Racism and prejudice, as well as class privilege, are prevalent issues in American society today. Lingering effects from abuses of the past, poor government policy-making, and racial segregation affect ethnic minorities throughout the United States. 2020 FBI data shows that 61.8 percent of hate crimes in the United States are based on ethnicity or race, making violent acts of racism an urgent issue.

Covert racism and stereotyping play roles in how ethnic minorities are viewed and treated as well; examples include hiring bias, exclusion from social events or groups, and name-calling. These issues affect people’s quality of life, self-image, and how they feel about their place as Americans. Similarly, privilege based on class is largely related to ethnicity, with African Americans at the forefront of this disparity. According to recent data from The Peter G Peterson Foundation (2020), Black people in America make an average of $30,000 less per year than white families. Class privilege causes disparities in education, social dynamics, self-esteem and health, and opportunities to advance economically. In the Bronx where Class Act takes place, systemic racism and racial inequalities are more pronounced than many places in the United States; segregated housing developments, pervasive unemployment, and a general lack of attention are largely to blame for this problem.