Johnson Chapter 3

In this chapter the main idea Johnson is trying to get at, is that racism is caused by capitalism. Capitalism is the one thing that keeps races seperated such as the whites and the african-americans.

The way capitalism works in society is that a product is made at a lower cost than what it is sold for. Low cost of a product means low pay for the employees. Johnson states that when workers fight for higher pay, that is when they bring in the foreign workers or people of a different race, ethnic group. They will find someone who will work the job, for the price they are willing to pay. However, Johnson says that this is not the reason white Americans are afraid of other ethnic groups, or people of a different race. Different laws are enforced in modern work places that do not allow employeers to pay a minority a lower wage than say a white employee.

Johnson states, "most people have relatively little power to improve their class position. Most of the household wealth, for example, has been based on a growing mountain of credit card debt, people working two or more jobs, and families relying on two wage earners..." (44) Society today, is far more expensive, and "high class" people want what they can't afford, yet they still go out and buy it (hense the credit card debt) A lot of families like to think they can live a high life one one persons income, that is true if you're a well established doctor, lawyer, or business man, but those rare compared to middle class.

Why do people feel the need to criticize the employeers for paying minorities a lower wage? If they are willing to work for the money, then what is the problem? Johnson states that it has been happening for centuries, since they hired Africans as a source of cheap labor (45).

I think Johnson brings up many good points in this chapter, however i do feel that society is changing, more women are now entering the work force, and more women are gaining more powerful positions and becoming leaders. This changes the view of Gender in the privilege category. Men are no longer the dominating gender, and that is becoming evident. When it comes to Race, i think its whatever the employeer and the employee decide, if it works for the economy and the employee than it shouldn't be a problem. However i do not have enough experience and education in this field to be able to say that is right or wrong, and have a soild argument.