🥨Intro to Ethnic Studies Unit 2 – Race and Ethnicity in US History

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Race socially constructed category based on physical characteristics (skin color, hair texture, facial features)
  • Not based on biological or genetic differences
• Ethnicity refers to shared cultural heritage, language, religion, and traditions
  • Can be self-identified or ascribed by others
• Racism prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone based on their race
  • Can be individual, institutional, or systemic
• White privilege unearned advantages and benefits that white people have in society
• Intersectionality framework for understanding how multiple identities (race, gender, class) intersect and shape experiences of privilege and oppression
• Assimilation process by which individuals or groups adopt the dominant culture's practices, values, and beliefs
• Acculturation process of cultural and psychological change that occurs when two or more cultures come into contact
• Multiculturalism belief that different cultures can coexist peacefully within a society and that diversity should be celebrated and respected

Historical Context

• Colonization and slavery shaped early race relations in the US
  • European colonizers justified enslavement of Africans and dispossession of Native Americans through ideologies of white supremacy
• Naturalization Act of 1790 restricted citizenship to "free white persons"
  • Excluded Native Americans, African Americans, and Asians from citizenship rights
• Mexican-American War (1846-1848) resulted in annexation of Mexican territory and incorporation of Mexican population into the US
• Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) prohibited immigration of Chinese laborers
  • First significant law restricting immigration based on race and national origin
• Jim Crow laws (late 19th to mid-20th century) enforced racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South
• World War II led to incarceration of Japanese Americans in internment camps
  • Seen as potential threats to national security based on their race and ancestry
• Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s) challenged racial segregation and discrimination
  • Led to landmark legislation (Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965)

Major Ethnic Groups in the US

• African Americans descendants of enslaved Africans brought to the US during the transatlantic slave trade
  • Largest racial minority group, making up about 13% of the population
• Latinx individuals of Latin American origin or descent
  • Fastest growing ethnic group, comprising about 18% of the population
  • Diverse subgroups (Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Salvadorans)
• Asian Americans individuals of East Asian, Southeast Asian, or South Asian descent
  • About 6% of the population
  • Diverse subgroups (Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, Indian Americans, Vietnamese Americans)
• Native Americans indigenous peoples of North America
  • Comprise about 2% of the population
  • Diverse tribes and nations with distinct cultures, languages, and histories
• White Americans individuals of European descent
  • Largest racial group, making up about 60% of the population
  • Diverse ethnic subgroups (Irish Americans, Italian Americans, German Americans)

Immigration and Settlement Patterns

• Early waves of immigration primarily from Europe (British, Irish, German, Scandinavian)
  • Settled in Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast
• Great Migration (1916-1970) saw millions of African Americans move from the South to Northern and Western cities
  • Seeking economic opportunities and escaping racial violence and oppression
• Bracero Program (1942-1964) brought Mexican laborers to work in US agriculture
  • Many settled permanently in Southwest and Midwest
• Hart-Celler Act (1965) abolished national origins quota system
  • Led to increased immigration from Asia, Africa, and Latin America
• Refugee resettlement programs have brought individuals fleeing persecution and violence
  • From countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Somalia, Iraq, Syria
• Undocumented immigration has been a contentious issue
  • Particularly from Mexico and Central America
  • Debates over border security, amnesty, and paths to citizenship

Discrimination and Civil Rights Movements

• Slavery and segregation denied African Americans basic rights and opportunities
  • Civil Rights Movement fought for desegregation, voting rights, and racial equality
• Native Americans faced forced removal, cultural assimilation, and land dispossession
  • American Indian Movement (1960s-1970s) advocated for tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation
• Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese American incarceration exemplified anti-Asian racism
  • Asian American Movement (1960s-1970s) fought for political, economic, and social equality
• Mexican Americans experienced segregation, labor exploitation, and deportation
  • Chicano Movement (1960s-1970s) advocated for farmworkers' rights, bilingual education, and cultural pride
• Muslim Americans have faced heightened surveillance, profiling, and hate crimes since 9/11
  • Efforts to combat Islamophobia and protect civil liberties
• LGBTQ+ individuals have struggled for equality and against discrimination
  • Stonewall Riots (1969) catalyzed modern gay rights movement
  • Ongoing fights for marriage equality, workplace protections, and transgender rights

Cultural Contributions and Influences

• African American culture has profoundly shaped American music (blues, jazz, hip hop), literature (Harlem Renaissance), and cuisine (soul food)
• Latinx culture has influenced American food (tacos, burritos, salsa), music (salsa, reggaeton), and language (Spanish loanwords)
• Asian American culture has impacted American cuisine (Chinese restaurants, sushi), martial arts (karate, taekwondo), and spirituality (Buddhism, yoga)
• Native American culture has contributed to American art (pottery, weaving), agriculture (corn, squash), and environmental stewardship
• Immigrant communities have created vibrant ethnic enclaves (Chinatowns, Little Italys) that celebrate their heritage and share it with others
• American culture is a dynamic fusion of diverse influences
  • Constantly evolving through the mixing and sharing of traditions, values, and practices

Contemporary Issues and Debates

• Persistent racial disparities in wealth, education, health, and criminal justice
  • Calls for systemic reforms to address structural racism
• Ongoing debates over immigration policy
  • Balancing border security, economic needs, family reunification, and humanitarian concerns
• Rise in hate crimes and white supremacist extremism
  • Need for stronger hate crime laws and anti-racism education
• Controversies over affirmative action in education and employment
  • Questions of fairness, diversity, and redressing historical inequities
• Cultural appropriation and representation in media and popular culture
  • Importance of authentic voices and respectful cultural exchange
• Reparations for slavery and historical injustices
  • Proposals for financial compensation, land restoration, and truth and reconciliation processes
• Voting rights and political representation
  • Concerns over voter suppression, gerrymandering, and lack of diversity in elected officials
• Language access and bilingual education
  • Debates over English-only policies and supporting linguistic diversity

Further Reading and Resources

• "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
  • Examines mass incarceration and racial injustice in the criminal justice system
• "The Making of Asian America" by Erika Lee
  • Comprehensive history of Asian American experience and contributions
• "An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
  • Reframes US history from the perspective of Native Americans
• "The Latinx Experience in the United States" by Ilan Stavans
  • Anthology of essays, poems, and stories reflecting Latinx diversity and identity
• "How the Irish Became White" by Noel Ignatiev
  • Explores how Irish immigrants assimilated into whiteness and its implications
• "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
  • Powerful memoir of the civil rights leader and his evolving views on race and identity
• "Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning" by Cathy Park Hong
  • Collection of essays on the Asian American experience and racial consciousness
• "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson
  • Narrative history of the Great Migration and its impact on American cities and culture