Sociology
Sixth Edition
Chapter Twelve
Race & Ethnicity
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Copyright (c) 2003 by Allyn & Bacon
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Chapter Overview
 Laying the
Sociological
Foundation
 Race and Ethnic
Relations in the U.S.
 Theories of Prejudice
 Looking Toward the
Future
 Global Patterns of
Intergroup Relations
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Laying the Sociological
Foundation
 Race - a group with inherited physical
characteristics that distinguish it from another
group.
 Race is a myth, a fabrication of the human mind.


No race is superior to others.
No “pure” race exists.
 The idea of race is no myth, it is a powerful force
in our lives.
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Ethnic Groups
 Ethnicity - people who identify with one
another on the basis of common ancestry
and cultural heritage.
 Ethnic work - how people construct their
ethnicity.
 The melting pot - many groups quietly
blending into a sort of ethnic stew.
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Minority and Dominant Groups
 Minority groups - people who are singled
out for unequal treatment and who regard
themselves as objects of collective
discrimination.
 It has nothing to do with numbers.
 Dominant groups - they have the greatest
power, most privileges, and highest social
status.
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Prejudice & Discrimination
 Discrimination - an action.
 Unfair treatment directed
against someone.


Individual - negative
treatment of one person by
another.
Institutional - discrimination
woven into society.
 Prejudice - an
attitude.
 A negative prejudging.
 Racism - when the
basis of discrimination
is race.
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Theories of Prejudice
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Psychological Perspectives
 Frustration and Scapegoats - prejudice is
the result of frustration, and scapegoats
become targets of blame.
 The Authoritarian personality - highly
prejudiced people are insecure, conformist,
submissive to superiors, and have deep
respect for authority.
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Sociological Perspectives
 Functionalism - prejudice is functional for
society and creates group solidarity.
 Conflict Theory - divisions among workers
deflect anger and hostility away from the
capitalists and toward minority groups.
 Symbolic Interactionism - labels we learn
color the way we see people.
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Global Patterns of Intergroup
Relations
 Genocide - the
systematic annihilation
of a race or ethnic
group.

Labeling the targeted
group as less than fully
human facilitates
genocide.
 Population transfer causing a minority
group to relocate.
 Internal colonialism how a country’s
dominant group
exploits minority
groups.
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Segregation, Assimilation,
and Multiculturalism
 Segregation - the
 Multiculturalism formal separation of
permits and
racial or ethnic groups.
encourages racial and
ethnic variation.
 Assimilation - the
process by which a
 Groups maintain
minority group is
separate identities yet
absorbed into the
fully participate.
mainstream culture.
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Race and Ethnic Relations
In the United States today
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White Europeans
 The Neutralization Act of 1790 - declared
that only white immigrants could apply for
citizenship.
 WASP’s - White Anglo Saxon Protestants.
 These Europeans thus saw other ethnicities
as inferior.
 White Ethnics - immigrants from Europe.
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Latinos
 Today, Latinos are the second largest minority
group in the U.S.
 The U.S. has become one of the largest
Spanish speaking nations in the world.
 For Latinos, country of origin is very
important.
 The group is fragmented within itself, and at
odds with the African American population.
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African Americans
 African Americans have made remarkable
gains since the Civil Right Movement.
 Despite the gains, they continue to lag
behind in politics, economics, and
education.
 Social Class is now becoming more
important than race in determining the life
chances of African Americans.
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Asian Americans
 From the time of their arrival to the U.S.,
Asians have suffered discrimination.
 Today, Asian Americans are the fastest
growing minority in the U.S.
 They have a higher income than any other
racial-ethnic group.
 Their children are most likely to be raised in
a two parent family.
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Native Americans
 In the eighteenth century, Native Americans
numbered between 5 and 10 million.

Today, they number about 2 million.
 Native Americans are called the “invisible
minority.”
 There has been a systematic attempt of
European Americans to destroy Native
Americans’ way of life.
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Looking Toward the Future
 The color line remains
one of the most
volatile topics facing
the nation.
 The U.S. has both
welcomed
immigration and
feared its
consequences.
 Affirmative action has
had a modest impact.
 In a true multicultural
society, minority
groups will participate
fully while
maintaining their
cultural integrity.
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The End
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