Social Script of Hierarchy (Written About the Great White Way by Debra Dickerson)

645 Words3 Pages
Traditionally, when we think of drama and scripts we are transported to the various worlds of William Shakespeare. We might think of the glorious fall of Romeo and Juliet, or perhaps the poisoning of the king in Hamlet. In America though, a much darker drama has been brewing for nearly as long as the country has existed - Racism. In "The Great White Way", Debra Dickerson refers to it as the "central drama" of American history. Because of racism's place in society, and the way that it has woven itself through politics, and displays of social queue alike, it is understandable how one might compare it to a drama or even just one big angry monologue between an antagonist and protagonist. In the United States, and likely all over the world, it is evident that social status plays a huge role in society. Social status can be determined by your job, the amount of things you own, the car your drive, how beautiful you are, or sadly - by your skin color. Typically, when people are of a certain social status or are wishing to become a member of a social status, they feel obligated to treat other people a certain way to maintain or create their status and a sense of approval and acceptance among peers. Such behavioral patterns can be labeled as social scripts because society gives you a role, and you are expected to act it out to keep things how they are "supposed to be", much like in a drama on stage. A good example of this can be found in "The Great White Way", when Debra discusses the American-Italian who remembers the day that he and his friends beat up a group of African Americans and because of the act, became true Americans. Did the Italian-Americans actually hate the African Americans because of their ethnicity? Or was it all an act so they could be seen as "true white men"? More carefully scripted, societal roles in the drama of racism can be found upon
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