Race and Ethnicity TopicsSociology

Racial-Ethnic Makeup of the United States

U.S. Racial-Ethnic GroupsFigure 12.5 on page 331

What do you see about the racial-ethnic makeup of the U.S. from this figure?

Do the numbers surprise you at all?

How do you see the numbers changing in the next twenty years?

Distribution of Dominant and Minority GroupsView figure 12.6 on page 333

Why do you think Hawaii, California, and New Mexico have the highest percentage of minority groups?

Why do you think Main, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Iowa have the lowest percentage of minority groups?

The Immigration Debate

The Immigration Debate“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from

immigrants and revolutionists.”

- Franklin Roosevelt

The Immigration Debate"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

- Emma Lazarus, 1883

The Immigration DebateMore than 1 million immigrants have come to

the United States in the past 20 years.

Today, more than 34 million immigrants live in the United States.

Legal Immigration Process

Legal Immigration ProcessOften takes years to complete

Can be costly with legal fees piling up

Have to pass a naturalization testPractice test on the Wiki

ImmigrationHow will continued immigration affect the racial-ethnic

makeup of the United States?

Read box on pg. 345

Using conflict theory, what groups are likely to be threatened by this change?

Using symbolic theory, consider how groups might perceive one another differently as their proportions of the population change. How will this affect people’s behavior?

Using functional theory, how will different parts of society benefit from these changes? What functions or dysfunctions can you anticipate for politics, economics, education, or religion?

Affirmative Action

Affirmative ActionInitiated by President Kennedy in 1961

Goals based on race and gender are used in hiring, promotion, and college admission.

Controversy

Some say it’s a way to level the playing field Some say putting race ahead of ability is

reverse discrimination

Affirmative ActionLegal Challenges

In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 209, which banned preferences to minorities and women in hiring practices, promotions, and college admissions.

In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that college universities can give minorities an edge in admissions, but there must be a meaningful review of individual applicants.

President Obama on Affirmative Action

Multicultural Society

Toward a True Multicultural SocietyTrue Multicultural Society

Minority groups will participate successfully in the nation’s social institutions while maintaining cultural integrity

Racial Identity

Race and Language: Self-LabelsRead box on page 46

On a piece of paper, write down answers to the “For Your Consideration” questions

Racial Identity ReflectionSee the Wiki for your reflection assignment

guidelines