Race and Ethnicity By: Vanessa Verde, Brittany Egan, Michele

Palazzo

Race and Ethnicity: Same, Similar or Entirely Different?

Lets Define Both: Race and ethnicity are related to

biological and sociological factors respectively

Race: Refers to a person’s physical appearance, such as skin color, eye color, hair color, bone/jaw structure, etc. Sociologically, people use race to refer to more

than simply outward appearance and determine a person’s background and cultural factors with race.

This is why both terms are often paired together or referred to in the same context.

Definitions Continued

Ethnicity Ethnicity: relates to cultural factors such as

nationality, culture, ancestry, language and beliefs.

At one time it was easy to tell one’s ethnicity, but as global conglomeration offered more choice and change, as well as borrowing styles and ideas from other cultures, it is impossible to identify ethnicity bases solely off distinctive features.

Chart*

Example

Example: Caucasian Race: described as light skin and

eyes, narrow noses and thin lips. Usually straight or wavy hair. Said to have lowest degree of projection of alveolar bones, which contain the teeth, projection of the mid-facial region. A person matching these characteristics is said to be Caucasian. However, there are many ethnicities within

this race: Irish, German, French, Slovak etc. What differentiates these ethnic groups is

their country of origin, language, cultural heritage and traditions, beliefs and rituals.

Assumptions

You have no control over your race, people can perceive you a certain way based off your race.

Dalton Conley, PBS.org: I have a friend who was born in Korea to Korean parents, but as an infant, an Italian family in Italy adopted her. Ethnically, she feels Italian: she eats Italian food, she speaks Italian, and she knows Italian history and culture. She knows nothing about Korean history and culture. But when she comes to the United States, she is treated racially as an Asian. What assumptions do people make based off race? How does society classify people based off race?

Assumptions

Ethnicity has to do with choice and group membership. Cannot simply “become” part of a

certain race, because you either are or not part of it. BUT you can become a member of a certain ethnicity by learning a language, and customs.

History

One Drop Rule: During the times of the Civil War. If someone was born with even 1% of African American decent during these times, they were considered African American and were automatically considered an enslaved person by society. A person’s race could appear entirely Caucasian, but with just “one drop” they were a slave.

Story/Field Trip Discussion

Race by Counties

The largest Bronx County racial/ethnic groups are Hispanic (53.5%) followed by Black (30.1%) and White (10.9%).

The largest Queens County racial/ethnic groups are White (27.6%) followed by Hispanic (27.5%) and Asian (22.8%).

The largest Nassau County racial/ethnic groups are White (65.5%) followed by Hispanic (14.6%) and Black (10.5%).

The largest Westchester County racial/ethnic groups are white (68.11%) followed by Hispanic/Latino (21.8%) and Blacks (14.55%)

NYC Populations

Poverty

In the U.S., one of every three African American children and one of every four Latino children live in poverty— two times higher than the rate for white children.

The 2005 U.S. census data confirmed these poverty inequities: the poverty rate for Blacks is 24.9% and Hispanics 21.8% while for Asians, it is 11% and whites 8.3%.

Poverty in School Communities

The poverty gap is most evident in communities and public schools that are segregated along the lines of race and class

In the United States, funding for public education relies greatly on local property taxes. Local property tax revenues may vary between different neighborhoods and school districts. This variance of property tax revenues amongst neighborhoods and school districts leads to inequality in education. This inequality manifests in the form of available school financial resources which provide educational opportunities, facilities, and programs to students

Socioeconomic Stats- Education African Americans and Latinos are more

likely to attend high-poverty schools than Asian Americans and Caucasians (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007).

In 2005, the high school dropout rate of Latinos was highest, followed by those of African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007).

Socioeconomic Stats- Physical Health In one study, one-fourth of American women of

South Asian descent from affluent backgrounds did not have access to doctors due to low economic status.

Socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity have been associated with avoidable procedures, avoidable hospitalizations, and untreated disease (Fiscella, Franks, Gold, & Clancy, 2008).

Low birth weight, which is related to a number of negative child health outcomes, has been associated with lower SES and ethnic/minority status (Fiscella et al., 2008).

Socioeconomic Stats- Psychological Health

Minority children in high-poverty areas are more likely to be exposed to alcohol and tobacco advertisements (Wallace, 1999) and drug distribution (Wallace, 1999); they are also more likely to use drugs and exhibit antisocial behaviors (Dubow, Edwards, & Ippolito, 1997).

The odds of being diagnosed with schizophrenia were significantly higher for African Americans than Caucasians in lower poverty areas (Chow et al., 2003).

African Americans are at higher risk for involuntary psychiatric commitment than any other racial group. African Americans and Latinos in low-poverty areas were more likely to be referred for commitment by a law enforcement official than any other racial group (Chow et al., 2003).

Socioeconomic Stats - Employment African American children are three times more likely to live

in poverty than Caucasian children. American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian families are more likely than Caucasian and Asian families to live in poverty (Costello, Keeler, & Angold, 2001; National Center for Education Statistics, 2007).

Although the income of Asian American families is often markedly above other minorities, these families also often have four to five family members working (Le, 2008).

Minorities are more likely to receive high-cost mortgages: African Americans (53 percent) and Latinos (43 percent), in comparison to Caucasians (18 percent) (Logan,2008).

Unemployment rates for African Americans are typically double those of Caucasian Americans. African American men working full time earn 72 percent of the average earnings of comparable Caucasian men and 85 percent of the earnings of Caucasian women (Rodgers, 2008).

Causes of inequity with race and ethnicity Unemployment rates-The Social Class Explanation argues that the

disadvantages minorities face economically are not the result of overt racism but instead the result of disadvantages associated with class. For example, unemployment can be attributed to the fact that lower class minority populations experience deprivation in terms of education which leads to a lack of skills necessary to enter the job force.

Segregation and job decentralization explanation argues that the effects of racial segregation pushed Blacks and Hispanics into the central city during a time period in which jobs and opportunities moved to the suburbs. This led to geographic separation between minorities and job opportunities which was compounded by struggles to commute to jobs in the suburbs due to lack of means of transportation. This ultimately led to high unemployment rates among minorities

In the Classroom

As Urban teachers, we are exposed to many races and ethnicities in the classroom. This can be a great tool for teaching, as opposed to something negative.

One of the leading causes for bullying is because of race. Maybe because it’s all around them

Bullying video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s-3jwfVwD8Disney video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSWORpLToog

Strategies

Multi Cultural Days Multi Cultural books Show and Tell – Allow Students to bring in something

from their culture and explain Emphasize differences Use cultural names in readings Understand your students!!

"A bunch of teachers here, they think they know what's wrong with us. But they don't know. If people want to help us, they have to see what we've been through, not from what their own experiences tell them."

– Billie, a Lakota teen speaking of the teachers at her high school

more strategies on handout*

Some things to consider…

be aware of the different backgrounds, beliefs, and values of all of your students so that you can meet their individual needs, as well as those of their families.

teachers can have students research and report on their cultural beliefs and values as a social studies project. Parents should be invited to help their child present the report to the class.

More things to consider…

Valuing diversity will enhance our learning environment because there will be a sense of trust and belonging throughout the school.

Many staff members have not been trained to work with a diverse population of students Therefore, it is important that staff members take

part in diversity training related to tolerance and eliminating biases and barriers that impede student achievement.

Racism in the Media

Kool Aid Commercial : This Kool-Aid ad offended many with the stereotypical hip-hop basketball-court vignette. Kool Aid is often referred to as “ghetto juice” and this ad played into the slur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl3T895JXKk&feature=player_embedded (Group 1)

Lucky Charms Commercial: Food has served as a rich vein for racist advertising opportunities. During the 1800s, Irish Americans faced heavy social and labor discrimination. Commonly held stereotypes held that the Irish were greedy, selfish, superstitious, perverted and thieving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rge4eU00aNM&feature=player_embedded (Group 2)

Jungle Book- Monkey Scene “I want to be like you” Monkeys represent the black population based on voice and scat music which is representative of Louie Armstrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JDzlhW3XTM (Group 3)

References

http://censusviewer.com/city/NY/Washington%20Heights

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/01/23/nyregion/20110123-nyc-ethnic-neighborhoods-map.html?_r=0

http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/factsheet-erm.aspx

http://www.understandingprejudice.org/teach/elemtips.htm