Blog Post 3

The use of race as a tool for certain groups to take control of others is also explained by both the conflict and functionalist perspectives. The social conflict approach suggests that people separate themselves into opposing groups, one representing the advantaged and the other the disadvantaged. Race is often used as a factor for separation, which leads to the exploitation and dehumanization of certain races. This then carries on into the way our society behaves towards a race and how a certain race is treated. Race is a source of identity, which is why behavior and meaning of interactions changes depending on the race of the individual we are interacting with. Something that is related to race is dialect, which is a major influence on how people perceive you and interact with you. Obviously there will always be inequality, and in order for certain groups to feel advantaged and gain power, they must bring other groups down. During the age of colonization, Europeans called black Africans "humans in the rough" and believed it was their job to bring them to the same level as Europe. Because of this, they took advantage of the natives and used them for work and resources to better themselves, while justifying their actions through colonization and "improving" the country.