Social Stratification Implications of Race on Poverty

D. Lily Palmer John L. Steadman WRIT 121 February 17, 2011 Social stratification: implications of race on poverty Poverty is a significant yet emotional, concern that may seem like unrealistic fiction yet is a real condition affecting hard working Americans as cost of living and inflation rises yet the minimum wage remains the same. With increased unemployment, there is an increase in the number of people who are considered either at poverty level or on the threshold of poverty. Although Effects of poverty are not specifically restricted to a specific race or social class, there is a correlation in poverty levels indicative to specific racial groups. To help us better understand the effects poverty has†¦show more content†¦Native Americans, African Americans and Hispanics tend to be the three major races fulfilling these roles. A functionalist would state that this is because their meritocracy. These particular races also provide Jobs for educated people as homeless and destitute people provide social service jobs. They perform a vital function to social structure without them we would have no definition of what poor is. Not only do they create jobs and provide service’s that others would not, they also fulfill an economic role kind of like a ladder you need the step below you to support the next step. The same with races you need Hispanics to raise the social status of African Americans you need Native Americans to raise the status of Hispanics and so forth. In contrast a conflict theorist would maintain that poor and destitute compete over resources. The Native Americans are at low end of the income scale because they are competing with other races that have more social power. Therefore they have a harder time getting jobs and have difficulty getting secondary education due to the steep competition between races for financial aid. Therefore, Native Americans are more likely to take lower paying jobs that require less education restricting them to a much lower status than another race. I think of conflict theory related to the different races as Russian Nesting Dolls. Assuming you knowShow MoreRelatedBaltimore Riots : Option 1992 Words   |  4 PagesBaltimore Riots: Option 1 Race riots are one of the major news items we hear about via the media when a social crisis occurs. The riots in Baltimore, however, were not so much about race, but more about economic and social class separations. The riots began as a peaceful protest amongst the citizens of Baltimore over the death of one of their own, Freddie Gray. Gray was a young, African-American, from a financially lower class area of Baltimore. 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