Sociological Perspective
(The Manifest and Latent Functions of Racism in Society today)
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Sociological Perspective
(The Manifest and Latent Functions of Racism in Society today)
A manifest function is that action intended to have specific consequences in the social structures and patterns. Racism in society today is intended to show differences in society through discrimination of color and ethnic groups. Through this discrimination, the society aims to make some communities disadvantaged through equal access to social activities such as jobs (Burt et al.). Racial inequality is to make some communities; for instance, the African-Americans in the United States remain in the lower social strata in the society where people experience poverty. The community is racially segregated in social and economic opportunities, which was the aim of racism in the society to ensure that the White continue dominating over them. Through racism, the whites ensure that they remain the superior race in society. Simultaneously, the Blacks and other minority groups struggle with the harsh economic and social life subjected to them.
However, racism in society has some unintended consequences, which are the latent function of racism. Through the racial discrimination meant to ensure that the White supremacists continue to thrive in the community, the effect of an unintended consequence of discrimination is the emergence of violence and the struggle for equality in the community. The discriminated race tries to fight for their rights and recognition through equal rights, which is seen as acts of violence in the society that makes the white supremacists retaliate with a force that leads to the rise of violence in the community between the races (Burt et al.). Over time, the different races generate prejudices, each race creating tension among them that develops to violence and increased fights among the different violence. Due to the discrimination and the social and economic conditions, the African-American community has substantially been met with bias and prejudice related to criminal activities.
Works cited
Burt, Callie Harbin et al. “Racial Discrimination, Ethnic-Racial Socialization, And Crime.” American Sociological Review, vol 77, no. 4, 2012, pp. 648-677. SAGE Publications, doi:10.1177/0003122412448648.