The Problem of Judgment in Racial Inequality Today

An important concept relative to racial inequality and the judgment of people of color is Social Value. In The Color of Our Shame, Lebron defines the Problem of Social Value as “the fact that blacks do not occupy an equal place in the scheme of normative attention and concern upon which our society depends in the first place to justify the distribution of benefits and burdens, as well as to identify those who are deserving or appropriate recipients” (Lebron 46). In the quote above, Lebron elaborates on our society’s lack of recognition of critical racial judgments, specifically from a White perspective. Thus, this allows for the practice of Systemic Racial Inequality, which is essentially the automatic disadvantage that the Black community in particular, has of achieving their goals, in comparison to the advantages of the White community. As the text states, “Merely being born black is a reliable predictor of one’s future life prospects” (Lebron 47). It is completely inappropriate for our society to use one’s color of skin as a determinate of one’s treatment and array of opportunities. The continuous practice by our society of treating and judging people of color in a specific manner due to historical influences and practices should not be a consideration. I believe Lebron is right in that we who engage in such racial unfairness and harsh judgment should feel shameful. Nevertheless, in relation to truly knowing and being conscious of racial judgments, Lebron is correct in that we are sometimes simply unaware of our perceptions. This creates tension between ideal judgment (understanding the difference between right and wrong) and practical judgment (applying reasonable conceptions of right and wrong to action). How can one distinguish in the moment if their judgment is ideal or practical? What if a majority knows they are engaging with ideal judgment rather than practical but do not put an effort to take part in the latter? How can we then improve racial inequality with our society’s lack of effort and motivation?