1. 3.0 Promoting Multicultural Awareness Exploring the Human Resources/Economic Development Connection Community Choices: Public Policy Education Program 8 March 2000 The Southern Rural Development Center Module Three:

2. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Objectives Understand key terms, such as culture, racial groups, and prejudices. Recognize how perceptions and stereotypes influence participation in public policy activities. Recognize how values vary across cultures and how they can influence views on public policy matters. Become aware of the cultural dimensions of public policy issues. Understand key terms, such as culture, racial groups, and prejudices. Recognize how perceptions and stereotypes influence participation in public policy activities. Recognize how values vary across cultures and how they can influence views on public policy matters. Become aware of the cultural dimensions of public policy issues. 3.1

3. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Background Information The U.S. is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world. By year 2050, it is estimated the the U.S. will be made up of 52 percent white, 22 percent Hispanics, 14 percent African- Americans, and 10 percent Asians. Thus, the future economic productivity of Americans will depend on the talents and training of culturally diverse groups. The U.S. is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world. By year 2050, it is estimated the the U.S. will be made up of 52 percent white, 22 percent Hispanics, 14 percent African- Americans, and 10 percent Asians. Thus, the future economic productivity of Americans will depend on the talents and training of culturally diverse groups. 3.2

4. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Become more aware of their own prejudices and stereotypes. Discuss how cultural differences and similarities might affect public policy decisions. Gain insight into how those who wish to affect public policy need to be culturally aware. Become more aware of their own prejudices and stereotypes. Discuss how cultural differences and similarities might affect public policy decisions. Gain insight into how those who wish to affect public policy need to be culturally aware. 3.3 This curriculum is designed to help participants...

5. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Key Terms Racial group—a social group that people inside or outside the groups have decided is more important to single out on the basis of some real or alleged physical characteristic. Ethnic group—a group that is socially distinguished on the basis of cultural or national origin characteristics. Culture—the shared values, understandings, symbols, and practices of a group of people. Racial group—a social group that people inside or outside the groups have decided is more important to single out on the basis of some real or alleged physical characteristic. Ethnic group—a group that is socially distinguished on the basis of cultural or national origin characteristics. Culture—the shared values, understandings, symbols, and practices of a group of people. 3.4

6. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Key Terms (cont.) Ethnocentrism—loyalty to the values, beliefs, and members of one’s own group and having negative views of other groups. Prejudice—unfavorable bias based on an unsupported judgment. May be felt or expressed. Stereotype—a mental picture that overgeneralizes racial or ethnic practices or behavior. Makes all people in a particular group look and act the same way. Ethnocentrism—loyalty to the values, beliefs, and members of one’s own group and having negative views of other groups. Prejudice—unfavorable bias based on an unsupported judgment. May be felt or expressed. Stereotype—a mental picture that overgeneralizes racial or ethnic practices or behavior. Makes all people in a particular group look and act the same way. 3.5

7. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Fear based on ignorance of others. Lack of understanding about how they are like us. Fear based on ignorance of others. Lack of understanding about how they are like us. 3.6 The root of many of these negative attitudes is...

8. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Learning to understand others is essential if communities are to meet future challenges and develop both socially and economically. 3.7 However...

9. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Rural African-Americans in the South worked in the region’s cotton fields as tenant farmers, sharecroppers, or agricultural laborers. Mechanization did away with many of the jobs these individuals held. Many moved to urban centers in the North, but several stayed in the rural South. Rural African-Americans in the South worked in the region’s cotton fields as tenant farmers, sharecroppers, or agricultural laborers. Mechanization did away with many of the jobs these individuals held. Many moved to urban centers in the North, but several stayed in the rural South. 389 How groups came to live where they currently are

10. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Hispanics in the Southwest came in waves from Mexico, particularly after the Mexican Civil War of 1910. Often, only available employment was as agricultural workers. Many have moved to urban areas, but some low-skilled, poorly-educated Hispanics have remained in the rural Southwest. Hispanics in the Southwest came in waves from Mexico, particularly after the Mexican Civil War of 1910. Often, only available employment was as agricultural workers. Many have moved to urban areas, but some low-skilled, poorly-educated Hispanics have remained in the rural Southwest. 3.9 How groups came to live where they currently are (cont.)

11. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness More than 9 out of every 10 rural African- Americans reside in the South, and half are found in the South Atlantic states. There are 276 counties in the South with an African-American population of 30 percent or more. More than 2.5 million of the 5 million rural African-Americans live in these 276 counties. More than 9 out of every 10 rural African- Americans reside in the South, and half are found in the South Atlantic states. There are 276 counties in the South with an African-American population of 30 percent or more. More than 2.5 million of the 5 million rural African-Americans live in these 276 counties. 3.10 Current Facts

12. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Nearly half of all rural Hispanics live in the West and Mountain regions. Most reside in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Another 40 percent of the rural Hispanic population lives in the South, mainly in Texas. Nearly half of all rural Hispanics live in the West and Mountain regions. Most reside in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Another 40 percent of the rural Hispanic population lives in the South, mainly in Texas. 3.11 Current Facts (cont.)

13. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Racially and ethnically linked economic inequalities in rural areas occur, in part, because of the difficulties African- Americans and Hispanics experience in securing good-paying jobs in the local economy. These obstacles are frequently linked to a lack of understanding and tolerance for members of these groups. Racially and ethnically linked economic inequalities in rural areas occur, in part, because of the difficulties African- Americans and Hispanics experience in securing good-paying jobs in the local economy. These obstacles are frequently linked to a lack of understanding and tolerance for members of these groups. 3.12 This module suggests that...

14. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Minority ethnic groups members face more restricted occupational choices than whites. More than 40 percent of rural African- American men hold manufacturing jobs; 85 percent of al jobs held by African- American women are in manufacturing and service industries. Minority ethnic groups members face more restricted occupational choices than whites. More than 40 percent of rural African- American men hold manufacturing jobs; 85 percent of al jobs held by African- American women are in manufacturing and service industries. 3.13 Current Conditions—Employment

15. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Areas of the rural South with high concentrations of African-Americans remain saddled with slow-growing, stagnating, or declining industries. Opportunities in the Black Belt are at the low-wage, low-skilled end of the job ladder. Areas of the rural South with high concentrations of African-Americans remain saddled with slow-growing, stagnating, or declining industries. Opportunities in the Black Belt are at the low-wage, low-skilled end of the job ladder. 3.14 Current Conditions—Employment (cont.)

16. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness African-Americans and Hispanic workers in rural areas earn less than their urban counterparts. Within rural areas, the income gap between white workers and workers in the two minority groups also has widened African-Americans and Hispanic workers in rural areas earn less than their urban counterparts. Within rural areas, the income gap between white workers and workers in the two minority groups also has widened 3.15 Current Conditions—Income

17. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Rural African-Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately concentrated in the lowest income categories. The economic situation for African- American and Hispanic households has actually deteriorated since the 1980s. Rural African-Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately concentrated in the lowest income categories. The economic situation for African- American and Hispanic households has actually deteriorated since the 1980s. 3.16 Current Conditions—Income (cont.)

18. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness The number of African-Americans and Hispanics with an 8th-grade education or less has increased since the 1980s. But, the proportion of rural whites with an 8th-grade education or less is much smaller, while the percent with a college education is much higher than for rural African-Americans or Hispanics. The number of African-Americans and Hispanics with an 8th-grade education or less has increased since the 1980s. But, the proportion of rural whites with an 8th-grade education or less is much smaller, while the percent with a college education is much higher than for rural African-Americans or Hispanics. 3.17 Current Conditions—Education

19. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness The current mood in the country is that poverty and economic development issues are most appropriately addressed at the local level. Local efforts can be problematic if public policy decisions are made with limited information and understanding of other cultural groups in the community. The current mood in the country is that poverty and economic development issues are most appropriately addressed at the local level. Local efforts can be problematic if public policy decisions are made with limited information and understanding of other cultural groups in the community. 3.18 Programs and Policies

20. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Citizens of all cultural backgrounds are important stakeholders and their input should be valued at every part of the public policy process. What would be worthwhile is the promotion of multicultural education as a means for fostering real, democratic policy decision-making initiatives. Citizens of all cultural backgrounds are important stakeholders and their input should be valued at every part of the public policy process. What would be worthwhile is the promotion of multicultural education as a means for fostering real, democratic policy decision-making initiatives. 3.19 Programs and Policies (cont.)

21. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Multiculturalism is reflective of policies that take into consideration differences among groups that were formerly excluded from the mainstream of American society. For rural communities to advance, they must engage in clear discussions of the ways people of divergent cultural backgrounds develop and maintain their own racial and/or cultural heritage. Multiculturalism is reflective of policies that take into consideration differences among groups that were formerly excluded from the mainstream of American society. For rural communities to advance, they must engage in clear discussions of the ways people of divergent cultural backgrounds develop and maintain their own racial and/or cultural heritage. 3.20 Multicultural Education

22. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Local citizens must develop a mutual respect for divergent cultural ways so that all groups of people will have the opportunity to develop their human capital resources and apply them to the overall development of the community. Multicultural education promotes an understanding of both positive and negative features of American racial and cultural relations. Local citizens must develop a mutual respect for divergent cultural ways so that all groups of people will have the opportunity to develop their human capital resources and apply them to the overall development of the community. Multicultural education promotes an understanding of both positive and negative features of American racial and cultural relations. 3.21 Multicultural Education (cont.)

23. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Its goal is that all students of all color and cultures be given the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to function effectively in a culturally and ethnically diverse state, nation, and world. Multicultural education programs represent a way to bring diverse people together in mutual respect for one another. Its goal is that all students of all color and cultures be given the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to function effectively in a culturally and ethnically diverse state, nation, and world. Multicultural education programs represent a way to bring diverse people together in mutual respect for one another. 3.22 Multicultural Education (cont.)

24. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness Diverse groups of people can overcome their diversity by focusing on those issues and values that they share. Fear of individual loss is replaced by a newly gained knowledge that cultural diversity, racial differences, and a variety of religious creeds enrich the vitality of the community. Diverse groups of people can overcome their diversity by focusing on those issues and values that they share. Fear of individual loss is replaced by a newly gained knowledge that cultural diversity, racial differences, and a variety of religious creeds enrich the vitality of the community. 3.23 Multicultural Education (cont.)

25. Community Choices: Promoting Multicultural Awareness 3.24 Prepared by Lionel J. Beaulieu Southeastern Louisiana University John A. Rutledge University of Florida March 2000