Sociology 646 Overview of Major Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups

Congressional Caucuses, 2002 Asian Pacific Islander: 9 Hispanic: 18 Black: 38 Is that appropriate representation or not? Should racial and ethnic caucuses exist? Recent cooperation over Food Stamp extension: help poor blacks and recent immigrants—Congress is becoming aware of the increasingly complicated racial and ethnic mosaic

The U.S. Situation in Historical and Global Context 1.The creation of countries out of settler societies. 2.Slavery 3.The impact of imperialism 4.Current immigration

Settler Societies and Indigenous Groups Dutch, English, French, and Spanish settlers Displacement of American Indians: purchase, forced relocation, death by disease International comparisons: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico: what distinguishes the latter from the U.S. and the other three? South Africa: settler groups always smaller than indigenous group

Slavery Most slaves came from Western Africa prior to the 19 th Century Plantation Agriculture: cotton and tobacco Why not in the North? Why not in Canada or Mexico? What about Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic?

Imperialism Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii: once they all belonged to us Korea and Vietnam What are the roles of these in our current population makeup? What explains the different statuses of Hawaii and Puerto Rico? France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands also have experienced significant immigration from former colonies

Immigration American Indian, African American, and white populations have a long history in the United States As do some Latinos in the Southwest We are a very open country to immigration and naturalization compared to most countries

Figure 1. Questions on Race and Hispanic Origin from Census 2000  Note: Please answer BOTH Questions 5 and Is this person Spanish/Hispanic/Latino? Mark X the “No” box if not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. No, not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino Yes, Puerto Rican Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano Yes, Cuban Yes, other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino – Print group

American Indians 2.5 million or.8 percent of population Another 1.6 million or.6 percent in combination 1492: 2-5 million; 1900: approx. 300T What explains the population decline? What explains the population resurgence?

American Indians, continued Sovereign Dependent Nations –Marshall Supreme Court:Cherokee v. Georgia –Guardian to Ward Relationship (current controversy over missing funds) –Citizenship (U.S., tribal, state)

American Indians, continued Removal Allotment Indian Reorganization Act Termination Indian Self-Determination

White Americans Who is white in the eyes of Americans? –How has this changed over time? Why does ethnicity continue to be important to many white Americans? Should white Americans feel responsible for current racial inequality?

African Americans 35 million or 12.3 percent of the U.S population; 1.8 million AF Am and other 2% of Af Am identified as Hispanic: who are they? Do the effects of slavery still persist? Was the Civil Rights Movement successful?

African Americans, continued What are some indicators of progress during the past 50 years? What are the major problems that still need to be addressed? What are some policies or programs that could be used?

Latinos/Latinas Number Percent Total Population281,421, Hispanic or Latino 35,305,

Latinos/Latinas, cont. Latino Groups 35,305, Mexican 20,640, Puerto Rican 3,406, Cuban 1,241, Other Latino 10,017, Dominican 764, Central American 1,686, South American 1,353, Spaniard 100,135.3 All Other 6,111,

Latinos/Latinas: Diversity Generations Countries of Origin Will a national pan-ethnic Latino identity emerge?

Asians The Asian Population in the United States, 2000 One Asian Group Asian and/or Other Total 10,019,405 11,898,828 Asian Indian 1,678,765 1,899,599 Chinese 2,314,537 2,734,841 Filipino 1,850,314 2,364,815 Japanese 796,700 1,148,932 Korean 1,076,872 1,228,427 Vietnamese 1,122,528 1,223,736 Other Asian 1,179,

My America: Honk if You Love Buddha A humorous introduction to some of the Asian American groups in the U.S. A voyage of self-discovery