Running Head: SOCIAL ISSUE 1
7-1 Project Submission Social Issue – Racial Inequality
Southern New Hampshire University
IDS 410
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Part One – Investigation
1. Social Issue – Racial Inequality
The social issue that offers an opportunity for social change is ‘racial inequality.’
Racial inequality can be defined as the prevalence of structural disparities among varying
racial groups in society. Racial inequality issue is reproduced in the social setting through the
unequal distribution of wealth (Allen & Henderson, 2022). The identified issue has a deep
connection with the theme of social justice. The essence of social justice revolves around the
idea that every individual should be treated equally and fairly so that they will not face
discrimination or prejudice in society (Pritchett et al., 2022). Racial inequality contradicts the
spirit of social justice since it creates a society where people face discrimination based on
their racial background. It is a pressing issue in the social setting since it leads to the creation
of a fragmented society where the principles of fairness, equity, and fundamental human
rights are not followed. There is an opportunity to address the identified issue relating to
racial inequality so that a just., fair, and equitable society can be developed where social
justice can be ensured to one and all.
2. Specific Factors
A broad range of factors have contributed to the creation of the racial inequality issue.
One of the fundamental factors is the fact that racial inequality has a long history, which can
be traced back to ancient times, such as the Jim Crow era. It was the time when the practices
of racial discrimination, as well as segregation, were legal, and they were enforced in the
form of laws (Wrigley-Field, 2024). The history relating to slavery and racism has played a
catalytic role in shaping the prevalence of racial inequality, even in the 21st century. Another
major factor is related to the unequal distribution of wealth in society (Allen & Henderson,
2022). It has automatically placed some races in an advantageous position while increasing
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the vulnerability of individuals belonging to marginalized races. Similarly, the prevalence of
institutional racism in the form of discrimination in education, employment, and housing has
played a major role in deepening the specific issue in the social setting (Camp, 2024). The
discriminatory attitude of White people towards people of color is another important variable
that escalates the severity of racial inequality in society (Braveman et al., 2022). These
factors have significantly contributed to the racial inequality issue that is prevalent in society
today.
3. Impact on the African American Community
A specific community that is impacted by the racial inequality issue is the African
American community. Due to the prevalence of racial inequality in society, the members of
the African American community are treated in a discriminatory manner in comparison to the
members of the White community. The discriminatory behavior relating to their racial
background leads to a diverse range of problems, such as oppression, marginalization, as well
as suppression in the social setting. The racial inequality issue has an adverse impact on
African American people. Their quality of life is diminished in diverse walks of life,
including education, employment, and housing. The prevalence of racial inequality that they
encounter at varying levels in society increases their chances of living in poverty. DeSouza et
al. (2021) have argued that during the Covid 19 pandemic, churches closed their doors to
people belonging to the African American community, thereby worsening their mental health
outcomes. The existence of racial inequality leads to disparity in society and places members
of the African American community in a vulnerable position (Lyons et al., 2024).
4. Actionable Aspect
A specific actionable aspect that has been identified relating to the racial inequality
issue involves focusing on educational reforms and access to equal opportunities. As racism
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is ingrained in society, it is essential to focus on making reforms in the policy setting so that a
fair and non-discriminatory climate can be created in society. The specific action has been
identified since it can create an opportunity to work along with policymakers so that the
racial inequality issue can be eliminated from diverse areas in society, including education,
employment, and housing. (Allen & Henderson, 2022). To succeed in bringing about policy
reform, it is fundamental to focus on proper advocacy so that the awareness about the social
issue among people can be increased and they can become familiar with the challenges that
members of the African American community encounter because of the issue. Braveman et
al. (2022) have stated that dismantling systematic racism and racial inequality is instrumental
in educating the public as well as the policymakers. It can help bring about much-needed
change at the policy level and individual level to create an equitable society.
5. Opportunity for Social Change
The chosen aspect relating to bringing about reform in policies is an actionable aspect
of social change. This is because it can help develop fair and non-discriminatory policies that
support equitable education and equal access to one and all, regardless of their race. The
policy reforms that have been identified can play a major role in supporting and promoting
equitable access to high-quality education for everyone, regardless of their racial background.
It will create an opportunity for individuals who face discrimination based on their race to
seek educational opportunities and become economically independent individuals in society.
It is fundamental to change the existing policies so that fairness can be ensured in diverse
settings such as education and employment. According to Yearby et al. (2022), due to the
existence of structural racism, the existing policies have failed to create a fair and equitable
environment for one and all. To address the gaps that exist at the policy level, reforms that
specifically target the racial inequality issue need to be advocated. It can help eradicate
racism in a systematic manner.
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Part Two – Intervention
1. Attempts to address Racial Inequality
Over the past decades, several attempts have been made to address the issue of racial
inequality in society. The Civil Rights Movement (1954 – 1968) aimed to eliminate systemic
discrimination and ensure equal rights for people belonging to the African American race
(Zhuo et al., 2023). It was the ultimate struggle for equality as well as social justice for
African Americans. Since the 1960s, several affirmative action policies have been introduced
to encourage equitable opportunities for members belonging to racial minorities. Some of the
chief affirmative action policies include Executive Order 11246 (1965) and Equal
Employment Opportunity (EEO) Programs. Although several interventions and measures
have been taken over the years to address the specific social issue, its ongoing prevalence
highlights the ineffectiveness of the attempts to address racial inequality. According to
Braverman et al. (2022), to bring about the desired change, there is a need to change the
existing systems, policies, laws, as well as practices so that effective, enduring, and long-term
change can be introduced that can impact the lives of people positively.
2. Possible Strategy
The strategy that has been recommended to address the social issue relating to racial
inequality involves bringing about policy reform by focusing on equitable education and
access to equal opportunities. The strategy that has been identified has the potential to bring
about a positive change at the policy level so that the elements relating to racism,
discrimination, and injustice can be tackled in a holistic and integrated manner. Braveman et
al. (2022) have also identified that there is a need to bring about a change at the policy level
so that fair and equitable practices can be encouraged to dismantle the prevalence of
systematic racism in society. The fundamental goal of the recommended policy reforms
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would be to provide adequate access to people who face racial discrimination in relation to
education, employment, and housing opportunities. In the specific strategy, emphasis will be
laid on advocacy aspects so that the public will have the opportunity to familiarize
themselves with the severity of the social issue (Albert et al., 2024). Moreover, they will get
the opportunity to get an insight into the struggles and challenges that the members of the
African American community and other minority groups encounter in their daily lives due to
racial inequality.
3. Implementation of the Strategy
A suitable approach that can be adopted to implement the plan for tackling the social
issue relating to racial inequality involves adopting a collaborative approach by working
along with diverse stakeholders. It will create an opportunity to form partnerships so that an
impactful change can be introduced in the social setting by focusing on equality in the
education context and supporting equitable access to opportunities. A wide range of
stakeholders have been identified with whom collaboration would be necessary while
implementing the specific plan. These stakeholder groups include policymakers, local bodies,
the public, and leaders from ethnic minority communities (Eden et al., 2024). Forming a
healthy alliance with these groups is of paramount importance since their awareness of the
specific social issue can be increased. Moreover, it will be possible to seek timely and
necessary support from them to bring about a positive change in society and create an
equitable environment for everyone in society.
4. Resources Required for Implementation
To effectively implement the plan to address the issue relating to racial inequality in
society, a wide range of resources would be necessary. Some of the chief resources include
funds or financial resources, human resources, and support from key stakeholders at the
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community level. The availability of financial resources is crucial, and it will serve as the
foundation of the plan since it can help expand the reach of the advocacy message. Similarly,
the participation of diverse members will be essential in the specific initiative so that they can
engage in the advocacy campaigns and strengthen its overall impact. Similarly, the role of
community and stakeholder support is integral to the success of the implementation plan. It
will play an instrumental role in creating an equitable and fair environment for people
belonging to diverse racial groups.E According to Mahmood et al. (2025), to increase the
overall impact of the strategic plan, high emphasis must be placed on adequate coverage and
encourage members of society to address the racial inequality problem.
5. Benefit for Community Members
The strategy that has been recommended has the potential to benefit the community
members who are affected by the racial inequality issue, including African American people
and people belonging to other minority races. By focusing on the advocacy of racial
inequality issues and bringing about reforms at the policy level, an equitable and non-
discriminatory environment can be created, especially in the context of education, and access
to equal opportunities can be promoted. By effectively introducing and implementing the
specific plan, it will be possible to promote social justice and ensure equity and fairness in
society for all members, including the members who face discrimination based on their race
or ethnicity. The introduction of proper reforms will be highly beneficial for the affected
community since it will serve as an important milestone that can empower the community
members and give them the opportunity to live in a free and liberated manner in society. It
can promote diversity and inclusion in society in the true sense (Elias et al., 2024) and
strengthen the existing social structure.
6. Potential Outcomes of the Plan
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If the plan is implemented in society, its potential outcome involves the removal of
racial inequality in the education context and ensuring access to equal opportunities for
everyone in society, regardless of their racial background. Akintayo et al. (2024) have argued
that by addressing the racial inequality issue through effective approaches, it will be possible
to restore justice and repair the harm that has been caused in society due to years of ethnic
and racial conflicts. By effectively implementing the plan, equality, fairness, and justice can
be promoted as members of the African American community and other minority groups have
access to equal opportunities in education, employment, housing, etc. Furthermore, the entire
society can derive value from the implementation of the plan since a fair environment can be
fostered where the possibility of disparities among community members can be eradicated in
a strategic manner. The plan will also help in raising awareness among people about the
severity of racial inequality issue and its consequences for people who face racial
discrimination.
One of the unintended consequences of the specific plan includes resistance by
members of the White community to bring about the reforms. Based on the racial threat
theory, with the increase in the relative size of the minority group in society, the ethnic
majority group may feel threatened (Godinez Puig, 2024). EReid et al. (2024) have used the
racial threat theory in their study to highlight that white people may resist reforms in the
policy setting that they may consider to be in favor of minority members. Since equal access
to education and other areas may impact their opportunities in society, they may show
resistance to the recommended plan.
Part Three – Advocacy
1. Justification of the Implementation Plan
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The plan that has been recommended for implementation to address the social
inequality issue can be justified since it focuses on creating a fair and equitable society for
one and all. Although human beings have been advancing rapidly in the 21st century, the
prevalence of racial inequality issues for decades and centuries showcases the fact that the
issue is ingrained within society at a deep level. To eradicate the specific issue in a holistic
manner, it is instrumental in bringing about suitable reforms at the policy level so that a fair
and equitable climate can be created for everyone. Moreover, the existence of fair and non-
discriminatory policies relating to equality in education and access to equal opportunities in
society can ensure that social justice can be promoted for everyone, irrespective of the race to
which they belong (Eden et al., 2024).
Sule et al. (2024) have argued that appropriate mechanisms need to be introduced at
the policy as well as legal level so that fairness and equity can be ensured in the context of
education. To manage the severity of the racial inequality issue that is prevalent in society, it
is fundamental to focus on appropriate reforms that support equitable education opportunities
for everyone. It can serve as a starting point that can empower people who face racial
inequality in society, and they will get the opportunity to equip themselves with the suitable
set of skills, knowledge, and prowess to exploit other opportunities that arise around them
relating to employment, housing, etc. By introducing and implementing inclusive policies in
the education setting, it will be possible to empower learners effectively (Hardy &
Woodcock, 2024).
2. Impact of the Implementation Plan on Society
The implementation of the specific plan has the potential to have a significant impact
on society. One of the main impacts will be the reduction in the severity of racial inequality
and discrimination in the context of education. This is because the introduction of appropriate
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education reforms will promote fairness for all individuals, regardless of their race or
ethnicity so that they can have access to quality education (Odondi, 2024). The plan will play
an instrumental role in ensuring that equality is promoted in society and that all individuals,
regardless of their racial background, have equal access to opportunities, resources, etc. The
plan can play a vital role in addressing the racial inequality issue that is prevalent in the social
setting. However, the implementation of the specific plan may also face resistance from
certain groups of people. Keenan and Golec De Zavala (2024) have argued that the collective
narcissism of White supremacy may play a major role in hampering racial equality in the
social setting. It may even lead to tension in society among minority and majority racial
groups in diverse communities and heighten the possibility of conflicts between them.E
3. Refuting Views Opposing the Plan
The plan is of great significance in creating a fair and equitable society for every
human being, irrespective of race or ethnicity. The core objective of the plan that has been
developed is to ensure social justice and ensure that the fundamental rights of human beings
are not violated for any individual. It is fundamental to address the issues relating to race,
racism, as well as racial inequality in society so that the practices relating to discrimination,
oppression, and suppression can be addressed in an effective manner (Sirleaf & Achiume,
2024). It is fundamental to focus on education-related reform so that individuals belonging to
diverse racial backgrounds will have the right to seek education. Implementing the plan and
introducing the policy reform will make it possible to ensure that every individual has the
legal right to education and equal opportunities (Bromley et al., 2024). By ensuring equality
and fairness in the education landscape, additional steps and measures can be taken in the
future to eradicate racial inequality from a deeper level.
4. Determining Success of the Advocacy
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The ascertainment of the success of the advocacy efforts is essential. One of the chief
ways of determining whether the advocacy has been successful or not involves stakeholder
engagement. The level of engagement will act as one of the main indicators that will reflect
how involved the audience members are and how willing they are to support the efforts.
Another indicator that has been identified for ensuring the success and effectiveness of the
advocacy efforts involves the audience’s awareness of the issue after the interaction. To
understand how aware the audience members are about the racial inequality social issue, a
survey can be conducted. It can help uncover what they think about the recommended plan.
Moreover, by capturing the responses of the audience members, it will also be possible to ask
them for their suggestions and opinions so that the recommended plan can be further
strengthened. Another indicator that can also be used to determine whether the plan has been
successfully advocated or not involves the change in the behavior of the audience members in
relation to the identified social issue, i.e., racial inequality. By focusing on these elements, it
will be possible to ascertain whether the advocacy efforts have been effective or not.
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