Divisions by Race or Class?

Engl 165-04 Fall '22, Engl 165-16 Fall '22

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I think that in the United States at the time of the civil rights movement race was probably a cause for more divisions than class due to things like Jim Crow laws. However, I believe that over time Americans have progressively gotten seen less divides in race and ethnicity. I believe this because many groups that were once subjected to racism are no longer subjected to really any. A good example of these groups include the Irish, Germans, and Italians. Furthermore, I can confidently say that racism in general between all groups is nowhere as bad as it once was.

When it comes to class, I don’t see that many divisions caused by it today when compared to how it was in the past. However, I think nowadays class issues cause more division. I think this because of the rise of socialist groups in the U.S. I really don’t care about class, and I don’t see it as a big deal as life in America is without a doubt better than it was a century ago and many people in foreign countries that have low standards of living would probably do anything to trade spots with homeless people in America. I think that because in other countries things like starvation are still prevalent, in America it’s just about nonexistent.

However, what I just said doesn’t apply in many other countries. In places such as the Balkans, Nigeria, and places that are very racially heterogeneous (with the exception of countries in the Americas) race is a much larger cause for division than class. However, racially homogeneous countries typically have massive problems with class. These places include Russia and the PRC which are both practically corporatist and have horrendous economies. Class divisions are prevalent there as everyone who wasn’t in the upper class got messed up by inflation and economic crashes while the upper class remained largely untouched due to things like party membership.

 

Race vs Class

Engl 165-16 Fall '22, March Blog Prompt

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I think that the issues then were heavily influenced by race. That is not to say that class had no influence on everything that was happening but white people would not look down on another white person because of their class as heavily as they looked down on a black person just because of their race. I think that both play big roles but during March race would always outshine class because of how strong white people’s hatred of black people was. Even if a black family was in the same class as a white family the white family would still see them as less than others because of their race. I think that in today’s society race vs class can change in importance depending on where you look at. Just last week the blog prompt was about the KKK. How they are still a very active hate group who have the same ideals as they have always held even if they do not kill people anymore. This shows how big race is still playing a part in everyday life. Yet people will make fun of other people for what social class they fall under. People will get made fun of if they struggle to make ends meet. If someone has an old phone they will get made fun of for it. Both race and class are still causing divisions today because people still hold very shallow-minded views about other people. Some people will just look down on anyone they deem “less than” which can be related to either race or class or it can be a combination of both. Class causes divisions because it will change how a person goes through their life and what measures they will take to make sure they or their family is comfortable and not struggling as much. 

 
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Race vs Class: The Debate

Engl 165-04 Fall '22, Engl 165-16 Fall '22

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I believe that class plays a very important role in society. Many people act differently depending on their social class. Class isn’t limited to solely one person’s financial status, but instead how someone holds themselves. Class still plays a massive role in everyday life. For example, some people are allowed to do certain things because of their class. One of the easiest ways to distinguish people between certain classes is based on money. People of the lower class tend to act differently than those of a higher class. I feel like it is somewhat of a stupid concept if you really think about it. Even though I believe it is stupid, we cannot avoid being put into certain social classes. On the other hand, race is something that you are born into and can be easily distinguished by. Sadly, in some areas, certain races have harder times than other races. I believe that both race and class play way too much of an important role in everyday life. When I meet new people I don’t care what race or class they are, instead, I’m more interested in meeting who I am talking with.

Malcolm X believed all of America’s and Africa’s problems were based on class. I would agree with this. People of higher class tend to have more say in decision-making. This leads the lower class to be told what to do. This happens every day almost everywhere around the world. If we did not have social class I think we would live in a completely different world. When comparing class and race there are many differences. A person cannot change their race, but they can work to change their class. I believe Malcolm X’s strategy to change the topic from race to class was good. Instead of trying to battle a debate regarding race, approaching social class allowed African Americans to prove their worth in America.

 
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How Social Status Affects…

Engl 165-04 Fall '22, Engl 165-16 Fall '22

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I believe history has shown that past government officials time after time set up loopholes for racial inequality. In the 1800s when states were in between being slave states or not, the states that decided not to make laws still shows actions of racism. Free black people pushed for voting rights within the state that they were owed. But, government officials took advantage of their power to create laws such as only allowing men with land or no criminal records the right to vote. Even though they didn’t directly pass laws labeled “Black men can’t vote”, at the time at least, they knew that free black men didn’t have enough money to own land, and they were unable to attain jobs that would grant them high pay. In addition to that, many black men were arrested for petty crimes. The government officials made it impossible for black men to have power. 

In the present day, inequality is present in early childhood opportunities that can pave the road to success. Schooling in low-income communities, communities mainly made up of people of color, offer poor quality education in comparison to schools in high-income areas. 

The article, An End to the Class vs. Race Debate, by Ralph Richard Banks stresses the idea of “ racial disparities in social mobility is economic inequalities in disguise”. The article goes on to explain the economic outcomes of black people in these communities, comparing boys and girls, then comparing them to white people in high-income communities. Putting into perspective the challenges of socio-economics. 

From the 1800s to now, the social status of an individual made up a lot in paving the path for an individual. I do not believe that the communities or families an individual is born into solely determine their future but being born into a community with low-income status bring in many more obstacles to fight through than being born into a community that works in your favor. 

Article link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/opinion/class-race-social-mobility.html

 

 

Is It Class or Race?

Engl 165-04 Fall '22, Engl 165-16 Fall '22

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Is the divide between white Americans and African Americans based on class, or race? Lower, middle, and high-income families determine someone’s class. Back then the divide was based on class. Africans being brought over to America to be used as slaves instilled that they were nothing more than objects. This caused a class divide between slaves and white people. This class divide was brought upon African Americans because of slavery. African Americans were put at a disadvantage from the start in America. They had harder upbringings because their access to education and simple human rights were limited. How is someone supposed to fight for their rights when they have no say? African Americans were put at a financial disadvantage during slavery and even after. They were forced into slavery and had no way of making money. Even after African Americans were free, they were still being underpaid. White people took advantage of the idea of slavery and forced African Americans into it without them having any say. 

In today’s time the issue is more about race. African Americans have rights now and they have a say in who, or what they want to do. Everyone in today’s time can see an African American and realize that they are their own person, and they are entitled to their own opinions. African Americans are still fighting today for equality. The race issue begins with discrimination and how African Americans still face racism. People can recognize African Americans as individuals, but that does not stop racism unfortunately. African Americans still face disparities in America as well. They face healthcare disparities, as well as financial disparities. African Americans are still put at a disadvantage, which is why there are still BLM protest and movements. African Americans face more of a race issue now, rather than a class.

“Race vs. Social Class Essay.” Bartleby, https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Race-vs-Social-Class-F3WSESYTJ#:~:text=THESIS%3A%20Race%20differences%20in%20identity%20and%20social%20position,of%20social%20division%20and%20stratification%20in%20North%20America.%22.