We explore the difference between race (largely “biological” though socially constructed as there are no actual developmental GENETIC data points supporting racial difference; we have drawn the differences ourselves), and ethnicity (cultural traits and considerations) in this module. Scientists have provided more than sufficient evidence that the human race has a singular geobiological point of origin. The following discusses the contention of race as a social construct. This does not negate the fact that there are different groups and “differences”, but it does beg the question as to how we ended up in a situation where so many groups are pushed to the margins and how we missed the mark in terms of understanding that no one has the right to assert control over another human being because we are really more alike than we may think.
In your own words (but based on the readings), define race in 10 words or less. Do the same for ethnicity. In thinking about those definitions and what you have come to understand about these concepts, which of the approaches to accommodating inter-group coexistence (amalgamation, assimilation or pluralism) represents the most promising of the three if the goal is peaceful relations among different racial and ethnic groups – particularly as our population diversifies via immigration, interracial and interethnic fertility, etc.?
Briefly discuss whether or not you agree with the contention that race is socially constructed. Use Social Conflict theory to discuss ONE of the following:
(1) why Asian Ameicans are referred to as the “model minority” and how this actually causes more harm to persons of Asian descent,
(2) why any racial group of individuals would think they have the right to assert control over another racial group;
OR, why, among all race and ethnic interactions in the U.S., black-white relations seem to be the most constrained.
Consider the argument of whiteness as an ethnicity. [Helpful background: think about the plight of so many second wave European immigrants such as the Irish, Polish, Italians, etc. to this country and the fact that they were fleeing various ills and injustices in their countries of origin such as persecution, famine, etc. and the fact that each of these unique cultures were different from that of the first wave of Anglo immigrants and suffered some measure of persecution by this first wave, thusly supporting this contention of whiteness as an ethnicity given this relative disadvantage for those groups]. Consider Jewish Americans as a a white ethnic group (though to specify, we understand that Judaism is considered a religion by some, ethnicity but others and still other cultural meanings by some; here is a great resource for further explanation: to an external site.). Your task for this question: Using symbolic interactionist perspective, briefly discuss why Jewish persons have been targeted, sometimes in violent acts of anti-Semitism while many other white ethnic groups are not subject to such treatment (again, recalling that we use the term “white ethnic” for Jewish persons with the understanding that Judaism is multi-faceted in terms of culture, religion and ethnicity).
The Black Lives Matter, Stop APPI (Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander) Hate and Latino/Lattina/LatinX/Hispanic Awareness movements became global phenomena with so much diversity in terms of those were and remain engaged. Why are so many people from various racial groups including the dominate baseline of white persons and other defined dominant populations in other countries involved in these movements to push for change for minority groups, and is this multicultural involvement especially by dominant/majority racial groups a key to needed change in equity for all persons of color and of varied ethnic backgrounds; why or why not?
