Race Since ancient times, people have attempted to group humans in racial categories based on physical characteristics Historically scholars have placed people into 3 racial groups: Caucasoids, Mongoloids, and Negroids

Caucasoids Caucasoids are white They are characterized by fair skin Straight or wavy hair

Mongoloids Mongoloids are Asian (or people whose ancestors are thought to have come from Asia, such as American Indians) Characterized by yellowish or brownish skin Distinctive folds on the eyelids

Negroids Negroids are black They are characterized by dark skin Tightly curled hair

Racial Categories The reality is that people in each category exhibit a wide range of skin colors and hair textures It is often hard to categorize groups There are no biologically “pure” races

Definition of Race Race: a category of people who share inherited physical characteristics and who others see as being a distinct group

Ethnicity American society consists of people from many different cultural backgrounds. Ethnicity is a set of cultural characteristics that distinguish one group from another

Ethnic Groups People who share a common cultural background and common sense of identity are known as an ethnic group Ethnic groups are usually based on national origin, religion, language, customs, and values

Minority Groups A minority group is a group of people who- because of their physical characteristics (race) or cultural practices (ethnicity) are singled out or treated unequally

Characteristics of Minorities Minorities view themselves as objects of discrimination Membership in the group is an ascribed status Group members share a strong bond & sense of group loyalty Members tend to practice endogamy- marriage within the group. The term has nothing to do with group size, but more so with power Example: in South Africa while whites made up 15% of the population, they dominated the loves of other racial groups in the nation.

Discrimination Discrimination is a common feature of the minority group experience. Discrimination is the denial of equal treatment to individuals based on their group membership. Discrimination involves behaviors of an individual or society and can range from name calling and rudeness to acts of violence Example: In America prior to 1970, 1,170 African Americans were lynched by white mobs. Many were lynched for attempting to vote or for desiring equal treatment.

Societal Discrimination There are two types of societal discrimination: Legal discrimination can change when laws are changed 1. Legal discrimination- discrimination upheld by the law 2. Institutionalized discrimination- discrimination that is an outgrowth of the structure of a society Institutionalized discrimination if far more resistant to change

Prejudice Prejudice is another common feature of the minority group experience. Prejudice is an unsupported generalization about a category of people. Prejudice refers to attitudes and involve stereotypes Stereotypes are oversimplified, exaggerated, or unfavorable generalizations about a group of people White performers would paint their faces black and entertain crowds in minstrel shows from the 1840s-1920s

Stereotypes When stereotyping, an individual forms an image of a particular group and applies it to all members of the group When stereotyping happens long enough, people begin to believe it When people believe stereotypes, it makes it easier to accept discrimination

Racism Prejudice beliefs can justify discrimination and racism can occur Racism is the belief that one’s own race or ethnic group is naturally superior to other races or ethnic groups

Cultural Pluralism Cultural pluralism is a policy that allows each group within a society to keep its unique cultural identity

Assimilation Assimilation is the blending together of culturally distinct groups into a single group with a common culture and identity Often assimilation occurs voluntarily, but sometimes it is force on an ethnic group

Segregation Segregation is a policy to physically separate a minority group from the dominate group 1.De jure segregation: segregation based on the law Example: White-only and Colored-only bathrooms in the 1950s 2.De facto segregation: segregation based on informal norms Example: All Black churches