...of America. Both Brazil and the United States of America are the largest multiracial societies in the Americas, as well they both share a history of slavery, and plantation slavery at that, and finally both societies have confronted the legacy of slavery in the form of deeply entrenched racial inequality(Racial Inequality in Brazil and the United States, page 229). With all these similarities you would imagine that they both would be making strides toward a more equal society. It is safe to safe that the United States of America is at a state of more equality than any time in the history of this country, but where does that put Brazil? Are they making the same strides as the United States of America? Brazil is most definitely a Multiracial population, which would lead you to believe that it is a multiracial democracy, but that assumption would be far from the truth based on all the research that I have done and based on the articles that I have read. In the year 1991 51.6% of Brazil’s population was white, while 42.6% of the population was brown, and 4%was black (Demographic Censuses). When you look at that compared to the United States of America in 1980 when 83% of the population was white, while only 11.7% of the population was black and 5% of the population had some other orientation (1980 Census of Population). When you look at Trivett 2 those numbers you would instantly assume that Brazil has more of a multiracial democracy than even the United States of America. There...
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...Social Issues Position Paper Racial and Ethnic Inequality Amongst Blacks : A Economic Problem of Society Tameekah Myers SOC 1000-Comtemporary Social Issues Thesis Statement In this essay one will come to a better understanding of racial and ethnic inequality and why it exists. It is evident that Inequality amongst certain races is evident however it also linked to a variety of perspectives that account for the continuation of racial, ethnic discrimination and inequality. Inequality amongst Races and Ethnicity ▪ What is race and ethnicity? ▪ Should race exist ▪ Inequality among races Racism against African Americans ▪ Slavery ▪ Racial Profiling ▪ Stereotypes ▪ Causes and Effects of Racism Social status and race inequality ▪ Social/Racial classification ▪ Education inequality ▪ Labor/income Inequality Laws and Policies ▪ Affirmative action policies ▪ Equal Opportunity Policy ▪ Civil Right Act The social stance of American Minorities Now ▪ African Americans Conclusion In this essay one will come to a better understanding of racial and ethnic inequality and why it exists. It is evident that inequality amongst certain races is evident; however, it also linked to a variety of perspectives that account for the continuation of racial, ethnic discrimination and inequality. The story of race is intricate and may challenge how we think about human differences and race as...
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...Racial disparity in u.s prisons MBOGO .W. APOLLO (MOI). Professor: Institution affiliated Date: Racial disparity in prisons in America can be conceptualized as a situation where the population of a specific group of people is the most in the criminal justice system as compared to the general population. Prisons in U.S.A are a significant constituent of the criminal justice system. The main function of the American prisons is to protect society from violation of law, to rehabilitate also punish the law breakers in order to assist them to be responsible members of the society. The prisons in the state continue to grow in order to meet the demands of the correctional and the criminal justice system in general. However, the trend in the justice system, especially in the prisons, is characterized by ethnic disparity. This normally compromises the level of justice dispensation. It has been a controversial issue for several decades among the prisons in the state. Some individuals seem to defy the concept of existence of disparity in the justice system. They believe that it does not exist. For instance, statistics that were presented by Marc Mauer proved that if the argument that there existed racial discrimination in the prisons, then the extraordinary rise in the American prisons in the past three decades would be explained in six fold increase. This to him would eventually lead to incarceration of two million Americans. For instance, “one in every eight African –American...
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...Gerardo Contreras Gene Lee Econ203 March 1 2013 Income Inequality in America Dissemination of income in America has been a major topic of study by many institutions as well as scholars. Statistics have been gathered from numerous sources, which show that the problem of income inequality has significantly risen since 1970. Income inequality was stabilized for many years. Although income inequality has increased amongst the elite countries in the world, America suffers from this problem the most. Research shows that cause of the wide gap in income inequality has not been decided by gender, which by the way has decreased in America in last twenty years. The Income inequality gap has also not been because of race, or the gap been amongst middle class and lower class, however it has increased. The main reason exists and lies amongst the middle class and highest wage earners, with the disparity being extra dangerous as an individual’s income increases. It is stated that upward redistribution can be held accountable for forty percent of the forecasted Social Security deficit in the following century. Research states that in 2011 it was established that the highest earning one percent of families multiplied about 275 percent after federal taxes and income transfers over a period of 28, compared to a gain of just fewer than 40 percent of the 60 percent in the middle of America's income distribution. Additional researchers found that the trend has continually been ongoing since...
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...The social problem of economic, class and racial inequality has been a great issue of concern for many in the United States because inequality goes against America’s cores values of upward mobility economic wise and in social class (Korgan, 2012). These social problems of inequality have been linked to disparities in quality of life and psychological and social well-being. The problem of social inequality has been found to be linked with other social problems such as crime and victimization. The problem of social inequality can even be seen in the criminal justice system in how it treats people of various races, ethnic groups and socioeconomic classes who are processed through the system (Wheelock, 2006). In essence, there exists a disparity amongst race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class in criminal victimization and how people are processed through the criminal justice system that exacerbates the social problem of inequality in numerous social institutions and complicates many individual’s efforts to escape from poverty and achieve upward mobility (Wheelock, 2006). The disparity in criminal punishment is due to various factors such as laws that were implemented to reduce crime, race, and low economic status (Wheelock, 2006). The factors that have a tremendous impact on victimization are demography and socioeconomic status (Raphael, 2006). While violent crimes are not exclusive to poor metropolitan areas, consistent patterns have been observed which reveal lower rates of crime...
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...In The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, the author shows the racial struggle between blacks and whites in the 60s, during the Civil Right movement. The main black characters, Roseleen, August, May, June and Zach face a lot of difficulties as blacks; for instance, Roseleen was having a hard time to get the right to vote, June has a sense of intimidation towards white and May’s suicide is indirectly connected to the racial problem. Moreover, when Roseleen was just walking on the street, some Caucasian men pick a fight with her and then they beat her up until she almost dies. On the other hand, the main white characters, Lily and her father T. Ray, are racist. We can see how racism is influential when it comes to parents to child, and we...
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...Managing Diversity Final Research Paper Why is Discussion of Race Taboo in America? America is said to be a melting pot of cultures, a country of not one nationality but a diverse mixture of all different types of people melted into one nation. This term became famous in America from the 1908 play of the same name, “The Melting Pot.” The basis of the play was how immigration to America caused the nation to be a fusion of nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities. What the play failed to mention was that although some nationalities were indeed melting together, American’s that were of different races were being excluded. The physical differences in races, such as African Americans, had caused them to be excluded from reaping the benefits of all that America had to offer. The worst part about all of this is that the people being excluded from “The Melting Pot” were decedents of individuals who did not come to this country by choice. Instead they were brought to this country through kidnapping. Flash forward a hundred years to Nov. 24th, 2008. America elects its first African American president Barack Obama. Article after article published around this time had headlines reading, “Barack Obama: The End of Racism in America.” We finally did it! Racism in America was able to be totally eradicated through the election of an African American as our nation’s president. If only it was that easy. Now in 2014, eight years after the election of our nation’s first African American...
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...Jeanette Cepin Power & Inequality In The Workplace Term: Summer 2015 Professor: Bonnie Johnson Final Reflection Essay Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a society that with hard work, dedication, and discipline we can accomplish the so called “American Dream”? Some have been able to accomplish this dream, but many still struggle and continue to work non stop in order to reach a dream that is almost impossible to achieve. The United States of America, “the land of the free and opportunities”, hasn’t really been the land of the free, with opportunities for all. During my 7 week summer course, I was able to have a better and deep understanding of how the United States is structured to benefit a certain group while denying others opportunities. How those in power acquired their power, work to maintain it through inequality, how these inequalities can a lot of times be correlated, and how can we work together to make a difference. In order to understand inequality we must first identify what are the factors that contribute in creating it. Social class, which can define one’s position in society, contributes to a form of conflict. Social class divisions have always played a prominent role in America. These class distinctions inflict unfair on all Americans. The idea of social class has been a central concept in determining the opportunities a person is capable of having. People from different socioeconomic backgrounds live different lifestyles as well...
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...neighborhood and state levels disconnected them from classrooms and restrooms, from theaters and train cars, from juries and assemblies. African Americans have been treated unequally for many years and equality is still elusive for blacks in today’s society. Economic gains African Americans have dealt with inequality for many years and still can’t seem to achieve equality. In the article “Equality still elusive 50 years after civil rights act,” Richard Wolf (2014) mentioned that African Americans have made a huge impact on society throughout the years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there are many achievements done by an African American, but they still seem to lack in catching up to the white race. African Americans has helped obtain many things in this world and has set marks and have made history, but can’t be able to surpass those of...
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...Los Angeles: A critical essay looking into increasing inequality and its root causes in the metropolitan area across the last 50 years Los Angeles is one of the most economically developed cities in the world and it represents a beacon of technological advancement, social progression and equal opportunity for people all around the world. Los Angeles (L.A.) was recently ranked 9th on the Global Economic Power Index (Florida, 2012) and 20th on the Global Power City Index that included criteria such as “livability”, “cultural interaction”, “environment” and “accessibility” (Institute for Urban Strategies, 2014). These ideas may ring true for some; however there are many who live within the city limits that experience a very different reality. In the last 20 years there has been an increasing amount of academic literature examining rising economic, social, political and underlying racial inequality within L.A. This essay will attempt to evaluate this literature so as to examine what inequalities are occurring and identify possible causes underlying them. For future reference within this essay, I am going to be looking at L.A. as the Greater Los Angeles Area, which includes the city of L.A. and other interconnected urban areas so as to avoid confusion on where possible boundaries are drawn and also to have a greater area from which to draw comparison from. Socio-Economic History Leading to Contemporary Inequality The situation Los Angeles is currently in can be attributed...
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...Race In America: “We Would Like To Believe We Are Over The Problem” In the article “Race In America” written by Maryann Cusimano Love, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and New York Times best-selling author, argues that race is still a problem in today’s society. Love provides evidence from sources like Senator Obama’s presidential bid, the Virginia state legislature, statistics from the 16th Surgeon General of the United States Dr.David Satcher, and information from MLK Jr.’s speech along the lines of the Civil Rights Movement to show that racism still divides us as a country. Thus to prove to her readers as well that inequality of blacks versus whites in America still persists even after all that has changed for African Americans...
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...Many Americans believe that access to a good education is all that is needed to overcome inequality in our society. Take a position on whether you agree or disagree with this statement. Support your position with examples or evidence. - I disagree with this statement. Inequality comes in many forms in our society. Some people are not treated equal because of race, creed, religion, or gender. Inequality is also found in employment, income or wages, funding in public schools, interest rates offered on loans, education, punishment, contribution of health care centers, criminal inequality, and wealth to name a few. There have been occasions when I have personally walked into a store to shop and was being followed by store employees, whereas other customers were not. Although this is called "racial profiling", I feel that I wasn't treated like other customers in the store. Of the educational problems identified in the chapter, discuss which you feel is the most pressing problem facing our schools today. - I believe that a growing educational problem in America is access to higher education. College tuition maybe too expensive for Parents to afford for their children. For those students that manage to get student loans, will become thousands of dollars in debt before they are even employed. If education is too expensive, many may opt out of educational advancement, which could in some cases eliminates them from applying for higher waged jobs which require a college degree or slow...
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...On June 11, 1963, President John F. Kennedy gave his Civil Rights Address in reaction to the necessary deployment of the U.S. National Guard to escort African American students enlisting at the University of Alabama. In this compelling speech, Kennedy requested Americans to perceive racial inequality as an ethical issue towards which all individuals should endeavor. He carefully addressed the problems of discrimination and segregation within America at the time, knowing well that there would be disagreement from Southern voters. His tone and diction in the address left an impression on a huge number of people; consequently, the speech expedited action in the Civil Rights Movement that will never be forgotten. Kennedy’s use of ethos, logos, and pathos to persuade Americans to...
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...For the greater good of this nation, the education system has to be reformed, as racial inequality is evident and the discriminatory educational system is becoming a self destructive factor on the citizens of the United States of America. In the U.S, public education funds rely on taxation of local property. These property taxes vary between different districts and locations. This variance of property tax revenues often leads to inequality of education due to lack of financial resources in the school to provide opportunities, facilities and programs for the students. This inequality of opportunities is evident and often leads up to broader, much larger social problems in the long run. According to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, racial minorities are more likely, than their white counterpart, to be suspended from school, receive less access to math and science classes, and are usually taught by lower-paid teachers with less experience. (Rich 2015) Statistics from the date proved that based on the data collected during the 2011-2012 academic year, black students face harsher discipline than other students and are three times more likely to be suspended than white students. Young African-American students are also suspended and expelled at disproportionate rates, even students as young as preschool-level. Students of color also lacks the access to schools that offer a full range of math and science courses, which undoubtedly impacts their chances of getting...
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...Critique #1 | Racial Inequality after Racism: How Institutions Hold Back African Americans | Melissa Bolton 5-15-2016 | Harris, F. C., & Lieberman, R. C. (2015). Racial Inequality after Racism: How Institutions Hold Back African Americans. Foreign Affairs, 94(2), 9-20. Harris, F. C., & Lieberman, R. C. (2015). Racial Inequality after Racism: How Institutions Hold Back African Americans. Foreign Affairs, 94(2), 9-20. The article chosen for critique is titled Racial Inequality after Racism: How Institutions Hold Back African Americans published March 2015, this article suggests "institutional racism" is a primary contributor to racial inequality in America today. Coined by Stokely Carmichael, a leader in the Black Power movement of the 1960's, the term institutional racism is used to define discrimination that "originates in the operation of established and respected forces in the society, and thus receives far less public condemnation than individual racism". The article sites recent social unrest in the African American community regarding the use of deadly force by police officers as a stark reminder that racial inequality is an ongoing social...
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