Working Class White Analysis

Racism is alive and well in our modern day society. The fact that racism is a prominent form of social justifications cannot be neglected. On the contrary to this, Angeline Price’s article titled, “Working Class Whites,” she argues that racism is gone but this idea of “classism” would be the “last available method of prejudice in our society.” However, Michael Omi and Nell Bernstein think otherwise. Omi argues that inferential racism already exists in our society, and it is the prime tool in categorizing people based on the color of their race. In Bernstein’s article, “In Living Color: Race and American Culture,” he provides vivid examples of younger generations adapting and abiding to their definitions of racism. Similarly, the article

For decades, the boundary was strictly policed and practically impermeable. In 1970 April Miller’s hometown was 97 percent white. By 1990 San Leandro was 65 percent white, 6 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, and 13 percent Asian or Pacific Islander. With minorities moving into suburbs in growing numbers and cities becoming even more diverse, the boundary between city and suburb is dissolving, and suburban teenagers are changing with the times”(691).
By presenting this Bernstein argues that the more diverse the society gets, the better understanding of race and racial images is adapted and lesser the tension between different races and cultures, to maintain harmony in the society. This reflects back to the younger generations being able to racially identify themselves and others through popular culture. This proves that racism is a method of prejudice in our society, cancelling out price’s claim. The idea of racial prejudice develops overtime, with respect to diversification. Racial prejudice becomes the form of collaborating with people of different races in order to eliminate racism. Omi