Getting On The

Getting On The

Same PageSame Page

““N of One”N of One”

Race LabelsRace Labels

Race or Ethnicity?

Race or Ethnicity?

What Are “Minorities”?

What Are “Minorities”?

““N” O

f One

N” O

f One

What Is An “N”?

What Is An “N”?

The US has nearly 197 million Whites

The US has nearly 197 million Whites

Sample Size (N) is 702 Whites

Sample Size (N) is 702 Whites

““N” O

f One

N” O

f One

Talking About Social Actors’

Talking About Social Actors’

Central Tendencies

Central Tendencies

A Bell CurveA Bell Curve

Race

Labels

Race

Labels

• • Black (13%)

Black (13%)In a recent survey, 50% said they prefer “Black”

In a recent survey, 50% said they prefer “Black”

and 50% prefer “African-American.”

and 50% prefer “African-American.”

• • Latino (16%)

Latino (16%)The largest groups are Mexican-American (63%),

The largest groups are Mexican-American (63%),

Puerto Rican (9%), and Cuban-American (4%).

Puerto Rican (9%), and Cuban-American (4%).

• • Asian-American (5%)

Asian-American (5%)

The largest groups are Chinese, Filipino, East

The largest groups are Chinese, Filipino, East

Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese

Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese

• • Native American (1%)

Native American (1%)

May also be called American Indian or Indigenous

May also be called American Indian or Indigenous

Peoples. Also includes “Alaskan Natives”

Peoples. Also includes “Alaskan Natives”

• • White/Anglo

White/AngloAdministratively, includes people from Europe,

Administratively, includes people from Europe,

the Middle East, and parts of North Africa

the Middle East, and parts of North Africa

Race

or

Race

or

Eth

nic

ity?

Eth

nic

ity?

• • RaceRaceA category composed of people who share

A category composed of people who share

biologically transmitted traits

biologically transmitted traits that members

that members

of a society deem socially significant.

of a society deem socially significant.Skin ColorSkin Color

Hair Texture or Color

Hair Texture or ColorNasal IndexNasal IndexLip FormLip FormHead Shape

Head ShapeBlood and Hypodescent

Blood and Hypodescent

Caucasian(White)

Ethiopian(Black)

American(Red)

Mongolian(Yellow)

Malayan(Brown)

Johann BlumenbachFounder of Anthropology

Race

or

Race

or

Eth

nic

ity?

Eth

nic

ity?

• • RaceRaceA category composed of people who share

A category composed of people who share

biologically transmitted traits

biologically transmitted traits that members of a

that members of a

society deem socially significant.

society deem socially significant.• • Ethnicity

EthnicityA category composed of people who share a

A category composed of people who share a

common cultural heritage. They are considered

common cultural heritage. They are considered

unique because of religious, linguistic, or cultural

unique because of religious, linguistic, or cultural

characteristics . . . not physical ones.

characteristics . . . not physical ones.

- Common ancestry: Polish, Latino, Filipino

- Common ancestry: Polish, Latino, Filipino

- Common language: Spanish, German, Tagalog

- Common language: Spanish, German, Tagalog

- Common religion: Jewish, Muslim, German

- Common religion: Jewish, Muslim, German

OrthodoxOrthodox

• • Pan-Ethnicity

Pan-EthnicityLarge-scale affiliations where previously un-

Large-scale affiliations where previously un-

related groups assume a common

related groups assume a common

identityidentity

What Are Minorities?What Are Minorities?

MinorityMinority is not a description is not a description of a group’s numerical of a group’s numerical

representation. It is really a representation. It is really a description of relative power description of relative power

and status in a society.and status in a society.

5% Whites (1960)5% Whites (1960)South AfricaSouth Africa

58% Whites (1960)58% Whites (1960)Southern US (Mississippi)Southern US (Mississippi)

Data from US /World Censuses

What Are Minorities?What Are Minorities?

MinorityMinority is not a description is not a description of a group’s numerical of a group’s numerical

representation. It is really a representation. It is really a description of relative power description of relative power

and status in a society.and status in a society.

Hawaii (23% White)New Mexico (41% White)

California (40% White)Texas (45% White)

New York (49% white)Washington, DC (39% white)

San Diego (49% white)Las Vegas (48% white)

Albuquerque (42% white)Houston (40% white)

Miami (35% white)Los Angeles (32% white)

Honolulu (19% white)El Paso (13% white)

Data from US Census