Theories of Prejudice in Studs Terkels C.P. Ellis - Essay Example

?Theories of Prejudice in Studs Terkel’s C.P. Ellis Despite the advances made in the struggle against it in American society, racial prejudice remains to be a problem that has not yet been totally solved. Because of this, studies on the origins and forms of prejudice in the different aspects social life remains relevant to this day. It is also important to identify the psychological and social factors that may influence the development prejudicial mindset and behavior. Vincent Parrillo’s Causes of Prejudice provides a discussion of these concerns in detail. On the other hand, the Studs Terkel’s oral narrative on the transformative experience of C.P. Ellis describes an example of how such causal factors of prejudice are shaped due to personal, historical, and environmental issues. This essay is an attempt to relate the theories expounded by Parrillo to the actual case of C.P. Ellis. Terkel’s narrative, after all effectively describes the different levels of prejudice that C.P. Ellis went through before finally reaching a realization that such prejudice should be done away with. By interpreting Ellis’s experience from the perspective using Parrillo’s theories, it is possible to achieve that prejudice, no matter how long it has been held by an individual, can still be eradicated. In applying Parrillo’s theory on the levels of prejudice, it is clear that Ellis did not develop his racial prejudice only in his adult years. Terkel writes that Ellis’s father was a member already of the Ku Klux Klan. Ellis narrated that that he was taught by his father that the Klan was the “savior of the white people” and that it was “the only organization in the world that would take care of the white people.” (Terkel 400) Through his father’s influence, Ellis developed a strong admiration and belief for whatever the Klan stood for, including its hatred for African Americans. It was easy for Ellis to be influenced by his father because, who despite being a drunk at times, made it a point to spend enough fun times for his son. Ellis himself declared his affection and love for his father, including the ideas given to him. The parent’s own outlook is always the first to influence a child, a fact that is even more operative in healthy father-son relationships. The relationship between adult and child, especially when parental, is the most effective condition for a cognitive level of prejudice to develop. Parrillo defines the cognitive level of prejudice as one that “encompasses a person's beliefs and perceptions of a group as threatening or non-threatening, inferior or equal (e.g., in terms of intellect, status, or biological composition), seclusive or intrusive, impulse gratifying, acquisitive, or possessing other positive or negative characteristics.” (385) The development of the cognitive level is prompted by external factors, however. In Ellis’s case, it is the ideas planted by his father in his younger years. The absence of economic opportunities is another causal factor in the emergence of racial prejudice. The frustration of being poor or impoverished despite working very hard can cause individuals to seek subjects where they can vent their anger. It is clear in his narrative that Ellis put heavy emphasis on his frustration over his economic woes. Just like his father, he worked very hard only to find out that his earnings were still not enough to satisfy the needs of his family. He was angry and depressed and he needed to blame someone or some people over his fate. Ellis admitted that he began to blame African Americans. For him, it was the most convenient thing to do since “hatin’ America is hard to do because you can’t see it to hate it.” (Terkel 400). In analyzing Ellis’s statement, it is obvious that he already had the tendency to consider the American social system itself as the probable cause for his and his family’s despondence. However, without the intellectual tools of social analysis, identifying such system as the culprit is complicated. Pinning the blame on anyone or any group of people considered inferior already was the easier option. While he was dealing with the financial woes he was encountering, Ellis saw how some African Americans are gaining entry in schools and getting an education, which a good number of whites were not able to obtain. He saw this phenomenon as a threat to his fellow whites who are competing for limited job opportunities. Parrillo raises the point that frustration is caused by relative deprivation, which is a “lack of resources, or rewards in one's standard of living in comparison with those of others in society.” (391) In this regard, inequalities in society are considered as very potent causal factors for racial prejudice to emerge. A section of society that fails to satisfy its wants, especially in the economic sphere, would certainly develop contempt for those whom they think are getting better deals. In the case of successful African Americans, contempt for them could even become worse because they were considered as inferior to the whites for a long period of time. It must be noted that the initial cognitive level of prejudice can be overcome as soon as new knowledge is acquired and a deeper understanding of social problems is achieved. Racial prejudice, after all, is essentially based on subjective impressions brought about by inadequate education on the causes of social ills. Once a better appreciation of the social issues is realized, the very basis of racial prejudice would gradually become irrelevant. This is exactly what happened to Ellis. In his narrative, Ellis came to a point when he realized that the politicians are not at all taking sides in or seeking solutions to the racial issue because they were more concerned about getting votes and staying in power. Ellis said that “as long as they kept low-income whites and low-income blacks fightin’, they’re gonna maintain control.” (Terkel 403) This realization actually opened Ellis’s eyes to the reality that the African Americans are not really the enemy. This is particularly reinforced by his own observation that his economic condition is not any different to that of the blacks. Therefore, he and the African Americans are not supposed to hate each other. Instead, they may even have a common enemy. Parrillo writes that the most “influential in staking out the sociological position on prejudice was Herbert Blumer, who suggested that prejudice always involves ‘sense of group position’ in society.” (393) Group position here implies the economic status of individuals. In a highly stratified society, it would not take a long time for individuals to realize that race is not the issue. In fact, once they find out that so-called racial enemies share a basic commonality with them, empathy for the other races can emerge and this may gradually diminish their contempt. If such is the case, then it is possible for a racist to change his or her views and develop another form of prejudice towards a group of people in society. The basis in the possibility of reducing or removing prejudice in an individual is in the very first level of its development, the cognitive level. The human being does not stop in learning new things, even if he or she is already very mature. As one learns truths and embraces a more objective outlook, he also begins to unlearn those ideas or concepts that have been proven false by knowledge acquired in latter times. Therefore, the cognitive level of eradicating prejudice is also possible and, in the Ellis case, operative. However, the process may take a long time because of the demands for actual practice to be done before past theories are proven or unproven. The Ellis narrative presented by Terkel is a clear example of how one individual develops a prejudice only to reject it upon the development of realizations based on his observation of the social inequalities. Parrillo, however, points out that racism is just one of the prejudicial forms that exist in society. There are other forms too, such as those related to economic standing in society. It is possible therefore, that Ellis could develop a new form of prejudice even as he turned his back on racism. As the individual begins to understand the conditions of those whom he has prejudice before, he may also begin to develop contempt for another group of people, a process that may continue until all social causes of prejudice are gone. Works Cited Parrillo, Vincent. “Causes of Prejudice.” Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston, MA: Bedford, 2010. Terkel, Studs. “C.P. Ellis.” Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston, MA: Bedford, 2010. Read More