1. Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration Chapter 3

2. Lecture Outline I. Defining Race and Ethnicity II. American Stories of Inequality, Diversity, and Social Change III. Immigration

3. I. The Significance of Race How do we define Race and Ethnicity?

4. Defining Race and Ethnicity Ethnic Groups – Ethnic groups are categories of people who are distinctive on the basis of national origin or heritage, language, customs, or cultural practices. What is distinctive about your ethnic identity?

5. Defining Race and Ethnicity Racial Groups – Physical differences, not cultural – Socially constructed

6. Race-A Social Construction – Each society socially constructs the meaning of symbols Social Construction of Race – What does this mean?

7. Minority Groups Minority group: subordinate group whose members have significantly less control or power than members of dominant or majority group – Race? What other groups are minority groups? What characteristics create minority groups?

8. Modern Perspectives on Significance of race One Argument: Race no longer matters – There is equal opportunity due to civil rights movement – We live in a color-blind society Do we? Have we reached the promise land that MLK spoke of in 1963? Are you “color-blind”? What does it mean to be “color-blind”? – Are children color blind? – What is wrong with the notion that we live in a color- blind or post-racial society?

9. Perspectives Opposition (Sociological): Race structures society and is highly significant. While trends may be encouraging, and there are no longer legally enforced forms of racial domination, racial inequality is widespread and racism certainly still exists, although it is much less overt/hidden - Race and ethnicity organize societies and play a large role in fueling violence around the globe. -Existence of hate crimes and hate organizations (Increasing rates of membership) -Existence of racial inequalities -Poverty rates, wealth and income gaps -Criminal Justice system injustices -Education system inequalities -Prejudice and discrimination towards minority groups -Studies show that stereotypes reinforced in media

10. Example: Race changing over time The idea of “white” and “black” and “other” has evolved over time. – Benefits? – Since 1790, the census has never measured race in the same way in the U.S.

11. Example: Race across cultures How many races are in the United States? Brazil? – http://www.zonalatina.com/Zldata55.htm http://www.zonalatina.com/Zldata55.htm

12. II. American Stories of Family Life and Race What characterizes the family life of each of these groups? – African American – American Indian – Latino – Asian American

13. American Indians 2% of U.S. population Family life has been crucial to survival Traditional Family Life-Collectivism and spirituality A painful legacy of conquest, genocide, and struggle – High rates of poverty and health issues – Persistence of pride

14. African Americans Racial inequality and slavery’s legacy – Historical disruption of family life and choice – Persistence of urban poverty and racism – Matriarchal structure (matrifocal) The Moynihan report – Blaming the victim-Structural and deficiency theories – Explaining the wealth gap FHA home loans Family resilience and adaptation

15. Latinos Diverse origins and histories Familism Younger average age, more children per family, extended households, Catholic dominated.

16. Asian Americans 6% of U.S. population Many diverse groups, but many commonalities – Educational excellence- “Tiger mothers” – Respect and care for elders – Multigenerational households – Authoritarian parenting – Higher levels of education upon immigration – Collectivistic

17. III. Immigration 13% of U.S. residents Acculturation Assimilation Segregation Genocide

18. Generations 1 st and 2 nd generations-3 rd ? What are the typical struggles of first gen immigrants 2 nd gen?

19. Intermarriage Miscegenation What characterizes the experience of multi- racial families? Should parents of one race be able to adopt children of another race?

20. Social Distance Opinion Surveys vs. Statistics Increasing Diversity