Racial Inequalities

Racial Inequalities

Racial Inequalities

History:

Symbolic interactionism developed as a sociological theory from the work of American

philosophies, especially George Herbert Mead (1863-1931). Mead’s major contribution

was the concept of ‘self’ as essential to the process of becoming a human being (Meade,

1992) . Social interaction takes place through symbols, including language. Symbols are

created by humans to refer to the ways in which objects and events are perceived rather

than to their intrinsic nature. Mead’s student, Herbert Blumer systematically developed

the theory and named it in 1937. (Wikipedia, Herbert Blumer, Symbolic Interaction) It

developed separately from the phenomenological schools of thought in Europe and bears

certain differences.

What is Symbolic Interactionism:

Symbolic interactionism belongs to the phenomenological perspective because of its
focus on the human being’s views and interpretation of social reality. The theory seeks to
explain human behavior as the result of the meanings which human beings attach to
persons, objects and events. (Blumer, 1986)

What is Racism?
Racism is the act of putting someone or causing someone to be put at a disadvantage or
denying what would be considered a given human and just service or right solely due to
the color of ones skin, the ethnic that one posses, or the language that one speaks.
(Dalton, 2008)

Racial Inequalities:

To say that racial inequality does not exist in today's society is like saying that the world

is free of ignorance, violence and hunger. When we speak of racial inequality we can

look back on the days of segregation in the south and realize how far we have come but

what a way we still have to go on this particular subject.

You can actually uncover the truth with your own eyes, ears, and body, if you want to.
All you have to do is look around, listen, and move around a little bit. Pay attention to
what you see and...

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