Ethnic Studies - 1154 Words

Race has no biological meaning. There is only one human race; there are no subspecies, no single defining characteristic, traits, or even gene, separates one â€Å"race† from another. Instead of being a biological concept, race is a social construct, and a relatively modern one at that. It was created to give light-skinned Europeans an advantage by making the white race superior and all others inferior. Throughout its history, the concept of race has served this purpose well. Ancient civilizations, although they practiced slavery, did not classify people based on race, but on other characteristics, such as religion and status. The concept of race first developed in the 18th century, as a way for slaveholders to justify slavery and secure†¦show more content†¦They were stereotyped as â€Å"plodding, degraded, and servile people – indeed, virtual slaves,† and were treated as virtual slaves also, (Chan). After slavery was abolished, white landowners w anted Asians to immigrate to America because, as one of them said, â€Å"emancipation has spoiled the negro, and carried him away from the fields of agriculture†¦ we therefore say let the coolies come,† (McFerson). Later, while working on the railroads, they were paid far less than the unskilled white workers, no matter what job they held. They were viewed as â€Å"perpetual foreigners† and their â€Å"opponents used Asians’ alleged inability to become ‘real’ Americans as an excuse to exclude them and to deny them participation in American political and social life,† (Chan). In fact, they could not become â€Å"real Americans† because they were not allowed citizenship until the 1940s and 1950s. In the 20th century, there was confusion as to whether Asian Americans should be considered akin to blacks or whites. Earlier generations had entered the country as a replacement for black slaves, but during segregation, many Asians we re allowed to attend white schools, theaters, and restaurants. They were not, however, allowed to live in white neighborhoods and when the matter was pressed, they were grouped with blacks. In the 1960s, in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, they were given the status of a â€Å"model minority† to make blacks seem inferior and to confer honorary whiteness on Asians. In Hawaii,Show MoreRelatedAfrican American Studies : The Matrix Of American Ethnic Studies972 Words   |  4 Pagesa presence of Ethnic Studies in Academia. These â€Å"Area† Focused disciplines tries to distinguish their goals apart from other disciplines, which encourages Ethnic Studies to constantly change. Using Color-Line To Borderlands: The Matrix of American Ethnic Studies, I will focus on the following Ethnic Studies and their goals: African American Studies, Women’s Studies, Chicano/a Studies, Native American Studies, and Asian American Studies, and Queer Studies. African American studies, which can beRead MoreCultural and Ethnic Studies682 Words   |  3 Pageswill be given later on. But first, let us discuss the main parts of your paper and what information each should cover. INTRODUCTION The Introduction should contain your thesis statement or the topic of your research as well as the purpose of your study. You may include here the reason why you chose the particular topic or simply the significance of your research paper’s topic. You may also state what type of approach it is that you’ll be using in your paper for the entire discussion of your topicRead MoreFeminism And Gender And Ethnic Studies1172 Words   |  5 Pagesfeminism, followed years later by learning the definition of feminism and learning to also see discrimination politically and economically. To further my understanding of feminism, I am currently taking the class Introduction to Women’s Gender and Ethnic Studies. During the first unit, I studied more in-depth about different types of feminism, and the feminism waves throughout history. As well as reading and studying feminism, I interviewed two people about their definitions of feminism, how their backgroundsRead MoreCase Study : Ethnic Observation844 Words   |  4 PagesCase Study: Ethnic Observation Experiences, are an attribute to our mental, and physical development. My reason for this expression, is, my reluctance to be expressive about experiences I have encountered. On the contrary, I have learned more about my beliefs, and personality within the last 7 weeks. Although, my belief about expressing your experiences, direct people to assumptions, and judgments; through the lessons of gender study, authors, have proved assumptions, can be resourceful dependingRead MoreAn Ethnographic Study On American Ethnic Identity1579 Words   |  7 Pagesslaves in the past. Today, prejudice against Black people is still a complicated issue. In examining how people in a small group interpret and reinterpret their identities, my thesis for this ethnographic study aims to illuminate how the ethnographic record provides claims about African- American ethnic identity in order to counter the impact of discrimination. I have figured out that attendant observation is beneficial to immerse myself into a community, in order to gain a better information about theRead MoreEthnic Studies in Arizona: Both Sides of the Story1183 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tucson Unified School District Board elected to suspend the Mexican-American Studies Program to be in compliance with the state law Arizona statute ARS 15-112. This decision was also made to avoid losing ten percent of its budget in this period of a struggling economy; but that does not complete the story. The history of disagreement began when Tom Horne, the State Superintendent of Schools, during the last days of his term found Tucson School District in violation of all four provisions of theRead MoreGender And Academic Performance Among College Students1489 Words   |  6 PagesEthnic Identification in Relation to Gender and Academic Performance among College Students Only a certain number of people graduate from high school or obtain a GED. Even fewer of them go on to pursue a post-secondary education and obtain a degree. It is obvious that many factors contribute to this lowered rate of degree obtainment such as tuition cost, being overwhelmed by the advanced curriculum, and the loss motivation; however, another factor that may contribute to this issue is simply the wayRead MoreEthnic Identity And Racial Identity866 Words   |  4 PagesEthnic identity remains one of the most extensively studied topics in the social sciences. The book â€Å"Studying Ethnic Identity† provides insight into the dynamic process that goes into the formation of ethnic-racial identity by psychological researchers. Ethnic and racial identity is a subject that is important to study because it has been associated with positive well-being, psychological distress, and academic attitudes (Rivas-Drake, Syed, et al, 2014; Smith Silva, 2011). Past research has triedRea d MoreEssay Ethnic Inequality in Health Care1723 Words   |  7 PagesThe purpose of this essay is to firstly give an overview of the existence of inequalities of health related to ethnicity, by providing some evidence that ethnic inequality in health is a reality in the society and include definitions of keywords. Secondly, I will bring forward arguments for and against on the major sociological explanations (racial discrimination, arefact, access to and quality of care) for the existence of health inequalities related to ethnicity. Thirdly, I would also like toRead MoreThe And Mission Of Purposed Bachelor Of Arts Program1397 Words   |  6 Pagesopportunity to declare a minor in Indigenous Nations Studies, a specialty field of emphasis during their undergraduate education. The department’s mission at present â€Å"aims to provide the best possible educational experiences for our students through excellence in teaching, research, creative activity and service to the stat e, tribes and society’s.† What began in 2004 gradually developed into an expansion of educational opportunities, the Native American Studies program and Native American Student and Community