 2003, p. 26). As a result, societies and cultures segregate the individuals on the above-described traits and characteristics and enter into interaction with them on the foundations of the same. Root has cited Chao, who explicitly declares ethno-racial discrimination as the original sin (1994, p.5). Despite the very reality that man does not have any authority with regards to deciding and determining his caste, tribe, physical appearance, gender and skin color; human societies pay due heed to these traits that look determining the place of the individuals within a social establishment. Financial position is certainly one of the most significant indicators of one’s status in society (Oliver & Shapiro, pp.35-6). It is predominantly the case with the racial background and skin color of the individuals, which have been the moot points as well as one of the most influential sources of segregation for the last few centuries because of their being the spring of hatred, prejudice and conflict in the multicultural states and countries predominantly the USA (Razack, 2002, pp.125-6). Theories have been articulated and researches have been carried out with the aim of exploring the nature, scope and magnitude associated with the ethno-racial hatred prevailing in various parts of the world. It is particularly the case with the American culture, which is estimated to be the most segregated society within ethno-racial viewpoints (Weeks, 2003, p.288). The Structural Functionalist theorists including Herbert Spencer, Davis and Moore, and Conflict theorists particularly Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and others have elaborated the perspectives associated with the social stratification and segregation as well in human societies. On the one side, the Structural Functionalist declare social stratification to be a source of accomplishments of various tasks, responsibilities and obligations assigned to various individuals by the society in accordance with their talents, abilities, qualifications, tendencies and experiences (Ritzer, 2008, p.28); and on the other side, the Conflict perspective regards social stratification as an outcome of the exploitation of haves-not at the hands of haves, and hence the symbol of injustices and inequalities exercised by the powerful stratum upon the weaker groups co-existing with them in one and the same social establishment (Ritzer, 2008, p.142). Despite the very reality that various indicators are claimed to be explaining and determining the demarcation between the stronger and weaker social strata; nevertheless, economic position, skin color and politico-social status are argued as the most dominant features drawing boundary line between the privileged and unprivileged (Oliver & Shapiro, p.38). As a result, the individuals having plenty of wealth, resources and opportunities have historically been defined to be the conspicuous or leisure class, which is considered to be ruling over others by dint of the pelf, power, property and possession they have been blessed with (Veblen, 1912, p. 47). However, another very prominent aspect that has been decisive in respect of earning dominance for the individuals in society included the admirable physical characteristics predominantly fair complexion, pleasing facial features; on the other hand, the individuals having dark color, flat nose and ugly appearance had to undergo severe trials and sufferings because of their political, economic and strategic weaknesses and submissions on the one side, and due to their skin colors on the other. Consequently, the black men and women have been inflicted brutal tortures and agonies for their having the African origin and ethnicity, and still bitter and heart-melting incidents of brutality happen in different areas and states of the country (Razack, 2002, p.127). The researches endorse the bitter truth that it is not the skin color or physical features of the individuals that have determined their status and position within a social hierarchy. On the contrary, the political powers and financial positions possessed by the racial groups, as well as the nature of work and activities performed by the individuals, as well as the services rendered by them have turned out to be the most dominant thing in respect of developing their image and deciding the attributed to be expected from them. Consequently, the descendants of the past victorious nations earned great reverence, power, prestige and privileges against the aggression and strategic domination they demonstrated against their rivals; while the future generations of the communities and nations that had been captured and enslaved by the powerful ones because of their being weaker within strategic, political and economic viewpoints, had to undergo slavery, humiliation and disgrace for the future centuries to go. As a result, the hatred observed by the white population against the black people actually mirrors the weak and submissive position of their ancestors in comparison with the forefathers of the white populations belonging to the American and European nations at large. Somehow, the statutes of the US Constitution does not allow anyone to apply any kind of oppressive behavior towards the US citizens at any cost (Root, 1994, p.3). On the contrary, the Bill of Rights explicitly advocates the complete protection of all the US citizens without witnessing any type of discrimination and segregation altogether as per the provisions of the constitution (Root, 1994, pp.4-5). It is an admitted bitter reality that being the descendants of poor and helpless African slaves, the black people were looked down upon for the past centuries, where the white always considered them to be the descendants of worthless slaves. It is therefore, not only this that they were denied of obtaining their basic human rights, but also would not be viewed to be the human beings equivalent to their white counterparts. Somehow, it does not mean that the descendants of the cruel white masters could be oppressed in any manner with the purpose of taking revenge from them for the atrocities committed on them by the white people several decades before. Regardless of the explicit truth that slavery was abolished by the political authorities during the second half of 19th century; however, the blacks were not granted the right to have an active participation in socio-political activities attributed to the mainstream white population. Consequently, neither they were allowed to contest the elections from any part of the country, nor had they been permitted to cast their votes in favor of the candidates of their choice. So much so, they had to vacate their seats in public transports provided a white passenger boarding the transport is standing till the late 1950s (Parks, 1999, p.13). Similarly, the educational institutions also witnessed racial segregation throughout the USA, and the parents had to send their children to some distant schools in case there was no education center offering admission to the blacks in it. It not only reflected the humiliating attitude of the white majority towards the black population, but also mirrored their sheer abhorrence for the descendants of the African slaves brought by their ancestors during 17th and 18th centuries onward. The writers, poets, intellectuals and philosophers created their works and pieces of literatures in various genres and forms for the purpose of criticizing and condemning the hatred observed by the humans against their fellow-beings just because of the difference of skin color, facial features and physical appearance. The works created by William Faulkner, Kate Chopin, Frederick Douglass, Alice Walker, Henrik Ibsen, Margaret Drabble and several others forcefully mirror the hatred and bias maintained by the white population towards their black counterparts (Henderson et al., 2006, p. 329). The short stories created by Faulkner, Chopin and others strongly endorse the nature and intensity of the hatred witnessed by an overwhelming majority of the white population towards the African Americans. Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby (1893) and A Rose for Emily created by Faulkner (1930) narrate how the white individuals dislike the black population because of taking them as the descendants of the African slaves had been brought to USA and various regions of Europe for the service of the ancestors of the contemporary era white people. In addition, the 20th century famous Harlem Movement launched by the African American writers and poets reflect the pains and sufferings they had undergone during their life, where on the one side, prejudiced humiliating and discriminatory behavior observed by the white increased the magnitude of woe in their hearts; and on the other side, their works provide the heart-melting and sorrowful glimpses about their utmost unfulfilled desire of returning to their native lands among their brethren to lead their life among the fatherland their ancestors belonged to. On the contrary, the white population takes the plea that since the poor, penniless and pauper African slaves had been captured and appointed to provide services to the white, the descendants of those slaves could not claim the rights and privileges being offered to the whites at state and social scales altogether. Keeping the social status and financial position of the ancestors of the blacks in view, their white masters and mistresses inflicted pains and anguishes upon them (Pierce, 2004, p.144). The black slaves were tortured and abused mentally, physically and sexually. Besides, they were denied of all types of comforts and privileges to be offered to the whites. Consequently, they underwent very miserable and pathetic plight throughout their life. The researches cite the bitter fact that even the black slaves were not allowed to marry the person of their choice without the prior permission of their white masters. Additionally, in spite of several noteworthy accomplishments made by the US political and social authorities to mitigate the ethno-racial discriminations from the country, some unpleasant incidents take place at the hands of public or police that ignite the adverse situation once again in the country (Pierce, 2004, p.142). The bitter incident of a black youth called Amadou Diallo at the hands of four New York white policemen in 1999 invited the resentment of the black community, which led to riots and demonstrations against the murder (Pierce, 2004, p.141). It partly nullify the improvement aptly claimed by the authorities to be taken for redressing the woes of the black minority community of the USA. Twentieth century is rightly regarded to the age of enlightenment, social change and cultural transformations, where the several human rights movements were successfully launched in the name of the rights for women, homosexuals, blacks and other downtrodden communities, rights of which had been being suppressed by the dominant strata including the males, heterosexuals, whites and others respectively. The feminist movement turned out to be triumphant in respect of obtaining their right to cast votes in 1928 (Freedman, 2006, pp.49-50). On the other hand, the gays and blacks had to wait for the arrival of the second half of the previous century in order to get recognized as equal citizens of the country. The movements launched under the leadership of Martin King Junior, Malcolm X and others turned out to be supportive in creating awareness among the black masses of America about their rights and privileges as the free citizens of the country. The famous bus incident of December 1955 turned the tables in favor of the black people, and they were publicly declared to be having status equivalent to the whites (Parks, 1999, p.24). It was actually the same movement that met with tremendous success by 1970s, where the African Americans also obtained the right to participate in elections and cast their votes as well. Interracial marriages were also declared to be lawful in the USA by the last quarter of 20th century. Subsequently, the first black minister took oath in…. Today Barack Obama, the son of an African American father and white mother, has twice been elected as the President of USA through the popular votes. Such a tremendous compensations made by the US authorities look redressing the injustices and inequalities in the form of apartheid against the blacks (Root, 2006, pp.5-6). Despite the very fact that some unpleasant incidents of apartheid rarely appear in one part of the country or the other (Pierce, 2004, p.143); nevertheless, the people look observing remarkable peace and solidarity all over the USA, and no clashes or conflicts appear or take place in the name of racial prejudice and ethnic discrimination. Such an ideal sociocultural and political environment as well as the privileges granted to the descendants of the African American slaves endorses the acknowledgement and redressing of the blunder mistakes and cruelties exercised and inflicted upon the ancestors of the black populations in past decades. To conclude, it becomes evident that since the recognition of the ruthlessness and misconducts carried out by some of the forefathers of contemporary era white population has been made and the black population has been being offered the opportunities on the noble principles of justice and equalities in all fields of individual and collective life, there does not remain any need of declaring the contemporary era white population to be responsible for the atrocities inflicted by their ancestors in past (Root, 2006, p.5). Therefore, it is actually the outcome of the compensations made by the political, social and cultural authorities, an overwhelming majority of which certainly belongs to the white subjects, that no discrimination is witnessed against the black people at public places, corporate organizations, political centers, and social and cultural institutions of the country, and not only this that they can apply against any post and position in the same manner attributed to their white counterparts, but also they can have their active participation in politics and economic affairs, law and judiciary, medicine and sciences, art and literature, sports and games, and religious and spiritual activities as well. Such a strict prohibition of social inequalities at all scales endorses the abhorrence of the US people for the injustices made against the black people in various parts of the country during the last three centuries. Bibliography Chopin, Kate. 1892/2006. “Desiree’s Baby.” Vogue Magazine pp. 1-4. Retrieved from http://www.katechopin.org/pdfs/desirees-baby.pdf Ember, Carl R. & Ember, Melvin. 2007. Cultural Anthropology. New York: Pearson Education Limited. Henderson, Gloria Mason., Day, Bill., and Walker, Sandra Stevenson. 2006. “Chopin, Kate. “Desiree’s Baby.” Literature and Ourselves: A Thematic Introduction for Readers and Writers.” 5th edition. New York: Pearson Education Inc., pp. 328-332 Kerbo, Harold R. 1999. Social Stratification and Inequality: Class Conflict in Historical and Comparative Perspective. New York: McGraw Hill. Oliver, Melvin. & Shapiro, Thomas. 2006. A Sociology of Wealth and Racial Inequality. New York: Taylor & Francis, Pp.1-20 Parks, Rosa. 1999. Rosa Parks—My Story. New York: Puffin Books. Pierce, Jemima. 2004. ““Black Immigrants in the United States and the “Cultural Narratives” of Ethnicity.”” Global Studies in Culture and Power, Taylor & Francis, Inc. Routledge, 11: pp. 141–170. Razack, Sherene H. 2002. Race, Space and the Law: Unmapping a White Settler Society. New York: Between the Lines, pp. 121-156. Ritzer, George. 2007. Modern Sociological Theory. New York: McGraw Hill Education. Root, Maria P.P. 1994. A Bill of Right for Racially Mixed People. California: University of California. Pp. 1-13 Read More