Racial Inequality

Part I

All the information and data the United States receives from cities and countries on crime is compiled together and studied. Although this gives an insight to the crime rate, the analysis gives misleading perceptions that affect geographic residents along with their entities and is considered incomplete (Caution Against Ranking, 2010). When cities are ranked based on crime alone tends to give a false portrayal of that city. It then becomes hard to lure tourist or any other attraction to the city, which can cause it to loose a financial gain. Other factors should also be included such as degree of urbanization in the area as well as population density to name a few. Another factor that would stand out is the age groups when considering crime rankings.

The cautionary notice on the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) is used to show those collecting data and the researcher that the information given is not a reliable form of statistical research. Instead the report is a ranking of general crime but it does not give an accurate report of the crime statistics of towns and cities in the United States. The reason this is not accurate is due to the fact that crime is not the same from city to city or state to state. The economic standing, population as well as other factors are needed in order to make the data gathered more accurate.

Part II

Prejudice is negative opinions or preconceived ideas towards another ethnic group or culture based on hate, fear, or bias. The difference between personal prejudice and institutional prejudice is that personal prejudice is the beliefs and biases a person has of someone else but not on society overall. Institutional prejudice is the bias in society found in areas such as the educational system, businesses, and government. An example of institutional prejudice is when a person is overlooked for a job position or not hired based on their race or gender in order to keep a certain racial group from having the same equal opportunities as those who are currently employed.

Social stereotypes tend to have a huge influence as to how people attribute behavior and respond to it. In fact, social stereotypes have influenced the processing of information in order to strengthen and bolster stereotypes (Snyder, Tanke, & Berschied, 1977). When a person stereotypes against another person or group, their perception becomes skewed or tainted when viewing events. When someone thinks that all African Americans are gang bangers and criminals, it can play a factor in other situations. For example, if that same person who has this stereotype of African Americans see one trying to unlock a nice car with a hanger, they may assume they are breaking in to rob or steal, never thinking the car is actually theirs. Stereotypes really can miscue the wrong idea about a person with such misconceptions.

Another stereotype that was believed and maybe still today is that Caucasians are superior to African Americans. People tend to act the way they believe something is to be. If a Caucasian person believes that blacks are inferior to them, they would tend to treat them as such. Stereotypes come in a variety of ways such, as blonds are not intelligent just pretty. Stereotypes help to form so many labels and misconceptions that end up spreading throughout society. IN order for this type of thinking to stop, people must first rid themselves of their preconceived conceptions and judgments so that they can see and know people for what they know to be true. There have been many situations where misconceptions have been made and later found out to be just that a false or misleading judgment. It is always best for people to use their own experiences instead of