The article by Meyerhoffer (2015) is a scholarly study of the issue of racial segregation that still exists in many American cities. In her research, the author investigates a variety of forms of “perceived threat” presented by neighboring minority groups and explores the effect of threat on residential discrimination (Meyerhoffer 2015:378). The article reveals crucial data about the treatment of blacks by their white neighbors as well as suggests the reasons why the latter may feel in particular ways towards the former.
Upon analyzing scholarly literature, Meyerhoffer (2015) remarks that racial bias is closely associated with the sense of a dominant groups’ self-positioning and their feeling of collective threat. What is more, dominant groups may feel not safe due to their anticipation of minority groups’ capability of taking over the power and resources. In her examination of segregation trends, Meyerhoffer (2015) notes that the issue of discrimination intensifies urban problems and is responsible for the economic disadvantages of ethnic and racial minority groups.
What is more, it is indicated that blacks, among other minorities, are deprived of good education and work, mobility, and other opportunities owned by the majority groups. Therefore, this article illustrates the ways in which the attitudes of neighbors construct blackness as a danger to the life and health of white people. Black people are perceived as intrinsically threatening subjects, and their living conditions turn to deteriorate through the refusal of the majority groups to accept them as equals.
The questions raised in the article are crucial to analyze in the modern world. The author suggests a thorough analysis of academic literature focused on the issues of segregation and hostility among the representatives of different groups living close to one another. It is repeatedly mentioned in the study that majority groups are afraid to lose their dominance and power (Meyerhoffer 2015). However, there is no evidence of black people’s endeavor to take away any resources from the white ones.
It is equal access to rights and freedoms that this minority group is seeking. Instead of claiming that black community members want to gain power, whites should analyze their attitude and realize that there is no way that such a scenario might be implemented. Black people are constantly deprived of many privileges, and their key goal is to reach a chance to have a decent level of life for themselves and their children.
According to Meyerhoffer (2015), the level of segregation in the analyzed states has decreased rather slowly over the past thirty years. The dissimilarity index for white and black people is high, which requires serious measures. What is more, the author mentions that there is a growing tendency of discriminating against Latinos, which means that there is a threat of the appearance of one more minority group that might receive the same harsh acceptance as the black population has. Such a state of affairs is too serious about being neglected since it may lead to detrimental outcomes for the country and its people.
Meyerhoffer’s (2015) study is a significant contribution to the investigation of racial bias problems. In particular, the author pays great attention to identifying the reasons why white people tend to fear blacks and what expectations they inevitably have of such neighborhoods, irrespective of experience and logical assumptions. Although the article provides relevant statistics, the problem of eliminating such occurrences remains. It is appalling that people should seek neighborhoods that do not include black families merely on the basis of their prejudiced opinions.
It is necessary to minimize such practices and improve the level of white people’s acceptance of black people. In a world where many real problems exist, it is crucial to diminish the appearance of artificially creates issues so that everyone could obtain a chance of living in a way they want, working and studying where they desire, and having friendly relationships with their neighbors irrespective of their skin color. If citizens do not understand the significance of expressing compassion and friendliness to the groups different from their native one, they might soon initiate disagreements within their groups, which will lead to disastrous outcomes.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to educate citizens on mitigating their biases by demonstrating examples of peaceful ways of resolving conflicts among different groups. It is necessary to love all of the neighbors and not only the ones a person prefers based on unjustified assumptions. By doing so, we have an opportunity to make this world a better place.
Reference
Meyerhoffer, Cassi A. 2015. ““I Have More in Common with Americans than I Do with Illegal Aliens”: Culture, Perceived Threat, and Neighborhood Preferences.” Sociology of Race and Ethnicity 1, no. 3: 378-393. Web.