Selected Readings - Bonilla-Silva

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Questions and Answers

How do whites and people of color primarily differ in their understanding of racism?

Whites view it as systemic while people of color see it as individual prejudice.

Both groups understand it as an unchangeable category.

Whites see it as prejudice while people of color view it as systemic. (correct)

Both groups believe it is primarily a matter of social control.

What is mainly responsible for the reproduction of racial privilege in society?

Social, economic, political, and ideological mechanisms. (correct)

The elimination of racial categories altogether.

Tools that promote equality across all races.

The integration of different cultural practices.

What is the primary reason racial structures are maintained according to Bonilla-Silva?

There is widespread belief in the biological basis of race.

Humans are naturally inclined to categorize others.

Changes in society render racial structures obsolete.

Dominant groups benefit materially from the existing racial order. (correct)

What does the notion of race being a socially constructed category imply?

Racial categorizations are created and sustained by societal practices. Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes the benefits that the dominant race receives from racial structures?

Wages of whiteness. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant factor that led to the migration of blacks from the South to the North in the early twentieth century?

Labor shortages in the industrial North after WWI Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is mentioned as a violent racist group affecting blacks in the South?

The Ku Klux Klan Signup and view all the answers

What was a common social control mechanism used against blacks in the South?

Lynching and mob violence Signup and view all the answers

What belief about minorities was prevalent among most whites during the Jim Crow period?

They were intellectually and morally inferior Signup and view all the answers

How did residential segregation impact blacks in the North?

It reduced the likelihood of racial violence Signup and view all the answers

What is described as a negative experience for people of color in upscale restaurants?

Being mistaken for restaurant workers and treated poorly. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about voter fraud in the Bonilla-Silva reading?

It was fabricated to suppress black voter turnout. Signup and view all the answers

What was one primary reason for the Great Migration of blacks from the South to the North and West between 1910 and 1940?

Desire for industrial jobs and economic opportunities. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of blacks were urban dwellers by 1970?

80 percent Signup and view all the answers

What misconception about black workers is highlighted in the Bonilla-Silva reading?

They are unskilled and unable to adapt. Signup and view all the answers

What significant effect did the migration have on the Southern Jim Crow system?

It made the system impossible to maintain due to opposition. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the new social and political mobilization of blacks in the North after the migration?

Political organization Signup and view all the answers

How did the economic conditions differ for blacks in the North compared to the South during the Great Migration?

They had better economic opportunities despite racial constraints. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the increased geographical dispersion of blacks by 1970?

Greater national unity and identity among blacks. Signup and view all the answers

Which comparison is made regarding the situation of blacks in the United States and the apartheid in South Africa?

The collapse of one system mirrored the other due to black opposition. Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to the flourishing of social and political organizations among blacks in the North?

Increased education and urban migration. Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable change in the socio-economic status of blacks from 1940 to 1970?

Formation of a significant middle class. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Racial Structure

The social relations and practices that reinforce white privilege
White people receive material benefits from the racial order
To maintain these privileges they struggle, or passively receive the manifold wages of whiteness
Racial structures remain in place for the same reasons other structures do

Jim Crow in the South

Black people were subjugated and cheated through violent racist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, mob violence and the lack of enforcement of the laws by state agencies
Most whites believed that minorities were intellectually and morally inferior and should be kept apart

The Great Migration

The Great Migration took place from 1910 to 1970
Between 1910 and 1940, 1.8 million blacks migrated from the South to the North and West
By 1970, 80% of black people were urban dwellers, they had increased their education and developed a small but thriving middle class
The Great Migration continued between 1940 and 1970 as 4.4 million more blacks left the South
The change was facilitated by industrialization and urbanization
In contrast, whites believed blacks were “unreliable” and could not adjust to factory work

Political Impact of the Great Migration

Black politicians continued to be subordinate to white ethnic political machines.
Black people have access to political power but are still vastly underrepresented in elected and appointed officials
61 people in the Senate are white, ten are people of color, but several of them are anti-minority minorities
Black people still experience the “services” of the criminal justice system directly and indirectly
Black people are overrepresented in the inmate population, six times higher than the white rate

Voter Suppression

Voter suppression efforts are aimed at ensuring that whites retain political power
Even though voter fraud is not a problem, voter suppression efforts are aimed at suppressing black turnout

Conclusion

Despite the changes that have taken place, a truly pluralist America remains a distant dream
There is still a lack of racial justice in terms of political power and representation
The black community continues to be subject to violence and unfair treatment in the criminal justice system

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Description

Explore the dynamics of racial structures in America, focusing on the reinforcement of white privilege and the impact of Jim Crow laws. This quiz covers the effects of the Great Migration on black populations and the historical context of race relations in the United States.