Framing Social Reality: Stratification and Inequality
Chapter four focuses on determining what the men's interpretive thoughts are on characteristics of society such as power, hierarchy, and social relations across race and class lines. Rather than focusing on each of the men's intellectual abilities, the author mainly focuses on each of the men's personal experiences. By analyzing the differences in opinions the author strives to figure out how differences in personal experiences connect to the kinds of interpretations that the men have.
One man in particular that has an extremely interesting outlook on the American Society is Barry. Barry received his high school diploma but fell into the unfortunate act of drug dealing soon after graduating. He talks about how much he regrets doing it, but he needed the money then, and that was the easiest way to get it. When asked if he believed that discrimination existed, he was the only one that didn't believe that it was present. He believed that you are discriminated against only if you allow yourself to be. In other words, he was saying that you determine your own fate. Barry believed that he could have done something far better with his life had he only refused to take no for an answer and been more determined. It was very surprising that seeing the position that Barry was in, he had so little to say about the existence of discrimination obstacles and barriers towards upward mobility.
Donald, another man who was interviewed had a completely different outlook on these questions. Donald grew up working small jobs at a variety of business's and although he wasn't a part of the wealthier society, he viewed it from his position. He stated that he viewed racism and discrimination all the time, and he believes that's why he was fired from some of his jobs. He believes that as long as there are different wealth classes these unfortunate aspects of society are always going to remain.
In conclusion we can see that it is not the intelligence of these men that allow them to answer the questions thoroughly, but their personal experiences that they are able to talk about. Barry doesn't believe that there is discrimination and racism because has never traveled far from Near West Side. Donald on the other hand has worked outside of the city and has viewed and experienced the life-style of other classes. He is aware that other classes exist, and has experienced discrimination himself.
Read more about this topic: The Minds Of Marginalized Black Men, Chapter 4
Famous quotes containing the words framing, social and/or inequality:
“In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men ... you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“Nobody can write the life of a man, but those who have eat and drunk and lived in social intercourse with him.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
“The doctrine of equality!... But there exists no more poisonous poison: for it seems to be preached by justice itself, while it is the end of justice.... “Equality for equals, inequality for unequals”Mthat would be the true voice of justice: and, what follows from it, “Never make equal what is unequal.””
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)