Racial Inequality is a social issue that has been present for hundreds of years and continues to affect society. Racial inequality can be identified as the racial disproportionality in economy and opportunities, where minority races are always at an unfair disadvantage. This problem can be seen everywhere from courts, schools, jobs, medical opportunities, etc. As a Hispanic male growing up in New York where Whites are the predominant race, racial inequality is something that can be seen all over, and that any non-white growing up here has experienced whether it is in school, streets or even jobs. Hispanics, blacks, or any non-whites are placed at a great disadvantage and are not meant to succeed. Opportunities in colleges are not the same, the type of education received from early ages is not the same quality and, in many cases, we are not able to afford a proper education. At job interviews or even something as simple as getting a car insurance quote many are stereotyped based on their race or looks. I would like to study this topic because it is something that has affected my past family members and continues to haunt me and people of minority races. My essay will analyze various credible sources that depict how racial inequality has and continues to affect our society. 

       In the newspaper article published by the Washington Post, The Racial Inequality Embedded in One of Our Countries Liberal Cities, the author Brandon James Render brings light to the racial inequality on which our country has been founded upon. He expands on how racial discrimination and oppression over history has impacted how society lives, who gets to have a decent lifestyle and who remains stuck below poverty levels all based upon one’s racial characteristics. Render is a student from East Kentucky University, he majored in history and lives and works at Austin Texas where he focuses on American society and culture specially race and social movements. His area of study together with his experiences living at the city of Austin validate his arguments in the article. He has experienced first and second hand the racial inequality and gentrification he talks about that prevents many from achieving the American Dream. His analysis of the situations that he experienced and interactions with other that are also affected by it also reinforce his claims. In his writing the author intends to catch the attention of officials and people who have the power to help bring an end to racial inequality because of gentrification and racial oppression. He does this by bringing exposure to this topic using a medium that is one of the most read news sources of government leaders like is the Washington Post as suggested by past research. This piece of writing has a critical tone all throughout the article. The author is bringing exposure to the problem at hand while at the same time criticizing and demonstrating a disapproving attitude toward the way black people are treated and placed in an oppressive position. “Austin’s racial makeover reminds us how Austin’s – and the nation’s – history of racial oppression and access to political power has long shaped who has access to the American Dream” (James Render). This demonstrates a clear tone of disapproval of the gentrification of previously black populated cities and oppression of black population, being that he relates the way black people are treated to their “access” the American Dream or success in this society. Moreover, it is clear how the author has a conciliatory stance where he intends bring change to the actions taken against black community and wants to help black people to be able to reach success, to reach that American dream and to rise above the oppression they’ve suffered all through history. Overall, the author is trying to urge people to make a change to have those in lead government positions help black people who are being forced through socioeconomic oppression to leave these areas and remain below poverty levels. He wants to placate racial inequality and to make a change where race does not dictate who someone is of how far they can get in life.

      Similarly, the web article NFL GMs On Racial Inequality, Colin Kaepernick and Football’s Path Forward: We can do better, talks about Racial Inequality within the NFL and how it affects players lives within the fields and outside the fields. The article refers to Colin Kaepernick an NFL player who in 2016 did not stand for the National Anthem as a form of protest against a country that has not kept its promises, especially in equality. But it was not after the brutal killing of George Floyd and the recent Blacks lives Matter protests during the pandemic that many coaches stopped to analyze the racial inequalities within the NFL, how it has affected players and future NFL staff and how they’ve contributed to this issue. The author of this article is Robert Klemko, who works for the sports section of the Washington Post since 2019. Klemko received a bachelor’s in journalism and specializes in writing about criminal justice within the US. Not only does Klemko count with the proper levels of study and knowledge on this topic, but his claims are also backed up by conversations he has with NFL GMs, quarterbacks, coaches and other staff which make him a credible source. Klemko’s intended audience in this article are those that hold leadership positions within the NFL, “For some in leadership positions, it’s apparent the needle has moved when it comes to the league’s most-discussed free agent. ‘He’s shown he is capable of playing at a high level in this league,’ Dimitroff said. ‘If a team with the right quarterback situation adds him, everyone is looking at kneeling very differently now.’” (Klemko). This clearly demonstrates how the author directly refers to people in leadership positions within the NFL. Moreover, this also shows the author’s purpose which is urging these people who hold this leadership positions to cause a change in racial inequality within the NFL. He wants them to sign or bring into play someone like Colin Kaepernick which will lead to a greater change since he has already begun a protest racial inequality amongst the US especially in NFL and it would opening a new chapter close to the end of racial inequality. The writing has a positive hopeful tone where it is trying to bring awareness to the issue at hand and more over cause a positive change for the benefit of minority groups that have been oppressed for decades. The genre of this piece is an informative web article which uses the Washington post website as it’s medium. Overall, the author has an objective stance where he does not involve his personal feeling instead, he just analyzes the topics based on the information gathered.

      The Journal article Racial Inequality in New York City Since 1965, addresses racial inequality in the city od New York over decades. It elaborates on racial distinctions that occur amongst the government education system, judicial systems yet most importantly what the government and lead officials have failed to do when addressing racial inequality. The author of this writing is Benjamin Bowser who is a professor at California State University who has earned a PHD in sociology and specializes in community assessment or the strengths and weaknesses of a community. He is a very educated person and has deeply researched racial inequality which is weakness that has long affected the community of New York City. The intended audience of this reading are government officials who they believe are the only ones who can help change this issue. The writing has an informative tone where it sheds light to the facts on racial inequality. The purpose of the reading is to draw the attention of anyone interested in learning what is racial inequality and what can be done to get closer to ending it. This piece’s genre is a journal article being that it contains things such as a summary paragraph above the text which is only found in journal articles. The medium used are online and physical libraries alongside bookstores where the book is available to all audiences. The author has a conciliatory stance where he disapproves of racial inequality and tries to urge a change by bringing light to this issue. “The truth is that government is the only institution that can make any difference. Government alone has the power to influence business and shape the economy.” (Bowser Devadutt 356). Hence, it is clear how the authors’ only intentions are to placate racial inequality and help work to a more equal future for all.

      In the same way, the journal article The American Non-Dilemma: Racial Inequality without racism, analyzes the longtime societal issue of racial inequality and how it has affected society. Like the rest of the writing this one is trying to get to the root of racial inequality to find a possible solution. DiTomaso however thinks that rather than racial oppression the key to the racial inequality has been white preferential treatments to their own people. The author of this piece Nancy DiTomaso received a PHD and has worked as a professor at various prestigious schools her research specializes in culture its diversions and the inequalities amongst it, making her a credible source. The author’s intended audience is the general public, people who would like to have a deeper understanding of racial inequality why has it been implemented and why a whites benefitted by it. “…whites have often confronted the tension between labor rights and civil rights. I am using the term ‘labor rights’ here to refer to the efforts by whites to protect themselves from the competition of the labor markets” (DiTomaso 3). This not only demonstrates the authors general audience, but it also shows the informative tone in the writing where rather than choosing a side or suggesting a change she is just trying to inform where racial inequality originates and why it is convenient for whites to maintain it. The purpose like the tone I’d say is to inform being that the author is not urging her audience to do anything aside from analyzing the problem and understanding it origin and roots.  The author holds a neutral stance and like the past journal articles utilizes online and physical bookstores and libraries as a medium to make this literature accessible to the public. 

      The writings on the impacts of racial inequality on American society are poignant yet fragile and affect mainly minority groups. This variety of sources compare the virtues and the burdens of race within the US and how something so subliminal can dictate one’s future. All four of the sources analyzed share the similar tone and purpose. The authors are all credible sources and have similar optimistic stance, where they try to bring awareness on the issues derived from racial inequality and want to lead to a change in the way race affects people’s lives and future. In the newspaper article the author states, “Austin’s racial makeover reminds us how Austin’s – and the nation’s – history of racial oppression and access to political power has long shaped who has access to the American Dream.” (James Render). Similarly, the web article states, “Whether the change created by NFL leaders includes the signing of Kaepernick, who first raised these issues with his protests in 2016, remains to be seen.” (Klemko). The other journal articles also state, “Perhaps, it is time to look more carefully at the existing architecture of social inequality in the nation and New York City. However, the starting point for such an inquiry must be with racial stratification, the foundations on which inequality in the United States started and continues.” (Bowser Devadutt 29). The authors overall hopeful stance on the topic suggest that it is a very fragile topic that affects many amongst society and has will continue to shape the future of our society, demonstrating the correlation between education and the end of racial inequality education is the only thing that can end it, educate oneself and the youth that hold our future. 

Works Cited

Render, Brandon James. “The racial inequality embedded in one of the country’s liberal cities.” Washington Post, 27 Sept. 2021, p. NA. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A676834015/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=6d6c1fa1. Accessed 28 Feb. 2022.

Klemko, Robert. “NFL GMs on racial inequality, Colin Kaepernick and football’s path forward: ‘We can do better’.” Washington Post, 22 June 2020. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A627286188/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=f8def73c. Accessed 28 Feb.2022.

Benjamin P. Bowser, Chelli Devadutt. Racial Inequality in New York City Since 1965. SUNY Press; 2019. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://search-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=2239326&site=ehost-live

Nancy DiTomaso. The American Non-Dilemma : Racial Inequality Without Racism. Russell Sage Foundation; 2013. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://search-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=1a066592&site=ehost-live