Differences in social classes

Social Class and Race-Based Differences:

A Study in Communication, Diversity and Class Structures

There is no better example than that found in the American society to show the world how a people can accept and take advantage of the richness to be found within a diverse social structure. Indeed, it's in this country that diversity is most prevalent, most rich, and most felt. Sometimes, diversity can, as above-stated, create positive, enriching experiences, yet often times, when a segment of society is not ready, diversity can lead to generally negative consequences that can then lead to racism and prejudice. The American example is the best to study despite this potential negativity because it has always harbored a good amount of diversity, as well as overcome the potential negative aspects that could come with lack of acceptance of different cultures, races, etc. Yet even this example is not perfect, and in the following pages, this essay will examine what groups could do in order to better communicate with each other and also how social classes could overcome differences in order to work well toward a common goal.

There are two important races in the United States that must be discussed whenever one discusses race. These are African-Americans and Arab-Americans. Though other ethic societies ought to also be discussed in this context, the paper, given its length, will limit itself to exploring the above two mentioned races only because in this way it can illustrate both progress and setbacks. The progress will be liked to the formerly mentioned ethic background, and the setback will be linked to the latter. This division will be discussed further below.

The first to be examined is the Black or African-American race. These peoples have been living in America longer than most immigrants, as they country, in its incipience, was a proponent of slavery and the slave trade, as many now know, and kidnapped Africans in order to set them to work on American plantations. This part of the nation's history is replete with injustice, pain and blood, and American has still to make up for the harm done to what we now call African-Americans. Yet throughout the years, there have been some advances. In the 1800's, slavery was prohibited, and even though injustices continued until the 1960's, the country today gives African-Americans every right. In other words, at first glance, one could not see any kind of racial or ethnically-based prejudice towards these peoples. Such distinct proof is also found in the election of the nation's president, Barack Obama.

Yet there are pockets of the country, and many of them, that still harbor prejudice towards African-Americans. This is most evident in the existence of the Ku Klux Klan in the South and the overt and overbearing questioning or President Obama's roots, as well as the obvious racist attitudes towards our leader from certain individuals in the country. In order to eliminate such negative attitudes, there are a number of things that society could do, as will be described below.

Though the following discussion only applies to this particular ethnic group, namely African-Americans, the proposed solutions could be applied to other groups as well. The first to be proposed in order to ensure that prejudice is eliminated or at least lessened is to open up channels of communication between various segments of society. For instance, in most of America, with the exception of large cities, society is divided between different classes and ethnicities. In Detroit, for instance, the suburbs are dominated by White, Indian-American and Asian-American ethnic groups that are either middle class or upper class. The lower class, and especially African-Americans, are relegated to the city itself, in low-income housing or very cramped, dirty and forgotten pockets of the once-prosperous city. Because of this situation it is very hard for the groups to communicate with each other and thus the cycle of poverty, misunderstanding, and prejudice, especially towards the latter group, is perpetuated by a non-existent communication channel.

The African-American community in this same example is affected by stereotypes and discrimination not only because of race, but also because of social status. Most African-American communities are relegated to inner cities because of the fact that they have been discriminate against for so many years, and because of the lack of communication between the races and the classes in many American states. This example thus elucidates that racial prejudice and lead to lack of opportunity and class prejudice as well.

The second group to be analyzed is the Arab-American group, and this is a good point to analyze it, for this particular group will also prove how racial prejudice alone can affect a particular segment of society. For instance, many Arab-Americans in the city of Dearborn, Michigan, look very much like other, native inhabitants of the same city. This is a different from the group analyzed above, and it must also be noted here that this group is often well-off, even affluent. Yet the prejudice towards Arab-Americans, in contrast with that towards African-Americans, which is two-fold (based on race and class), only focuses on ethnicity. Namely, though many Arab-Americans are well to do, they are discriminated against simply because of their ethnic background, but the prejudice is just as potent.

What is most interesting about this second group is that the prejudice is relatively recent, and very closely connected with the active focus of the U.S. On the Arab nations it considers a threat in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Thus, in the case of the first group, discrimination has been present, both towards ethnicity and class, for centuries, yet in the second group it is only recent that ethnic discrimination has been fostered. Just as in the first case, however, channel of communication are vital in order to understand and help lessen prejudice towards Arab-Americans.

In order to understand how solutions can be implemented, one must understand how to ensure that communication strategies are put in place between these different groups at all levels. The clear barrier that must also be clearly seen is the big problem of ignorance in the country. On the part of Arab-Americans, most people do not understand that the prejudice really stems from the lack of understanding of the Muslim faith. Most people also do not know that many Arab-Americans are Christian and are thus not liked irrationally to groups like Al Qaeda.

With respect to African-Americans, ignorance is also a big cause of prejudice, and combatting this through communication must be the first step to a lasting solution. With communication comes an understanding, in both cases, of the specific needs and wants of groups on both sides. Effective communication can create and foster understanding as well, and this can lead to a better organized, more streamlined society, with less negative effects in that which concerns diversity.

Some of the communication strategies that can be employed in order to reduce discrimination and stereotypes, as well as address class differences could include a focus on the younger generation. This could include discussions at schools that could include the beginning of interracial communication. Another solution would be to have more field trips and learn more history about another race and this race's struggles in the past and present. Communication does not necessarily have to follow a strict definition, but schools especially should implement policies that could ensure that the younger generation has a better understanding of what it means to be different, and how diversity can enrich a country's experience.

In terms of class differences, one must create opportunities for low-income students by integrating them in more ways through such things as field trips with students other schools. Even visits to museums or other local places of interest could be done with another group, be it African America, Arab-American, or otherwise, concomitantly.