Charon states that the fundamental reasons why societies are unequal are the division of labor, social conflict, institution of private property and ability to accumulate wealth, and power, prestige, and privilege (Charon 69). Jonathon Kozol in his article "Savage Inequalities" describes the societies of both a lower class African American neighborhood and upper class predominantly white school. Charon believes that the social conflict, which can occur during social organization is when one group claims victory by power, whether personal or superior (Charon 75). The system of inequality begins with the winners, or the upper class white community, and the losers, the African American city of East St. Louis, to create a system of inequality. This system results in the establishment of a culture, its institutions, and the socialization supporting and justifying the social elite. However as Kozol's essay continues, he approaches the reasons why these societies continue this system of inequality, and he focuses on the efforts of the powerful and their economic wealth, and how culture and socialization affect our ideologies.
When Kozol asked the students of Rye, New York whether racial integration should be put into effect for their school, one student replied, "How could it be a benefit to us?" (Kozol 91). This attitude comes from an "embedded rugged individualism where people are reluctant to give up too great a share of their earnings to ensure the common welfare" (Adler & Adler 183). Or, as Charles M. Blow points out in his article titled "Bitter Politics of Envy?" the idea of a "corporate Contract of America: societal symbiosis" means that everyone shares their wealth, and "everyone benefits" (Blow). However, as the social elite and wealthy citizens gain more power, the more greedy they become, and the stronger their efforts to maintain the power and wealth they accumulated.
