Race and Ethnicity: Discrimination of African Americans in the U.S.

Race and Ethnicity
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Race and Ethnicity
Race and Ethnicity Introduction             The different societies worldwide are characteristic of individuals or groups of people defined by equally diverse social, cultural, economic, and political affiliations. People associated with the same political orientation, for instance, tend to identify and differentiate themselves with their unique backgrounds of political ideologies. The economic status of an individual or group also creates a basis for social stratification based on their economic influence in society. Individuals or groups with shared traditions and practices also make up the cultural stratification witnessed in societies around the world. These social structures serve to consciously or unconsciously create a sense of belonging for an individual or group in society. Therefore, it suffices to claim that societies form around the different associations or affiliations upon which individuals and groups develop their sense of belonging. Race and ethnicity are the most prevalent sources of social stratification existing in today’s society, with a wide range of implications on the interaction and integration of individuals and groups across the outlined social dimensions. Racial and ethnic groupings in the United States and around the world make for a contentious issue, attracting scholars and other stakeholders’ attention to understand their underlying elements and manifestation in the global society. An evaluation of the manifestation of race and ethnicity in society is necessary for understanding the impact of the prevalent social stratification embraced in different countries. Racial and ethnic discrimination against the perceived inferior or minority races and ethnicities in the United States, for instance, is a highly sensitive issue in American society. Provided herein is an evaluation of race and ethnicity as sources of social stratification or identities through the lens of racial and ethnic discrimination of the African American community in the United States. Race and Ethnicity             It is important to understand the meaning of the outlined sources of social stratification existing in today’s society. Race is an ancient concept referring to individuals or groups of people with shared physical characteristics such as skin color other facial features (Ansell, 2013). On the other hand, ethnicity refers to the concept of having a common cultural background and heritage (Ansell, 2013). People within the same ethnicity share the same cultural practices, values, and beliefs, creating a strong sense of belonging. Both concepts are functions of social constructs developed by individuals or groups to create their identities in society. It is through these social constructs that develop the perceptions of superiority among the racial and ethnic groups formed. The European Americans, for instance, share the strong belief of their racial and ethnic superiority over other groups in the American society, rendering them the dominant group and the rest of the communities making up the minority groups (...