SSCI 316 Final Essay Paper Rubric: Exceptional 4, Commendabl

Ssci 316 Final Essay Paper Rubricexceptional 4commendable 3accept

Choose a subject related to the class and take a position in support or against it. Argue your position using documentation from no fewer than 4 peer-reviewed (scholarly) articles and 2 resources from class (such as the textbook or learning modules). Your paper should be a minimum of 900 words, with no maximum. It must include a title page and a works cited page, formatted in your chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). The body of the essay should be 4-5 pages, double-spaced. The due date is March 16, 2020, at 11:59 pm, with no extensions. The paper is worth 250 points. Suggested topics include questions about institutional racism, economic racism, cultural relativism, historical issues like slavery, the American Dream, LGBTQ+ issues, gender roles, religion and racism, post-racial society, native peoples, language policies, reverse racism, white privilege, critical race theory, intersectionality, genetic racism, eugenics, justification of racism, comparisons of genocide, historical conquests, influential black intellectuals, ethnic studies, and other related questions or ideas.

Paper For Above instruction

The topic of racial and cultural discrimination remains paramount in understanding contemporary society's dynamics and disparities. This essay aims to explore the pervasive influence of institutional racism and economic discrimination, examining their roots, manifestations, and impacts on minority populations in America. By critically assessing scholarly sources and class materials, I will argue that these forms of racism are deeply embedded in societal structures, perpetuating systemic inequalities that hinder minority success and social mobility.

Institutional racism refers to the policies and practices entrenched within societal institutions—such as education, criminal justice, housing, and employment—that systematically favor a dominant group while disadvantaging minorities (Bonilla-Silva, 2010). For example, research demonstrates that racial disparities in sentencing, access to quality education, and employment opportunities are not incidental but structural outcomes of institutional biases (Alexander, 2012). These disparities are reinforced through policies like redlining, school funding mechanisms tied to property taxes, and discriminatory hiring practices, which cumulatively restrict minority advancement and reinforce racial stratification.

Economic racism, closely linked to institutional racism, involves the ways in which economic systems advantage some groups over others based on race. Economic analyses show that poverty rates among African Americans and Latinos are significantly higher than among white populations, a pattern rooted in historic and ongoing systemic discrimination (Pager & Shepherd, 2008). For instance, discriminatory lending practices, wage gaps, and limited access to capital perpetuate economic disparities. This creates a cycle where economic inequality becomes self-sustaining, limiting minorities’ opportunities for upward mobility (Shapiro et al., 2013).

Understanding these forms of racism necessitates acknowledgment of their roots in historical events such as slavery, segregation, and eugenics programs. Eugenics, in particular, influenced racial hierarchies and justified discriminatory policies in the early 20th century (Kevles, 1985). These ideologies laid the groundwork for modern racial bias, embedding notions of racial superiority and inferiority into scientific and societal discourses. Furthermore, the concept of white privilege elucidates how systemic advantages accrue to white populations, often invisible to those benefitting from such systemic advantages (McIntosh, 1989).

Critical race theory (CRT) offers a lens through which to analyze and challenge these systemic inequities. CRT posits that racism is not aberrational but normative within American society’s legal and social structures (Delgado & Stefancic, 2012). It emphasizes the importance of intersectionality, recognizing various axes of identity—race, class, gender—that intersect and compound experiences of discrimination (Crenshaw, 1991). This framework helps to understand how marginalized groups face layered disadvantages, which are perpetuated by societal institutions.

Empirical studies provide compelling evidence of the existence of pervasive racism. For example, research on the criminal justice system reveals racially biased policing and sentencing practices that disproportionately imprison minorities (Alexander, 2012). Similarly, studies on disparities in healthcare access and quality show how systemic discrimination results in poorer health outcomes for racial minorities (Williams & Mohammed, 2009). These findings underscore the necessity of ongoing reform efforts and policy change to dismantle systemic barriers.

In conclusion, institutional and economic racism are complex, interconnected phenomena embedded within societal structures. These forms of discrimination perpetuate disparities that limit opportunities and perpetuate inequality for minorities. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach informed by critical race theory and supported by scholarly research. Only through acknowledging and actively challenging systemic racism can society move toward true equity and justice.

References

• Alexander, M. (2012). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press.
• Bonilla-Silva, E. (2010). Racism without racists: Color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241-1299.
• Delgado, R., & Stefancic, J. (2012). Critical race theory: An introduction. NYU Press.
• Kevles, D. J. (1985). In the name of eugenics. Harvard University Press.
• McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 49(4), 10-12.
• Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). The sociology of discrimination: Racial discrimination in employment, housing, and the criminal justice system. Annual Review of Sociology, 34, 181-209.
• Shapiro, T., Meschede, T., & Osoro, S. (2013). The racial wealth gap: Why policy matters. Institute for Assets and Social Policy.
• Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2009). Discrimination and racial disparities in health: Evidence and needed research. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(1), 20-47.