ELICIA CARRILLO

Elicia Carrillo, 443 words

The article, African American, Hispanic and White Beliefs about Black/White Inequality, intends to determine whether the opinions of African Americans, Hispanics and Whites differ in their reasoning of the socioeconomic stratification that divides Black and White people. If there are any differences, the study also researches if they have changed over time. To uncover any differences of opinion, data from the 1977-2004 General Social Survey. The GSS was referenced to note any racial differences in explanations for the disadvantages and limited opportunities of Blacks. The dependent variable was the following question: "On the average, blacks have worse jobs, income, and housing than White people. Do you think these differences are… A. Mainly due to discrimination, B. Because most Blacks have less in-born ability to learn, C. Because most Blacks don't have the chance for education that it takes to rise out of poverty, D. Because most Blacks don't have the motivation or will power to pull themselves out of poverty."  Independent variables applied to the study were Race, Class, Gender and Region. 

                The study determined that African Americans are likely to adopt a structuralist perspective. That is, Blacks have developed a mindset similar to that expressed by Non-Hispanic Whites. Over time, Blacks have blamed the individual for their lack of opportunity. Non-Hispanic Whites, however, have ceased to blame the individual and have become more educated and aware of how Blacks experience inequality and structuralism. They are more likely now, than ever before, to adopt the concept that inequality is due to the education and economy. However, despite becoming more like one another, Non-Hispanic Whites still blame the individual more, whereas Blacks are more likely to blame society. There now exists convergence with little continuation.

                In the article, Mark of a Criminal Record, Devah Pager set to discover whether an individual with a criminal background influences an employers desire to hire them. Pager takes it a step further by including race as a possible determinant. Pager seeks to uncover discrimination in the workplace. She is interested in combining race, gender and criminal record. The design of the study has been suggested to question ethical regard as Pager uses four 23-year-old males, two Blacks and two Whites. Each were paired by race; the two Black men formed one team, while the remaining two Whites formed the other. Fictitious resumes and applications were used to have the teams similar in characteristics. Names were also altered to eliminate any bias or possible stereotypes. One of the two men were assigned a criminal record as they applied for job openings. After applying for jobs, the researcher waited to observe who received a call-back or interview.

                The study determined that employers were less likely to call-back or request an interview for those men who indicated a criminal record. Surprisingly, however, employers were more likely to contact White men with criminal records than Black men with a criminal background. Even more surprising, was that employers were also far likely to hire a White man with a criminal history than a Black man without a criminal record. Overall, regardless of a criminal record, White men were still the preferred employee.