I have used a command line to run a dd command in Python, however, whenever I try to actually run the command, I get:

dd: opening '/dev/sdb': Permission denied

I know I have to do some kind of root thing? And I only need a certain section of my code to run the dd command, so I don't need to 'root' the whole thing; but the whole 'root' concept confuses me... 

Help would be HIGHLY appreciated!!