Within society, there is a debate around the interconnection between class and race and how these factors affect people. This debate contributes to our understanding of race and racism because it explains how race can impact the class of an individual. This paper will focus on the connection between class and race and how understanding these actors contribute to one’s understanding of discrimination in society.
There are different approaches in sociology, some are based on the impact of race on class, and others imply that these elements have no impact on a person’s life. For example, Marxist sociologists approach class and race as two inseparable factors that impact the economic status of a person (Bonacich, n.d.). However, not every social theory supporter agrees with this approach, and some argue that class has more impact on the welfare of a person as opposed to race.
The Black community in the United States is a prime example of discrimination due to one’s race. According to Prison Policy Initiative (2018), “Black men raised in the top 1 percent – by millionaires – were as likely to be incarcerated as white men raised in households earning about $36,000” (para. 1). Hence, the social status of these individuals, or their class, has no impact on how they are treated in society.
IN summary, some social theorists argue that efficiency is the main factor impacting the ability of a person to succeed and, therefore, earn money and that race does not impact this. However, the reality is different as there are many researchers who presented data showing that the majority of wealth is controlled by white Americans and the inequalities in pay for different races. Therefore, the factor of race has an impact on a person’s social class and, therefore, on their ability to succeed.
References
Bonacich, E. (n.d.). Class and race.
Prison Policy Initiative. (2018). New research ends the “Is it race or class?” debate about mass incarceration.