1. RACE & ETHNICITY

2. Let’s Start with Minorities
Sociologist Louis Wirth offered the following definition in 1945:
“We may define a minority as a group of people whom, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination. The existence of a minority in a society implies the existence of a corresponding dominant group with higher social status and greater privileges. Minority carries with it the exclusion from full participation in the life of the society.”
A minority then has 5 key factors:

3. Let’s Start with Minorities
A minority has distinctive physical or cultural characteristics which can be used to separate it from the majority
Include anything from skin color, to facial features, to accents, religion or even language
i.e. the Jews during the Nazi regime
The minority is dominated by the majority
Since the majority is the dominating group, they hold an unequal share the desired goods, services, and privileges
Minority traits are often believed by the dominant majority to be inferior
Members of the minority have a common sense of identity, with strong group loyalty
Efforts to keep minorities isolated create empathy among those suffering – creates a “we” and a “they”
The majority determines who belongs to the minority through ascribed status

4. So then, what is race?
Members of a race share certain biologically inherited physical characteristics that are considered equally important within a society
Biologists use everything from skin color, hair color, hair texture, eye color, facial features, etc.
Negroid (Sub-Saharan Africa); Mongoloid (Asia – Central, South, Southeast, Northern Europe, Arctic, Americas, Pacific Islands); Caucasian (Europe, North Africa, Western Africa)
Is there a scientific basis for race?
While certain physical features have been associated with particular races, scientists know that there is no such thing as a “pure race”
Most scientists consider racial classifications arbitrary in misleading; for sociologists, social attitudes and characteristics that relate to race are more important than physical differences

5. So then, what is race?
Is there a scientific basis for race? Aren’t some characteristics superior?
We have all heard the arguments that certain physical characteristics associated with certain races are superior and other inferior
Reality – physical characteristics are superior only in the sense that they provide advantages for living in particular areas
i.e. narrow opening between eyelids protects against the bright light and cold found in Siberia or Alaska
i.e. a darker skin tone is better able to withstand the hot sun
There is NO scientific evidence that connects any racial characteristic with innate superiority OR inferiority

6. So then, What is ETHNICITY?
Comes from the Greek word ethnos meaning “people” or “nation”
This term referred to cultural and national identity
Ethnic minority - socially identified as a group by culture, religious or national characteristics
Subculture defined by its own language, religion, values, beliefs, norms and customs
If we think back to our chapter on Culture, we remember that any subculture is a part of a larger culture, where its members work in the majority, send their children through the host educational system and are subject to the laws of the land
Ethnic minorities are also separate from the larger culture
Can occur because the ethnic minority wishes to maintain its cultural origins
Can occur because the majority creates barriers that prevent the ethnic group from blending in with the large culture

7. So then, What is ETHNICITY?
Why are ethnic minorities seen as inferior?
If we remember from our chapter on Culture, ethnocentrism plays a role
We also see that people in the majority (either out of loyalty to the group, preference for their own values, beliefs and norms) may consider other views to be inferior
Since they do not measure up to the to the majority’s concept of appropriate ways of behaving, and therefore assumed that that something is wrong with them
This of course is expressed as prejudice and discrimination

8. Racial & ETHNIC RELATIONS

9. Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Generally speaking, minority groups are either accepted (assimilation) or they’re rejected…which lead to conflict
Assimilation – the blending or fusing of minority groups into a dominant society
When a racial or ethnic minority is integrated into society, they are granted full participation in that society
Assimilation has taken several forms in the United States:
Anglo-Conformity
Melting Pot
Cultural Pluralism
Accommodation

10. Anglo-Conformity
Belief that one’s identification with one’s ethnic group should be short- lived and temporary
Increased emphasis on becoming “American” – speaking English, dressing Anglo
School is used as an institution to assimilate children as quickly as possible
Really the policy from 1840 – 1920

13. Melting Pot Or Tossed Salad?
According to the Melting Pot, people come to America and contribute aspects of their culture to create a new and unique “American” culture
Results? Cultures become indistinguishable and blend or “melt” together

15. Melting Pot Or Tossed Salad?
There are some that question if that is in fact the reality of how American society has operated
According to the salad bowl theory, people come to America and keep their cultural identity and don’t lose it (unlike the melting pot)
The unique characteristics of each are distinguishable, just like the ingredients in a salad are distinguishable
Also accounts for why we have the “Something-American” title

16. Cultural Pluralism
Building off of that “tossed salad” idea, we see cultural pluralism emerge – desire of a group to maintain some sense of identity separate from the dominate group
Recognizes immigrants desire to maintain their “old ways”
Huge impact on institutions
High increase of Hispanic immigrants have led to states instituting bilingual education

17. Accommodation Accommodation takes cultural pluralism to an extreme
Minority obtains their identity in a unique way
They learn to deal with (or accommodate) the dominant culture when necessary, but remain independent in language and culture
i.e. Cubans living in Miami, FL
i.e. the Amish in Lancaster, PA

18. Can’t We All Just Get Along?
It would be great if we all got along, but just as there are ways for people to incorporate themselves into a new culture, there are also ways in which the dominant culture work to keep them separated
In looking for broad patterns of conflict, Sociologists examine historical records and analyze current events
Three basic patterns have emerged that describe the approaches the dominant culture take in their rejection of minority rights:
Genocide
Population transfer
Subjugation

19. GENOCIDE The term “genocide” was created by Raphael Lemkin in 1944
Greek genos (race) and Latin cida (killer)
Genocide – a systematic effort to destroy an entire population
Lemkin was actually the driving force behind the Genocide Convention, which the UN adopted in 1948
Comes about after the Holocaust

20. GENOCIDE
“I became interested in Genocide because it happened so many times…first to the Armenians, then after the Armenians, Hitler took action…One million Armenians died, but a law against the murder of peoples was written with the ink of their blood and the spirit of their sufferings.”
- Raphael Lemkin

21. Population Transfer
Population transfer – a minority is forced either to move to a remote location or to leave entirely from the region controlled by the majority
Involuntarily/“Voluntarily”
Explosion
Deportation
Forced removal
Forced migration
Ethnic cleansing
INVOLUNTARILY

22. Population Transfer
Population transfer – a minority is forced either to move to a remote location or to leave entirely from the region controlled by the majority
Involuntarily/“Voluntarily”
Refugees
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Stateless People
“VOLUNTARILY”

23. Subjugation
Subjugation – process by which a minority group is denied equal access to the benefits of a society
This is the most common patter of conflict
In the United States, we see it in 2 main forms:
De Jure Segregation
Laws on the books that create segregation
i.e. segregated schools, movie theatres, restaurants, etc.
De Facto Segregation
Social conditions and everyday practice that create segregation
i.e. neighborhood homeowners agreeing among themselves not to sell to members of a certain ethnic group

24. Subjugation
De JURE SEGREGATION
De Facto SEGREGATION

26. Theories of Prejudice & Discrimination

27. Prejudice, Racism, & Discrimination
Individuals hold prejudices of many types, but to Sociologists, prejudice refers to the widely held preconceptions of a group (minority or majority) and its individual members
Prejudice involves a generalization based on biased or insufficient information
Prejudice attitudes therefore, are based on strong emotions, so they are often difficult to change, even in the face of overwhelming evidence
i.e. many people believe that Asian students have a “gift” for mathematics…so let’s play out the scenario
John Ross believes this about Asian students and in his Calculus class, he sits next to a student of Asian descent, Jason. Problem is Jason isn’t doing so well in Calculus. Will this change John Ross’ idea about the mathematical abilities of Asian students? Probably not…instead John Ross will just think that Jason is the “exception to the rule.”

28. Prejudice, Racism, & Discrimination
Racism – an extreme form of prejudice that assumes superiority of one group over others
Racism involves more than just judging a person unfairly, but it ALSO assumes that a person’s own race or ethnic group is superior
Racists believe that discrimination or exclusion is morally justified because of their own “natural” superiority
Is discrimination different than racism?
Yes!
Prejudice involves holding biased opinions, discrimination involves acting upon those opinions
Forms could be avoiding social contact with members of a minority group, denying them positions of authority, denying access to exclusive neighborhoods or even hate crimes…

29. HATE CRIMES

30. Hate Crimes
Hate crime – a criminal act that is motivated by extreme prejudice
Hate crimes involve bias related to race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or even ancestry
Victims include (but are certainly not limited to,) American Indians, African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americas, Jews, LGBTQ, Disabilities, etc.
While the term “hate crime” is relatively new, unfortunately, the practice is ages old
Hate crimes still tend to occur in relatively small numbers, but the frequency is increasing

31. Hate Crimes How do Sociologists interpret hate crimes? Functionalist
Members of a group are bolstering their sense of unity against a common enemy
Conflict theorist
Some hate crimes are based on the belief that the victim is somehow threatening the person’s livelihood or self-interest
Symbolic interactionist
Labeling – people who commit hate crimes have vocabularies filled with demeaning stereotypes that attempt to justify violence directed against the victims

32. So then, what is a stereotype?
Stereotype – a set of ideas, based on distortion, exaggeration, and oversimplification, that is applied to all members of a group
Why are they created?
A way to justify unethical behavior against minority groups
i.e. colonial and American Indian relations – in the early colonial times, both groups coexisted peacefully, but as land and resources became scare and competition increased, so to justify expansion onto Indian territory, colonists begin to describe and perceive them as “lying, thieving, un-Christian savages” and therefore didn’t deserve the rights afforded to whites

33. Let’s look at the 3 Perspectives

34. Minority Groups in the U.S.