Race and Ethnic Relations in the U.S.

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 Reservations278 U.S. reservations

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