Sociology: Chapter 10 Sec 3

“Minority Groups in the United States”

Minority Groups

Gunnar Myrdal: An American Dilemma “Gap between what Americans believe and

how they actually behave” American Ideal: Freedom for All/ Equality American Reality: Slavery/Discrimination *Other people “picture” Americans as 1. White/ Anglo 2. European

African Americans 12% of Population -One of most discriminated against groups -1950’s-60’s; made gains -% of blacks employed similar to whites -16% hold Manager + Positions -28% White “ “ 1965: Voting Act Passed African American Officials went from 200 to 9,000 George W. Bush -Condoleezza Rice -Colin Powell

Hispanic Americans

1980-1990 53% increase in population * Will eventually outgrow African

American population *4,200 Office Holders *Lagging behind in education -ESL and Bilingual education are two

methods being utilized to help this problem

Asian Anericans 3% of Population Six Largest Groups 1. Chinese 2. Filipino 3. Japanese 4. Asian Indian 5. Koean 6. Vietnamese First Wave: 1850’s; Western RR work Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882 Barred Chinese men from bringing wives and children

into U.S. 1940: Ban Lifted National Origins Act: set quotas for asian immigration

Asian Americans

Mc Carran-Walter Act: Opened country to immigration on quotas

-Tend to excel in education -Called the “Model Minority” Resent label -Hides fact that group has faced discrimination Ex: WWII Japanese internment camps See Page 245

Native Americans 1990: 1,900,000 -Extreme Poverty -Reservations -15% Unemployed -31% Live in Poverty -High Suicide -High Alcoholism -10% Graduate from college -Sioux at St. Francis -Lakota woman -High Suicide Rates Did not gain citizenship until 1924

White Ethnics

18-1900’s -Ireland: St Patrick’s Day -Italy -Poland -Greece *Included Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and

non native Protestants See Chart Page 256