TIANJIN FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY American Culture Unit Nine UNIT 9 Race and Ethnic Relations in...

TIANJIN FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY

American CultureAmerican CultureUnit Nine

UNIT 9

Race and Ethnic Race and Ethnic Relations in the United Relations in the United

StatesStates


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Race and Ethnic Relations in the United Race and Ethnic Relations in the United StatesStates

I have a dream that my four little children will one day in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character.

—Martin Luther King Jr.


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What, then, is the American, the new man? He is either a European, or the descendant of American European… He is an American who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners… Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of man.

—Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur


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The United States has always been described as aThe United States has always been described as a““melting pot” in which many different racial and ethnicmelting pot” in which many different racial and ethnicgroups have assimilated into one culture. The metaphorgroups have assimilated into one culture. The metaphorcame from the title of a stage play in 1909 when thecame from the title of a stage play in 1909 when theUnited States was experiencing a massive immigration:United States was experiencing a massive immigration:““America is God’s Crucible, the great melting-potAmerica is God’s Crucible, the great melting-potwhere all races of Europe are melting and reforming.”where all races of Europe are melting and reforming.”Although the media and politicians routinely payAlthough the media and politicians routinely payhomage to “America, the melting pot,” some criticshomage to “America, the melting pot,” some criticsbelieve that for much of American history, the “meltingbelieve that for much of American history, the “meltingpot” concept was largely a myth. While minorities maypot” concept was largely a myth. While minorities mayhave altered their national culture, for the most part thehave altered their national culture, for the most part themelting pot has meant Americanization—conforming tomelting pot has meant Americanization—conforming tocultural patterns of the mainstream American society.cultural patterns of the mainstream American society.


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Contrary to the melting pot image, another Contrary to the melting pot image, another metaphor recently has been used to describe the metaphor recently has been used to describe the American society—salad bowl, where the American society—salad bowl, where the various racial and ethnic groups have remained various racial and ethnic groups have remained somewhat distinct and different from one somewhat distinct and different from one another, creating a richly diverse country. In this another, creating a richly diverse country. In this sense, some minority groups have, while sense, some minority groups have, while becoming Americans in other ways, maintained becoming Americans in other ways, maintained much of their traditional culture.much of their traditional culture.



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The truth probably lies somewhere between these The truth probably lies somewhere between these two views. Generally speaking, western European two views. Generally speaking, western European immigrants are more readily merged into the rest immigrants are more readily merged into the rest of American society than nonwhite ethnic groups, of American society than nonwhite ethnic groups, such as Asians or Hispanics who are more likely such as Asians or Hispanics who are more likely to retain the language and the customs of their to retain the language and the customs of their original culture.original culture.


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I. The Dominance of WASPs in American SocietyI. The Dominance of WASPs in American Society

The term WASPs stands for White The term WASPs stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Strictly Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Strictly speaking, WASPs are whites of speaking, WASPs are whites of English descent, but more loosely the English descent, but more loosely the category also includes whites of category also includes whites of Canadians, Scottish, Australians, and Canadians, Scottish, Australians, and Northern European descent. It is used Northern European descent. It is used in this broader sense.in this broader sense.


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•1. The majority of immigrants 1. The majority of immigrants in early American historyin early American history

•(1) The first US census (1) The first US census (1790): 78% from England, (1790): 78% from England, Scotland and WalesScotland and Wales

•(2) American culture with (2) American culture with their language, religion and their language, religion and customscustoms

•(3) Dominance of American (3) Dominance of American political, economic system and political, economic system and social valuessocial values

A. WASPs dominance

•2. Today: 60 million 2. Today: 60 million (less than 25%), (less than 25%), continuing dominancecontinuing dominance

I. The Dominance of WASPs in American SocietyI. The Dominance of WASPs in American SocietyA. WASPs dominance


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More inclusive use of the term

4. White Americans—a numerical 4. White Americans—a numerical majority of the population and majority of the population and dominance of American culturedominance of American culture

1. Non-Protestant white 1. Non-Protestant white people—white ethnicspeople—white ethnicsWhite ethnics refer to White ethnics refer to white European groups white European groups that are descendants of that are descendants of immigrants from Eastern immigrants from Eastern and Southern European and Southern European nations, particularly Italy nations, particularly Italy and Poland, but they and Poland, but they also include Greek, Irish, also include Greek, Irish, and Slavic peoples. They and Slavic peoples. They arrived by the millions arrived by the millions during the late 19th and during the late 19th and early 20th century. Most early 20th century. Most of them were Catholics of them were Catholics or Jews.or Jews.

2. The ethnics that have assimilated most into the mainstream American society

3. As many 3. As many people of Irish, people of Irish, French and French and Italian descent Italian descent alone as alone as WASPsWASPs

I. The Dominance of WASPs in American SocietyI. The Dominance of WASPs in American SocietyB. More inclusive use of the term


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II. Native AmericansII. Native Americans

No minority group has suffered more No minority group has suffered more at the hands of the dominant white at the hands of the dominant white population in the United States than population in the United States than the original inhabitants of North the original inhabitants of North America. Between 1800 and 1850, America. Between 1800 and 1850, 500,000 Native Americans perished as 500,000 Native Americans perished as a result of diseases brought by a result of diseases brought by European settlers, along with European settlers, along with dislocation, warfare, genocide and dislocation, warfare, genocide and impoverishment.impoverishment.


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II. Native AmericansII. Native Americans

A. The tragic

historyB. Change of government policy

C. A period of fundamental change

1. Obstacles to European settlers’ westward expansion2. The Removal Act (1830): brutal migration to the west the infamous Trail of Tears3. By 1850, forceful migration west of the Mississippi

1. 2 million: 1% of the 1. 2 million: 1% of the populationpopulation2. 3/4 in or near to 2. 3/4 in or near to reservations, mostly reservations, mostly located in the westlocated in the west3. One of the most 3. One of the most disadvantaged disadvantaged groups: in the 1990s, groups: in the 1990s, nearly 30% of them nearly 30% of them lived below the lived below the poverty line, and the poverty line, and the unemployment rate unemployment rate on many reservations on many reservations was over 50%.was over 50%.

During the 1930s, Native Americans were encouraged to restore their cultural roots, if they wished. Tribes were also urged to legally incorporate, to adopt a modified form of constitutional government, and to establish business enterprise.


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III. African AmericansIII. African Americans

African Americans constitute one of African Americans constitute one of the largest of America’s minority the largest of America’s minority groups, about 13% of the total groups, about 13% of the total population. Unlike other nonwhite population. Unlike other nonwhite ethnic groups, African Americans ethnic groups, African Americans were brought to the United States were brought to the United States against their free will. They were sold against their free will. They were sold to America as slaves.to America as slaves.


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1. Southern whites’ control of major political and 1. Southern whites’ control of major political and economic institution after the Reconstructioneconomic institution after the Reconstruction2. Formation of white supremacist groups such as 2. Formation of white supremacist groups such as Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan3. Practice of “Jim Crow” laws—a set of legal and 3. Practice of “Jim Crow” laws—a set of legal and traditional discriminatory practices barred blacks traditional discriminatory practices barred blacks from voting, using political facilities, attending from voting, using political facilities, attending schools with whites, and associating with whitesschools with whites, and associating with whites

III. African AmericansIII. African AmericansA. Institutionalized discrimination


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1. Brown vs. Board of Topeka (1954)

2. Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s

Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent strategy—civil disobedience

3. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965

4. Remarkable progress since 1970s

(1) Jesse Jackson—the first African American to run for President (1984 and 1988)

(2) Colin Powell

(3) Emergence of African American middle-class

III. African AmericansIII. African AmericansB. Improvement of the situation


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1. About 60% of the average white family’s1. About 60% of the average white family’s2. Lower college finish rate2. Lower college finish rate3. Doubled unemployment rate3. Doubled unemployment rate4. Segregated neighborhoods4. Segregated neighborhoods

III. African AmericansIII. African AmericansC. Gap narrowed but not closed


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IV. Hispanic AmericansIV. Hispanic Americans

The term Hispanic Americans refers to The term Hispanic Americans refers to Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans and other groups from Central Cubans and other groups from Central and South American countries that and South American countries that have a Spanish heritage. High have a Spanish heritage. High birthrates and immigration combine to birthrates and immigration combine to make Hispanics one of the most make Hispanics one of the most rapidly growing minorities in the rapidly growing minorities in the country. Making up about 14% of the country. Making up about 14% of the population, Hispanics have population, Hispanics have outnumbered blacks and become the outnumbered blacks and become the nation’s largest minority group.nation’s largest minority group.


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6. Near the bottom of 6. Near the bottom of the income scalethe income scale

1. The largest Hispanic group: 63%1. The largest Hispanic group: 63%

5. Little 5. Little education and education and high adult high adult illiteracy in illiteracy in EnglishEnglish

4. Predominantly as manual 4. Predominantly as manual labors on railways and farmslabors on railways and farms

2. One of the 2. One of the oldest oldest immigrant immigrant groupsgroups

3. The Mexican-American War in 1848

Chicanos

IV. Hispanic AmericansIV. Hispanic AmericansA. Mexican Americans (Chicanos)


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Contemporary

Trends

4. The poorest among 4. The poorest among the Hispanic groupsthe Hispanic groups

1. About 1/6 of 1. About 1/6 of the Hispanic the Hispanic populationpopulation

2. Citizenship granted in 1917

3. Concentration in New York City

IV. Hispanic AmericansIV. Hispanic AmericansB. Puerto Rican Americans


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2

1 5

4

3

About 1 millionAbout 1 million

Concentration in Concentration in Miami, Florida areaMiami, Florida area

Early Cuban Early Cuban immigrants as immigrants as well-educated well-educated white-collar white-collar professionals and professionals and skilled workersskilled workers

The highest family The highest family income of any income of any Hispanic groupHispanic group

IV. Hispanic AmericansIV. Hispanic AmericansC. Cubans

Large-scale Large-scale emigration since emigration since 19591959


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V. Asian AmericansV. Asian Americans

Asian Americans are the fastest Asian Americans are the fastest growing minority in the United States, growing minority in the United States, but numerically they still represent but numerically they still represent only 4% of the population. The Asian only 4% of the population. The Asian population is predicted to more than population is predicted to more than double by 2010 and quadruple by double by 2010 and quadruple by 2050.2050.


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•A. “Model minority”—A. “Model minority”—success in education and success in education and businessbusiness


•B. The ChineseB. The Chinese

•1. Gold Rush and the 1. Gold Rush and the transcontinental railwaytranscontinental railway

•2. The Chinese Exclusion 2. The Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882Act in 1882

•3. Strict federal legislation 3. Strict federal legislation against Chinese against Chinese immigrationimmigration

•4. Publicly recognized 4. Publicly recognized successsuccess


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•C. The JapaneseC. The Japanese

•1. Large number of 1. Large number of immigrants to the West immigrants to the West Coast since 1885Coast since 1885

•2. Prejudice and 2. Prejudice and discriminationdiscrimination

• the Immigration Act in the Immigration Act in 19241924

•3. Relocation centers 3. Relocation centers during WWIIduring WWII

•4. Income and educational 4. Income and educational levels higher than the whitelevels higher than the white


•D. Changed situationD. Changed situation

•1. Large numbers of Asian 1. Large numbers of Asian immigrants since 1965, immigrants since 1965, including Chinese, Japanese, including Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Koreans and IndiansFilipinos, Koreans and Indians

•2. Vietnamese2. Vietnamese

•(1) Political and economic (1) Political and economic refugees after the Vietnam Warrefugees after the Vietnam War

•(2) Concentration in California (2) Concentration in California and Texas and establishment and Texas and establishment of communitiesof communities

TIANJIN FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY American Culture Unit Nine UNIT 9 Race and Ethnic Relations in...

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