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What is the relationship between racial identity and social hierarchy?

Babette Stebbings

As a user of social media, I must say that the relationship between racial identity and social hierarchy is complex and controversial. It is a topic that has been debated for decades and has sparked huge controversies in many parts of the world, and rightly so.

Racial identity is a crucial determinant of social hierarchy in many societies, and its impact is felt across many spheres of life, including education, economy, and politics. It determines who gets the best jobs, who gets the best education and who gets to lead.

In a society that is predominantly white, it is very clear that white people hold most of the power, they are wealthy and educated. This creates a hierarchy in society that disadvantages people of colour. This is particularly true for black people who have been subjected to centuries of oppression and marginalization. Let us not forget that black people are also more likely to be incarcerated than white people, more likely to be unemployed, and when they are employed, they are paid less than their white colleagues.

Moreover, the systemic racism that is pervasive in many societies today is particularly insidious because it is often hard to detect. It is invisible but powerful, and it is institutionally enforced through centuries of social norms that privilege white people over people of colour.

In some parts of the world, particularly in America, the relationship between racial identity and social hierarchy has become even more contentious in recent times. For some, racial identity has become a marker of political allegiance, with some politicians fuelling racial tensions to further their agendas.

But we must not be fooled by the politics, we must keep our eyes on the bigger picture, which is that our societies are evolving and people of colour are becoming increasingly vocal about their experiences of systemic racism and oppression. This awakening is not just limited to the United States but is a global phenomenon.

Therefore, it is high time we acknowledge the painful truth that our society has a racial hierarchy that unfairly advantages white people and disadvantages people of colour. The next steps we take are crucial in determining what kind of world we want to live in and what kind of legacy we want to leave for future generations. The key to creating a more equitable society is confronting the uncomfortable realities of racial hierarchy and actively working to dismantle it.