The Factors Of Race And Ethnicity In Society

Gentrification is a method by which poor and working-class neighborhoods in the inner-city are redeveloped. It is a phenomenon that happens when low-income neighborhoods undergo alterations due to an influx of wealthier residents. Kelefa Sanneh starts his article on gentrification with a conversation about the word ghetto; its origins and how the word is now being used in the context of predominantly low-income African American communities. After discussing a debate among sociologists about the usage of the word ghetto, Sanneh points out an interesting turn in popular view: while the term ghetto was once used as an insult, people are now trying to preserve the communities that are described as a ghetto. Later, Sanneh discusses the different

I would like to discuss the issue of race and ethnicity in sports. We will also explore the bigger questions. How much does race and ethnicity matter in the sports world? Are certain races dominant in certain sports? Is there a difference in how we treat players based on race and ethnicity? Does it matter? I would like to answer some of these questions and gain a better understanding of how much of a part they play.

First, they state that gentrification is beneficial to the communities in which it occurs, because it may promote lower crime rates, and provide economic grounding and growth. But these statistics are incredibly deceiving, not unlike the general demographic which facilitates such gentrification. First, while in a purely quantitative respect, gentrification does lead to an exhibition of “growth” (increased business activity and profits, increased population, and an overall higher income level), when examining the outcomes in a more qualitative way, it can be seen that the process is incredibly depressive to established communities. Not only does gentrification drain the established populations financially and lead to their displacement, often even cultural values are appropriated and commonly used phrases take on new meaning; for example, “...social workers endeavor to get ghetto youth “off the streets”, the lowest form of destitution is to be a “bum on the streets”, and the most degraded form of prostitution is to be a “streetwalker” (Erikson). Gentrification, in contrast, promotes the positive value of the street and what is street life.”. Unfortunately, this perfectly embodies the way in which the meanings of terms (in this case, “street”) are connotated in vastly different ways when referring to people of different race and class; as the minority and marginalized populations are

“The impacts of the gentrification movement can be tied to systemic racism both directly and indirectly, i.e. it targets certain racial neighborhoods deliberately, and it also targets them because minorities make up the majority of the working class. Further, the reality provides a clear argument against the “mutually beneficial” argument due to the fact that it is notably detrimental to specific groups of people.” This sentence pulled from Jonathan Frett’s online article “Gentrification: The truth behind Urban development, its systemic racism, and the resistance” Shows that often times the deeper meaning to Gentrification is often racism.

Gentrification presents itself when outsiders enter an urban community, commonly densely populated with people of color, and through complicit actions wards off the residents within. As the area begins to gain popularity and appeal, the soaring property prices create an incentive for the property owners to rid of the tenants to make room for the newcomers. Furthermore, corporations begin to supersede homes and exploit defenseless communities. Although the newcomers do tend to improve these previously indigent neighborhoods, it comes at the destruction of the cultures that exist within said neighborhoods. Therefore, the amenities of the communities of color enervate in the name of gentrification.

“Critics often charge that gentrification constitutes a white “invasion” of poor black and Hispanic neighborhoods” (Levine, 2015). Re-developed neighborhoods often lose significant numbers in the African American population while gaining an overwhelming increase of white residents. In New York, the portion of

According to the article Gentrification by Ajay Panicker, gentrification is the process in which urban communities “experience a reversal, reinvestment, and the in-migration of a relatively well-off middle- and upper middle-class population” (Hwang and Sampson, 2014, pg. 727). With this definition in mind, gentrification has affected my life. In recent years, New York City has been stricken down by gentrification, specifically in certain areas of Brooklyn and Manhattan. As viewed in the text, African-American and Latino communities are comparatively poorer and marginalized due to gentrification. The neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan were once predominately African-American and Latino. Presently, these neighborhoods have been overtaken

Research has shown that the economic benefits of gentrification spread beyond the white people. Social scientists have gathered a census to measure the total income in a neighborhood that had been gentrified, and the result shown that that the demographic group that had the greatest impact in the census were the black residents with high-school diplomas (Roos). They contributed to almost one-third of the income gain while the college graduates only contributed to twenty percent of the income gain (Kiviat). However, that is not always the case. In Sherman Alexie’s short story Gentrification, he displays an example of a less fortunate black neighborhood. The narrator was a white man with a middle class background and his neighborhood was that of lower class, putting him in situations where the neighbors perceived it as a racist act. The narrator’s actions were portrayed as a sign of showing superiority and being the only white man, the narrator unknowingly made it seem like he was superior racially as well. Such misunderstandings lead to the resentment of a certain

Gentrification is not always seen as bad, there are many arguments that push for change and the bettering of spaces but always at the cost of the people of color and lower class citizens. The structure of society pushes them to the bottom, never in the media is there a clear wrong doing from gentrification, at worst it is a necessary evil to better communities and cities. “These alternative geographies are predicated on difference and the spatialization of non-dominant groups; alternative geographies are points of struggle which highlight the tension between dominant geographies and difference. Thus, imaginary geographies which do not neatly align themselves with conventional geographies, knowledges which reconfigure established geographical meanings, and resistant political locations, all suggest that difference is indicative of alternative geographies and geographic struggles.” (McKittrick & Peake, 13) Difference defines space and racism, by pointing out the difference groups can gain control of the system and have power over other groups. Gentrification is the middle class using their privilege to “better” a neighborhood and displace anyone of lower class that can not afford

Gentrification has brought conflict in numerous major cities in America, including New York City, usually involving issues of race and finance. The alteration of communities has been viewed as the malfunction of society, where rich predominantly white folk are praised for making a district “better”. It is in these same neighborhoods where minority occupants are forced to leave their homes due to inflamed rents. People should not be forced to move out of their homes with the intent of “improving” the neighborhood. (Flag Wars) Gentrification also gives rise to a moral standpoint for poor communities: is it really humane to knock down a building occupied by the working and lower income families with the intent to build a business that you are so certain will be a success?

Viewing the complex matter of gentrification succinctly, it helps to uncover how multifaceted it is; in that gentrification involves the oppression, marginalization, displacement of vulnerable populations, particularly, the poor, and the black who are often already negatively impacted by the effects of classism, and racism. Gentrification threatens to erode the communities and livelihood maintained by these set of people because their displacement becomes a precondition for the total transformation of the area.

Racial injustices are what have made America the powerful nation it is today. America was founded on the genocide of Native Americans and built on the backs of African slaves. In modern day America, strides have been made to provide all Americans equal opportunities to ensure assimilation and success in society however there is still significant work to be to ensure equality. In this paper I have researched the anthropological perspectives on race and ethnicity globally. I have also compared and contrasted varying researcher’s works to ensure I have a thorough understanding of this topic

Race and ethnicity are commonly used as synonyms for each other as we encounter many diverse individuals throughout the world. Sociologist on the other hand, find very distinct understandings to how these terms, while different, hold correlation to one another. Max Weber, a founding figure of sociology, was one of the first to define race and ethnicity. He stood with the idea of essentialism which presumes "that and individual 's identity depends on fundamental and innate characteristics that are deep-seated, inherited, and unchangeable." (Pearson, pg 241) As for ethnicity, Weber described it as subjective belief in relations to a groups common descent. While sociologist today may disagree with Weber 's theory, they do apply this idea of subjectivity and have correlated it to that of not only group definitions but of our own perceptions of biological similarity.

Since the early 2000s, gentrification accelerated in various New York City neighborhoods. Data shown that about 29.8 percent of New York City has been affected by gentrification in low-income communities (Governing Data 1). This is over a 20 percent increased from the previous decade in New York City alone. Gentrification is a term used to describe displacement or renewal in urban neighborhoods as a result of increasing property values and rent prices. Gentrification has existed since the 1960s but has rapidly increased since then . Gentrification has now become a common and global controversial topic in many low-income neighborhood. Although, gentrification hasn’t always been bad from increasing job opportunities to lowering crime rates. Gentrification has impacted and transformed underprivileged districts in New York City. However, at the advantage of who ? Thus, gentrification has only increased average rates of poverty and infused neighborhoods with “white privilege”.

Throughout history one major social problem in our society has been race and ethnicity. “Sociologist, then, have come to understand race as a social category, based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people” (The real world, fifth edition, digital.wwnorton.com). In today’s society when we see a person we assume their race which is an ascribed status, according to our notes this is described as “Something we have from birth” based on their skin color, physical attributes, and other contributions such as accents and demographic locations all these can be considered a stigma “Any physical/social attributes devalue identity, excludes from normal social interactions”. “Ethnicity is another social category that is applied to a group with a shared ancestry or cultural heritage” (The real world, fifth edition, digital.wwnorton.com). Some ethnicities that people identified with in America are White, Hispanic and Latino American, African Americans, Asians and Native Americans. When it comes to race and ethnicity there is dominant groups and the minorities. “Sociologist define a minority group as people who are recognized as belonging to a social category (here either a racial or ethnic group) and who suffer from unequal treatment as a result of that status. A minority group is denied the access to power and resources generally accorded to others in dominant groups...” The denying access to power is considered discrimination, “An action or practice that