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CHAPTER 28
THE BASIS OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY
I. The Value Premise
The word ^^sociaP’ has two distinct meanings. There is the ordinary
scientific usage of the term to refer to the whole range of relations between
men. There is also the narrower but more popular usage which refers to
personal relations, particularly those of an intimate sort. It is in the latter,
more limited, sense that we shall use the term “social” in this part. Equality
in “social relations” is commonly denied American Negroes. An elaborate
system of measures is applied to separate the two groups and to prevent the
building up of intimate relations on the plane of equality. Personal identi-
fications of members of the two groups is thereby hindered. Some of these
segregation measures have a spatial or institutional character, others are
embodied in an etiquette of racial behavior.
Our main value premise in this part is again the precept of equality of
offortunity in the American Creed. Race and color are not accepted as
grounds for discrimination according to the Creed. Social discrimination is
defined from this value premise as an arrangement which restricts oppor-
tunities for some individuals more than for others. Judged by the norm
of equality in the American Creed, such’practices are unfair and wrong. The
Creed has, in this sphere, been given constitutional sanction in America as
far as fublic services and state regulations are concerned.
But when segregation and discrimination are the outcome of individual
action, the second main norm of the American Creed, namely, liberty^ can
be invoked in their defense. It must be left to the individual white man’s
own discretion whether or not he wants to receive Negroes in his home,
shake hands with them, and eat with them. // ufheld solely by individual
choicey social segregation manifested by all white people in an American
community can be—and is—defended by the norm of personal liberty.
When, however, legal, economic, or social sanctions are applied to enforce
conformity from other whites, and when Negroes are made to adjust their
behavior in response to organized white demands, this violates the norm of
personal liberty. In the national ideology, the point where approved
liberty changes into disapproved restriction on liberty is left somewhat
uncertain. The old liberal formula that the individual shall be left free to
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