race and ethnic relations in the u.s.. major ethnic groups in u.s. largest to smallest european...
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Major Ethnic Groups in U.S.
• Largest to Smallest• European American• Latinos• African Americans• Native Americans
• First group to immigrate to the U.S. and firmly establish political power was the White Anglo-Saxon Protestants –WASPS.
WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants): includes Scots and Welsh
• Extremely ethnocentric, viewed others such as Irish, Germans, Poles, Jews and Italians, as inferior.
• Cultural and political dominances forced other groups to assimilate into their “ways”. • Assimilation: The process of being
absorbed into the mainstream culture.
• Trying to be as “American” as possible in order to “fit in”.
• Over the last one hundred years, other groups from Asia, Central America, and South America have faced similar pressures to assimilate.
Latino Americans
• Latino refers to ethnic groups not race.• (Puerto Ricans, Cubans,
Latin & Mexicans)• Widely diverse group
• Largest minority group in U.S. Currently about 16% of population, 50.5 million.
• Predicted to become the dominant group by 2050 at the current growth
Figure 12.7 Country of Origin of U.S. Latinos
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract 2002: Table 40.
41.3 million in United states according to 2000 U.S. Census (not accurate because illegal immigrants are not counted)
Figure 12.8 Where U.S. Latinos Live
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract 2002: Table 23.
Problems
• Compared with European Americans and Asian Americans, Latinos are the worse off on indicators of well being. • Low paying jobs• Language barriers • High school completion low• 11% college graduation
• Gains• Politically, Latinos are becoming a force in
shaping politics.• Hold 6% of the seats in congress
African Americans
• The Second largest ethnic minority is African Americans, currently 12% of the population.
• Significant social and economic gains over last 30 years, but still earn only 60% of white families• The Civil Rights Movement dramatically improved
conditions for African Americans.
• Unemployment rate is still high 3.5%• Discrimination still exists in the workplace
2004 – 27,696 charges of discrimination
Successes and Gains
• In recent years, African Americans have made considerable political, educations, and economic gains.
• 8 % representation in Congress.• College degrees have slightly increased
12% 199317% 200319% 2010
Asian Americans
• Currently about 4.8% of U.S. population.
• Widely diverse group including people of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Asian Indian, Vietnamese descent
• Among all minority groups in the U.S., Asian Americans are the most successful
• Largest growth in 2010 census
Successes and Gains of Asians
• Most successful in job market
• High rate of college graduation50% college degrees 2003
• Higher annual income
• Successes attributed to:• Close family ties• Assimilation into mainstream culture
Native Americans: includes diverse tribal groups
• Less than 1% of U.S. population• Centuries of genocide and
suppression• Genocide: the deliberate and
systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.
• Most disadvantaged minority group in social and economic terms
• 1.9 million full blooded in U.S.(2000 census)
• 7 million claim ancestry to Native Americans
• 341 tribes
Current Social Problems for Native Americans
• Housing, education, and health care are below standards• High poverty rate (make 60% of what a white male makes)• Alcoholism (6x higher than national level)• Drug abuse (4 x higher than national level)• high suicide rate (double the national average)• Only 1% go to college• Gains
• Recently Native American reservations has introduced casino-type gaming establishments.
• Research suggests that these establishments are having a positive impact.
• The median household has risen and unemployment has decreased.
Race and Ethnicity of Representatives, Senators, and the U.S. PopulationHouse and Senate, 112th Congress, andthe U.S. Population, 2010
Multiculturalism
• Current issues dominating race-ethnic relations in the U.S. include immigration, affirmative action, and how to develop a multicultural society.
• The United States is the most racially diverse society in the world.
• To live in harmony we must find a way to respect one another’s differences and work towards mutually beneficial goals
• This can only happen if minority groups are allowed to fully participate in the nation’s social and political institutions
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