Race relation?

Question

Why is there a need to study race relations in Sociology?

forget the 'in Sociology' part.. Just simply "why do we need to study or understand race relations"

Answer 1

The reason we studies such things as race relations is so we expand our base understanding of other peoples and cultures.

Though that is only the very surface of the matter.

This also race relations and the study of them harkens back to dark, yet so called more Enlightened Times, when races were actually seen as literally different species.
Though this attitude has changed over time, the nothing that ethno-grouping not our own are still different creatures is strong.

For example, how Malays and Indos view each other, despite being so ethnologically and genetically close, as well as culturally similarities as well.
The same can be said for the Balkan tribes and the reasons that they despise each other, despite being very close ethnologically and culturally.

it all comes down to basic "Us" verses "Them" mentality that is ingrained within all humans.
We live as tribal animals, in small groups but when those groups expand, so does the mentality and it creates larger "Us/Them" Paradoxes.
It can be seen in racial/ethnic groups, subcultures (such as goth/emo, homeboy, etc) and even local geogrpahical location, such as street against street and section/suburb/town against an other.

The reason that we study race relations is to both break down and enforce the Us/Them mentality and expand people's knowledge of the World outside of their own.

It is merely a tool that can be used for tolerance or enforcing old sterotypes -depends on the person learning and the people teaching.

Answer 2

Understanding why races adopt cultural and social beliefs may go positively towards improving relations between ALL races and their ways of life.

The recent current events involving race issues has proved to be interesting in that now, the ever well media hidden fact that blacks in America ARE racist too has come to be loudly declared by people of that race. This is making political officials in D.C. nervous--perhaps for the wrong reasons.

I suspect political empowered in D.C.--who for years enjoyed the $$$$ on "minority assistance" grants in their region of responsibility are soon to find their beloved pet programs to come under heavy investigative scrutiny; those wasted $$$$ may well soon be lost. Why? Because, evidently--the programs have for decades, failed.

And the entire USA can expect economic impacts, to whatever degree: positive or negative--to be forthcoming.

It is in this light, that improved race relations can produce favorable U.S. economic impacts---something we all in America can stand to have happen.

Answer 3

soci is study of human behaviour - in a social cultural econ setting. many soc r now non-homogenous - hence rr is of great importance to study as to how each grp assimilate/accommodate the other grps