Fredricksons various models of ethnic and racial relations - Essay Example

Stephen Cruz from the story by Terkel is a Mexican American young man whom is brought up by his father to be a hardworking and honest man, and in the process ends up acquiring education that qualifies him to work in big corporations. Initially when he is employed, he thinks that it is because of his qualification but later on, he realizes that he and other employees for the minority groups are only employed mainly for purposes of giving the company a good image and making it money.  This evidently shows and proves the ethnic hierarchy that Fredrickson identifies as one of the ethnic and racial relations.

For Stephen Cruz, who was taught and brought up by his father to work hard in whatever he does and avoid taking things that he does not deserve, is seen in the story being told to fall in the line and learn the way of doing business as the dominant and powerful group does.  The Civil Acts of 1964 is used in this story to signify the way policies and legislations are used to assimilate minority groups. Fredrickson’s one way assimilation methods is apparently used in this story as the minorities are being accepted and employed to and by the dominant group, but they still play a subordinate role and are not allowed to fully enjoy the freedoms nor fulfill their American dream (Fredrickson, 335).

As Stephen Cruz rises up through the corporate ladder slowly with his sheer hard work, he continues to discover that maybe the American dream he is working on is not meant for him.(Fredrickson, 335).. This evidently shows and proves the ethnic hierarchy that Fredrickson identifies as one of the ethnic and racial relations. For Stephen Cruz, who was taught and brought up by his father to work hard in whatever he does and avoid taking things that he does not deserve, is seen in the story being told to fall in the line and learn the way of doing business as the dominant and powerful group does.

The Civil Acts of 1964 is used in this story to signify the way policies and legislations are used to assimilate minority groups. Fredrickson’s one way assimilation methods is apparently used in this story as the minorities are being accepted and employed to and by the dominant group, but they still play a subordinate role and are not allowed to fully enjoy the freedoms nor fulfill their American dream (Fredrickson, 335). As Stephen Cruz rises up through the corporate ladder slowly with his sheer hard work, he continues to discover that maybe the American dream he is working on is not meant for him.

This is because he discovers that the dream and the relations between the minority-weak and dominant-powerful, are to the advantage of the later. This relation is described by Fredrickson as group separatism. Although the method of doing so might not be as direct as it may be perceived to be, through taking advantages of various legislations and policies to their (dominant group), can be seen as a way to separate the dominant and the minority. The dominant and powerful in America continue to get stronger and wealthy and the expense of the minority.

This separates the two groups even further and no equally is presented. Lastly, another