🥨Intro to Ethnic Studies Unit 9 – Ethnic Politics and Social Movements

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Ethnicity refers to shared cultural characteristics such as language, religion, and traditions
• Race is a socially constructed category based on perceived physical differences and often used to justify inequality
• Intersectionality examines how various identities (race, class, gender) interact to shape experiences of privilege and oppression
  • Coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw to highlight the unique experiences of Black women
• Diaspora describes the dispersion of a people from their original homeland (African diaspora, Jewish diaspora)
• Assimilation is the process of a minority group adopting the customs and attitudes of the dominant culture
• Pluralism advocates for the coexistence and celebration of diverse cultures within a society
• Institutional racism refers to systemic policies and practices that perpetuate racial inequality

Historical Context

• Colonialism and imperialism have shaped global power dynamics and created lasting inequalities
  • European colonization of the Americas, Africa, and Asia disrupted indigenous societies and imposed racial hierarchies
• Slavery and forced labor have had long-term impacts on the social, economic, and political status of marginalized groups
• Immigration policies have historically been used to control the racial and ethnic composition of nations (Chinese Exclusion Act, US quota system)
• Civil rights movements of the 20th century challenged legal segregation and discrimination (Civil Rights Movement, Chicano Movement)
• Decolonization struggles in the mid-20th century led to the independence of many former colonies (India, Algeria)
• Globalization has increased the flow of people, ideas, and capital across borders, shaping contemporary ethnic relations

Theoretical Frameworks

• Social constructionism emphasizes how race and ethnicity are created and maintained through social interactions and institutions
• Critical race theory examines the role of race and racism in shaping laws, policies, and social structures
  • Challenges dominant narratives of colorblindness and meritocracy
• Postcolonial theory analyzes the ongoing impacts of colonialism on formerly colonized peoples and societies
• Ethnic boundary theory explores how ethnic groups define and maintain their distinct identities
• Assimilation theories describe the process by which minority groups become absorbed into the dominant culture
  • Classic assimilation theory assumes a linear, irreversible process
  • Segmented assimilation theory recognizes diverse pathways and outcomes
• Racial formation theory examines how racial categories are created, transformed, and destroyed through social and political processes

Major Ethnic Groups and Identities

• In the United States, major racial and ethnic groups include African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and White Americans
  • Each group encompasses diverse subgroups with distinct histories, cultures, and experiences
• Ethnic identities are fluid and contextual, shaped by factors such as generation, class, and region
• Racial and ethnic categories have shifted over time in response to social and political changes (creation of "Hispanic" category, shifting boundaries of Whiteness)
• Multiracial and multiethnic identities challenge traditional notions of discrete racial categories
• Indigenous peoples have fought for recognition of their unique political status and cultural sovereignty
• Transnational and diasporic identities complicate ideas of belonging and citizenship

Social Movements and Activism

• Social movements have been key in challenging racial and ethnic inequalities and advocating for civil rights
  • Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s fought against legal segregation and discrimination
  • Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s sought to empower Mexican Americans and challenge Anglo domination
• Ethnic studies programs emerged from student activism in the 1960s and 1970s, demanding more inclusive curricula
• Affirmative action policies aim to address historical underrepresentation of minority groups in education and employment
• Immigrant rights movements have advocated for the rights and dignity of immigrant communities
• Indigenous activism has focused on issues such as land rights, cultural preservation, and political self-determination
• Contemporary movements such as Black Lives Matter and #StopAsianHate highlight ongoing struggles against racism and violence

Power Dynamics and Inequality

• Racism operates at individual, institutional, and structural levels to maintain white supremacy
  • Individual racism includes prejudice and discrimination in interpersonal interactions
  • Institutional racism refers to policies and practices that create disparate outcomes along racial lines
  • Structural racism describes the overarching systems that perpetuate racial inequality
• Colorblind ideology denies the significance of race and can mask ongoing inequalities
• Racial wealth gap reflects the cumulative effects of historical and contemporary discrimination
• Residential segregation concentrates poverty and limits access to resources in communities of color
• Racialized labor market segments workers of color in low-wage, precarious jobs
• Criminal justice system disproportionately targets and punishes people of color

Case Studies and Examples

• Redlining practices in housing systematically denied loans and investments to predominantly Black neighborhoods
• Japanese American incarceration during World War II illustrates the fragility of citizenship rights for racialized groups
• Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 reflect tensions between Mexican American youth and white servicemen in Los Angeles
• Chicano student walkouts in 1968 protested inferior education and lack of cultural representation in schools
• L.A. Uprising of 1992 erupted after the acquittal of police officers who beat Rodney King, revealing deep-seated racial tensions
• Dakota Access Pipeline protests highlight the intersection of indigenous rights and environmental justice
• Coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated racial disparities in health outcomes and economic impacts

Contemporary Issues and Debates

• Affirmative action remains a contentious issue, with debates over fairness, merit, and the role of race in admissions
• Immigration reform is a pressing concern, with ongoing debates over border security, pathways to citizenship, and the treatment of undocumented immigrants
• Voting rights are under threat, with voter suppression efforts disproportionately impacting communities of color
• Police brutality and racial profiling have sparked nationwide protests and calls for reform
• Hate crimes against Asian Americans have surged during the pandemic, fueled by xenophobic rhetoric
• Cultural appropriation and representation in media remain ongoing points of tension and negotiation
• Reparations for slavery and historical injustices have gained renewed attention in public discourse