Race Riots From a Sociological Perspective - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... n, 1971) One such instance is his examination on black unemployment, median income, and educational attainment to where he was able to conclude that neither absolute nor relative means of black deprivation differentiates between riot and non-riot cities. (Spilerman, 1971) It is important however to examine the applicability of data from the riots of the past to present situations. Assumptions cannot be made that the same causes of riots before have remained the same over time. A significant predicator in 1968 may not be a precise predicator today.

Some academics theorize that the size of a certain ethnic population for instance, black, is significant because it indicates greater potential for racial competition. These theories characterize racial unrest in cities with larger black populations to the added pressures between blacks and whites for jobs, housing, and political capital. (Olzak, 1992) This may explain why there are fewer disparities between blacks and whites in cities with riots as it may instigate that blacks in these places are almost able to compete with whites for resources.

According to this ethnic competition theory, segregation should decrease the propensity to riot since groups occupying non-overlapping positions experiences less competition. (Barth, 1969 from Olzak, 1992) Desegregation sets off an increase in competition, which triggers the majority to look after their advantage. And the impact of immigration on race relations in a given society is felt before integration fosters economic competition, selecting instead to focus on the viewed change in ethnic composition of the neighborhood.

Evidence has revealed that non-economic theories of rioting seem to more accurately address the significance of perception and group, or community,...
This essay discusses race riots, that are defined closely to the meaning of riots such as the involvement of assault on persons and properties just because they are part of a specific subgroup or community, ethnicity, race, and even religion. Riots in the early 20th century are focused on a race-based concept that includes blacks vs. whites. In 1992 the largest outbreak of racial violence happened in Los Angeles. Although it was analyzed that such sudden occurrence of racial strife may have been caused by certain economic conditions in “ghettos” and racial inequality but social science researches present different findings since the turn of the century has constantly fell short to secure evidence that economic factors like segregation, unemployment, and poverty are such primary causes. Evidence has revealed that non-economic theories of rioting seem to more accurately address the significance of perception and group, or community, awareness in the consideration of the fundamental causes of riots. As more communities diversify, it becomes more important to understand the intricate dynamics of inter-ethnic relationships in the hopes of developing policy approaches that can both eliminate the likelihood of violence and develop the potential for peaceful coexistence. By focusing our attention to both what causes and averts riots, there will more likely be some realization of a complete model on which to become a basis for developing successful programs of intervention and prevention. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More