Race and Ethnicity in the United States

by Schaefer, Richard T.

• ISBN13: 9780131849655
• ISBN10: 0131849654
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

The book introduces the basic sociological concepts relevant to the study of dominant and subordinate relations, and gives a basic intellectual framework to approach this ever-changing and emotional facet of life in this country. This concise topical introduction to race and ethnicity in the U.S. explores prejudice, discrimination, immigration, ethnicity, and religion in their historical and current contexts. Professionals in politics, social work, human resources, and other professions related to the racial and ethnic climate of the U.S.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Understanding Race and Ethnicity	p. 1
What Is a Subordinate Group?	p. 4
Types of Subordinate Groups	p. 5
Racial Groups	p. 5
Ethnic Groups	p. 6
Religious Groups	p. 7
Gender Groups	p. 8
Listen to Their Voices: Problem of the Color-Line, W. E. B. DuBois	p. 8
Race	p. 9
Biological Meaning	p. 9
Social Construction of Race	p. 12
Census 2000	p. 14
Sociology and the Study of Race and Ethnicity	p. 14
Stratification by Class and Gender	p. 15
Theoretical Perspectives	p. 16
The Creation of Subordinate-Group Status	p. 20
Migration	p. 21
Annexation	p. 21
Colonialism	p. 22
The Consequences of Subordinate-Group Status	p. 23
Extermination	p. 24
Expulsion	p. 24
Secession	p. 25
Segregation	p. 25
Fusion	p. 26
Assimilation	p. 27
The Pluralist Perspective	p. 29
Who Am I?	p. 30
Resistance and Change	p. 33
Conclusion	p. 35
Key Terms	p. 36
Review Questions	p. 36
Critical Thinking	p. 37
Internet Exercises	p. 37
Prejudice	p. 39
Hate Crimes	p. 42
Prejudice and Discrimination	p. 44
Theories of Prejudice	p. 47
Scapegoating Theory	p. 47
Authoritarian Personality Theory	p. 48
Exploitation Theory	p. 49
Normative Approach	p. 50
The Content of Prejudice: Stereotypes	p. 51
The Extent of Prejudice	p. 54
The Social Distance Scale	p. 54
Attitude Change	p. 57
The Mood of the Subordinate Group	p. 58
Listen to Their Voices: In Search of Bruce Lee's Grave, Shanlon Wu	p. 61
Intergroup Hostility	p. 63
Reducing Prejudice	p. 64
Mass Media and Education	p. 64
Television: A Case Study of the Media	p. 66
Equal-Status Contact	p. 68
Conclusion	p. 70
Key Terms	p. 71
Review Questions	p. 71
Critical Thinking	p. 71
Internet Exercises	p. 71
Discrimination	p. 73
Understanding Discrimination	p. 76
Relative Versus Absolute Deprivation	p. 76
Total Discrimination	p. 77
Institutional Discrimination	p. 78
Listen to Their Voices: Of Race and Risk, Patricia J. Williams	p. 79
The Informal Economy	p. 81
The Underclass	p. 83
Discrimination Today	p. 85
Measuring Discrimination	p. 85
Eliminating Discrimination	p. 88
Environmental Justice	p. 91
Affirmative Action	p. 93
Affirmative Action Explained	p. 94
The Debate	p. 95
Reverse Discrimination	p. 98
The Glass Ceiling	p. 100
Conclusion	p. 104
Key Terms	p. 105
Review Questions	p. 105
Critical Thinking	p. 105
Internet Exercises	p. 106
Immigration and the United States	p. 108
Early Immigration	p. 111
The Anti-Catholic Crusade	p. 112
The Anti-Chinese Movement	p. 113
Restrictionist Sentiment Increases	p. 117
The National Origins System	p. 117
Listen to Their Voices: Roots, Raffi Ishkanian	p. 119
The 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act	p. 120
Contemporary Concerns	p. 122
The Brain Drain	p. 122
Population Growth	p. 124
Illegal Immigration	p. 125
The Economic Impact of Immigration	p. 128
Refugees	p. 131
Conclusion	p. 133
Key Terms	p. 134
Review Questions	p. 134
Critical Thinking	p. 135
Internet Exercises	p. 135
Ethnicity and Religion	p. 137
Ethnic Diversity	p. 139
Why Don't We Study Whiteness?	p. 139
Listen to Their Voices: When the Boats Arrived, Diane Glancy	p. 141
Religious Pluralism	p. 143
The Rediscovery of Ethnicity	p. 146
The Third-Generation Principle	p. 147
Symbolic Ethnicity	p. 148
The Price Paid by White Ethnics	p. 150
Prejudice toward White Ethnic Groups	p. 150
The Prejudice of Ethnics	p. 151
Case Example: The Italian Americans	p. 153
Ethnicity, Religion, and Social Class	p. 156
Religion in the United States	p. 158
Diversity among Roman Catholics	p. 159
Diversity among Protestants	p. 160
Women and Religion	p. 162
Religion and the U.S. Supreme Court	p. 163
Limits of Religious Freedom: The Amish	p. 167
Conclusion	p. 171
Key Terms	p. 172
Review Questions	p. 172
Critical Thinking	p. 172
Internet Exercises	p. 173
The Nation as a Kaleidoscope	p. 175
The Glass Half Empty	p. 177
Is There a Model Minority?	p. 179
Talking Past One Another	p. 182
Listen to Their Voices: A Bench by the Side of the Road, Toni Morrison	p. 184
The Changing Face of the Workforce	p. 185
Conclusion	p. 186
Key Term	p. 186
Review Questions	p. 186
Critical Thinking	p. 187
Internet Exercise	p. 187
Glossary	p. 188
References	p. 191
Photo Credits	p. 203
Index	p. 205
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Race and ethnicity remain an important part of the national agenda in the United States. The relationships between racial and ethnic groups are not a static phenomenon, and although it is always a part of the social reality, specific aspects change. At that time of the first edition in 1995, the growing presence of Central Americans was duly noted. Today there is growing concern about the degree of acceptance of Arab Americans and Muslims in the United States, and collectively the number of Latinos now exceeds that of African Americans. Specific issues may change over time, but they continue to play out against a backdrop of discrimination that is rooted in the social structure and changing population composition, as influenced by immigration patterns and reproduction patterns. We continue to be reminded about the importance of the social construction of many aspects of racial and ethnic relations. What constitutes a race in terms of identity? What meaning do race and ethnicity have amid the growing number of interracial marriages and marriages across cultural boundaries? Beyond the spectrum of race and ethnicity, we see the socially constructed meaning attached to all religions as members debate who is the "true" keeper of the faith. The very issue of national identity is also a part of the agenda. The public and politicians alike ask, "How many immigrants can we accept?" and "How much should be done to make up for past discrimination?" We are also witnessing the emergence of race, ethnicity, and national identity as global issues. Changes in the Third. Edition As with all previous editions, every line, every source, and every number has been rechecked for its currency. We pride ourselves on providing the most current information possible to document the patterns in intergroup relations both in the United States and abroad. Relevant scholarly findings in a variety of disciplines including economics, anthropology, and communication sciences have been incorporated. The feat ture "Listen to Our Voices" appears in every chapter. These selections include excerpts from the writings or speeches of noted members of racial and ethnic groups such as W. E. B. DuBois and Helen Zia. Their writings will help students appreciate the emotional and the intellectual energies felt by subordinate groups. Those in bold print are new to this edition. Listen to Our Voices Problem of the ColorLine by W.E.B. DuBois (Chapter 1) National Media Should Stop Using Obscene WordsbyTim Giago(Chapter 2) When Work DisappearsbyWilliam Julius Wilson (Chapter 3) Leaving Cubaby Alfredo Jimenez (Chapter 4) When the Boats Arrivedby Diane Glancy (Chapter 5) Gangsters, Gooks, Geishas, and Geeksby Helen Zia (Chapter 6) In addition to four new Listen to Our Voices, the third edition includes the following additions and changes: New key terms such asrasylees(Chapter 4),globalization(Chapter 1),naturalization(Chapter 4),redlining(Chapter 3),social distance(chapter 3), andtransnationals(Chapter 4). Latest data from the census in the text material and illustrated in charts and maps throughout the book. The impact of September 11, 2001, on the Arab- and MuslimAmerican community (Chapter 2). A new section on how corporations attempt to address prejudice through diversity training (Chapter 2). A new section dealing with the global economy and its impact on immigration to the United States (Chapter 4). A separate section on the concept of "White privilege" (Chapter 5). In addition, tables, figures, maps, further readings, relevant journals, political cartoons, and Internet Exercises have been updated. The final chapter highlights other groups that have been t