A Land of Diversity

The excitement and political mobilization of the 2008 election

•One important change from past elections, especially on the Democratic Party side, is the increased diversity of those who participated.

•Compared to 2004, significantly higher percentages of younger people, women, and racial/ethnic minorities.

A Land of Diversity

• Supreme Court decisions and civil rights legislation have ended de jure (created by law) barriers to equality.

• Increasing numbers of minority individuals are running competitive political campaigns and being elected or appointed to positions in local, state, and national government.

• Opinion polls also reflect greater sensitivity to racial, ethnic, and religious groups.

A Land of Diversity• Although considerable progress has been

made in rectifying inequalities and improving relations between minority and majority groups, there is considerably more progress that must occur if America is to successfully address the challenges and accommodate the needs of its increasingly diverse, multicultural population.

A Land of Diversity• Growing Diversity (see handout)• As per a U.S. Census Bureau report, May 2007,

racial ethnic minority population in the U.S. has grown from 98.3 million in 2005 to 100.7 million in 2006

• Minority Populations include:• African Americans or Blacks• AIANs• Asians• NHPIs• Hispanics or Latinos

A Land of Diversity• U.S. population increased from 296.5

million in 2005 to 299.3 million in 2006.

A Land of Diversity• The majority racial/ethnic group, non-

Hispanic whites, represent 66% of the total but account for less than one-fifth (18%) of the nation’s total population growth.

• Latinos, the largest minority group (14.8%) are the fastest growing, accounting for about 50% of the population increase.

A Land of Diversity• There is growing religious diversity• More than ¾ of adults identify as Christians but

there are dramatic differences in their professed practices and some of their beliefs across the three major types of Christians and among the hundreds of various Christian denominations and independent churches.

• About 16% of Americans self-identify as “unaffiliated.”

• 5% belong to non-Christian religions

A Land of Diversity• This growing diversity occurs

simultaneously as the U.S. becomes increasingly integrated in the global economy and more entangled in political and cultural world affairs.

• Globalization• Technological advancements• Satellite communication

• Immigration in the U.S.

A Land of Diversity

Legal Immigration to the United States, 1820-2010Legal Immigration to the United States, 1820-2010SourceSource: Office of Immigration Statistics 2007 and estimates by the author for the period 2000-2010.: Office of Immigration Statistics 2007 and estimates by the author for the period 2000-2010.

A Land of Diversity

Legal Immigrants Admitted to Legal Immigrants Admitted to the U.S. by Region of Last the U.S. by Region of Last

Residence, 1820-2000Residence, 1820-2000SourceSource: Office of Immigration Statistics, 2006, : Office of Immigration Statistics, 2006,

10-13.10-13.

The Foreign-Born Population

Ten Languages Most Frequently Spoken at Home, Other Than English & SpanishSource: Data for 2000 released in 2003 in Shin and Bruno 2003.

A Land of Diversity

Five Shared Minority Group Traits

• Group membership is involuntary

• Possess distinguishing physical and/or cultural traits

• Have a history of unequal treatment by dominant society

• A strong sense of group solidarity and consciousness

• Practice endogamy

A Land of Diversity

• Arguably the U.S. is a land of diverse identities.

1. Why is “identity” so important?

2. What group do you most identify with and for what reasons?

3. How does your “identity” influence your relationships?

A Land of Diversity

•Geographic and National Identities

•Sectional Differences

•State and Local Identities

Birthplaces of Foreign-Born Population in USA, 2003

0

20

40

60

Percentage 52.3 27.3 14.2 3.1 2.5 0.6

Latin America

Asia Europe Africa North

AmericaOceania

% % % %% %

Population• The 2006 U.S. Bureau of Census estimates a

population of approximately 262 - 300 million.• More than any other nation in history, the U. S. is

a nation of immigrants. Over 50 million people have moved from other parts of the world to the U. S.

• Three Historic Immigrant waves:• First, Western Europe and Scandinavia (1840-

1860)• Second, Asia and Eastern Europe (1870-1920)• Third, Latin America and Asia (1965- Present)

• 700,000 to one million legal immigrants continue to arrive in America today + An estimated 7 million illegal immigrants live in the United Sates

Where We LiveWho We Are

•Race and Ethnicity

•African Americans

•Hispanics (Latinos)

•Asian Americans

•Native Americans

•The Ties of Ethnicity

Where We LiveWho We Are

The most distinct geographical region in the U.S. is the

a. Midwest

b. Southwest

c. South

d. West

A Land of Diversity

Only one of these cities does not have a majority black population?

a. Phoenix

b. Baltimore

c. Richmond

d. New Orleans

A Land of Diversity

Most Asian Americans live in all but one of the following states?

a. Washington

b. California

c. Hawaii

d. Michigan

A Land of Diversity

The fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. is?

a. Asian

b. Native American

c. African American

d. Hispanics

Percent change in Resident Population 1990-2004

Who We Are (continue)

•Family Structure

•Religion

•Wealth and Income

•Occupation

•Social Class – most Americans believe their middle class

•Age

•Education

Percentage of the Population by Race and Origin

Percentage of the Population by Race and Origin

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2001Government Printing Office), pp.16-17.Note: Percentages do not equal 100 because Hispanics can be of any race. Figures for 2025And 2050 are projections.

1990 2000 2025 2050White 83.9% 82.2% 78.5% 74.9%African American 12.2 12.8 13.9 14.7American Indian 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1Asian/Pacific Island 3.0 4.1 6.5 9.3Hispanic 8.9 11.8 18.2 24.3

Wealth Distribution in the United States by Race

Source: The Gallup Organization, at www. gallup.com/poll/focus/sr040302.aspSource: The Gallup Organization, at www. gallup.com/poll/focus/sr040302.asp..

Religious Religious Groups in Groups in America.America.

Median Family Income 1980-2003

One Way of Looking at it

Percentage of Americans Living in Poverty, by Age, 1959-2000

Occupational Groups 2006

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United StatesStatistical Abstract of the United States

Percent of Population over Age 65

Distribution of Education in the United States

Unity in a Land of Diversity

American unity is strengthened by all but one of the following

a. The American dream

b. Work ethic

c. Foreign investment

d. Economic opportunity

Social Movements & Interest Groups

•Social Movements – a large body of people who are interested in a common issue, idea, or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action.

• Interest groups sometimes begin as movements.

• Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and employ tactics such as lobbying to achieve their goals.

• Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions, not just policies. Movements tend to see their cause as morally right.

How do they differ?

Types of Interest Groups

•Economic Interest Groups

• Business

• Trade and Other Associations

• Labor

• Professional Associations

• Ideological or Single-Issue Interest Groups

•Public Interest Groups

•Foreign Policy Interest Groups

•Government & Government Employee Interest Groups

•Other Interest Groups

African-AmericansCongressional Black Caucus FoundationNAACP Legal Defense and Education FundNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)National Urban League Rainbow/PUSH Coalition

Latinos Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund National Council of La Raza

Asian Americans Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum

Native AmericansAmerican Indian MovementNational Congress of American IndiansNational Indian Council on AgingNative American Rights Fund

Arab AmericansAmerican-Arab Anti-Discrimination CommitteeArab American Institute

Major Racial & EthnicMajor Racial & Ethnic Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Jewish AmericansAmerican Jewish Committee

American Jewish CongressAnti-Defamation League B'nai B'rith International

National Council of Jewish Women

Muslim AmericansCouncil on American Islamic Relations

Muslim Public Affairs Council

Multiethnic Groups Association of MultiEthnic Americans, Inc.

Joint Center for Political and Economic StudiesProject RACE

Lobbying Activities

•Lobbyists are persons employed by and acting for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.•Lobbyists engage in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators and the policies they enact. Lobbyists primarily provide money for campaigns.

The Iron The Iron TriangleTriangle

Interest groups

Congress members

Bureaucratic leaders and experts