Ethnicity and Immigration Experience in the US - Coursework Example

Student name Instructor name Institution Date ‘Ethnicity and immigration experience in the US’ Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Thesis statement 3 Background information 3 Conceptual framework 4 Interview of 5 persons from two ethnic groups 4 Sample interview question sand responses 5 Theories of discrimination 8 ETHNICITY AND RACIAL RELATIONS 9 Race and ethnicity 9 Ethnic discrimination 10 Types of discrimination 11 Institutionalization of discrimination 12 Ethnic stratification 13 Ethnic prejudice 13 Adaptations to discrimination and prejudice 14 Model of ethnic relations 15 Discussion of racial and ethnicity discrimination 15 Dynamics of discrimination 16 The contemporary status and stratification of ethnic groups in the USA 17 Future of ethnicity in America 18 Conclusion 18 Works cited 20 Thesis statement This paper will provide deep understanding of ethnicity dynamics and immigrant experiences. This dynamics will emanate from interaction with students from different ethnicity groups, being attentive to their stories and exchange views with them. Background information The increase in number of immigrant races and ethnic groups shaped the population composition of American society. The American society had a unique shape of European immigrants without genuine identities .there was an increase in the number of immigrants from countries such as Central America, Mexico and Asia. Fabrication of the American society was mainly from Anglo-Saxon core which was common in the 20th century. Ethnic diversity was versatile and noticeable in the culture of the people resoling in the American society. The happenings of SEPTEMBER, 2011 made the Americans perceive people from outside ANGLO SAXON WITH SUSPICION. The happening was very tragic as there was loss of property and lives of many people. There was a suspicious tag for people who were dressing differently, non English speaking people and those with differing religious beliefs. Terrorism is a common source of suspicion especially for the non Americans. Religious minorities were the victims of suspicion after the September 2011 terror attack. This led to the discrimination of minority groups in reference to ethnicity, race and religious affiliation. There is racial and ethical diversity in the present day American society. The American social institutions and cultures are now coupled with diversity and change of attitude and perception. Racial and ethical diversity in the American society has made majority Anglo population s to feel threatened. The Native Americans feel like loosing their identity. This is attributed to growing number of diverse ethnic and racial groups. Ethnic stratification results from existing tensions between dominant Anglo population and ethnic populations. Conceptual framework The goal of the project is to provide an insight of the social dynamics, ethnic and racial prejudice and discrimination. The framework will also provide effects of participation and fabrication of American society. The conceptual framework will provide crucial theoretical ideas in regard to ethnic stratification. This can be organized using census information of various ethnic populations in US. This project will explore present and past forms of discriminations and account for perceived inequities in resource distribution. The examination will focus o negative stereotypes, discrimination experiences, institutionalization of discrimination, political, legal and economic implications of discriminations. Interview of 5 persons from two ethnic groups The interview was conducted to gather information which related to the ethnicity and immigrant experiences o students in the USA. A stratum of two ethnic groups is selected from which a sample of 5 students is selected. The selection of the sample is aimed t make the sample to be representative and eliminate an element of bias. In the process of interview, caution was taken to avoid interfering with the respondent information was very keen listening to respondent responses and comments. I kept off reading questions. It is always keen to seek clarification from the client. The ethnic groups interviewed include Arab Americans, Asian Americans, Canadian American, Caribbean America and African in the United States of America. Sample interview question sand responses 1. Which proportion of available resources does your ethnic group receive? Response of Arab Americans Respondent 1; we are perceived as non natives and we receive the smallest portion of resources. Respondent 2; since we are perceived as non natives and we are associated with crime, we are allocated the lease portion of natural resources. Response of Asian Americans Respondent 1; our ethnic group receives the smallest allocation due to the fear that we are too ambitious. Respondent 2; the allocation we receive is not sufficient to sustain us in the long run. Response from Canadian Americans Respondent 1; we receive substantial proportion of resources due to our good working and created rapport of the natural resources. Respondent 2; there is sufficient allocation of resources t address our needs Response from Caribbean America Respondent 1; the allocated resources are not sufficient to address our needs and there is discrimination in the allocation of resources. Respondent 2; our ethnic background denies our rightful share of natural resources allocated by the national government. Response from Africans in the USA Respondent 1; we are seen as slaves and providers of cheap labor and his makes us to receive minimal allocation of natural resources. Respondent 2; we receive an allocation of less than 2% since we are seen to be misplaced being I the United States of America. 2. Briefly explain the main resource outcomes for your ethnic group in terms of housing, health care income, education, and other valuable society resources. Response from Africans in the United States of America Respondent 1; most of our members live in low income estates, attend to middle income schools and we are not in a position to access quality health care. Respondent 2; the cost of healthcare ad quality education is too high. This forces us to avoid quality education, live in decent locations as the cost is too high for us. Response from Canadian Americans Respondent1; there is equal access to housing, medical, education facilities. This is usually dependent on your capability to offset the related costs. Respondent 2;access to quality housing, healthcare and different institutions of higher learning depends on your financial muscle and competence of your child to do a given education program. Response from Caribbean Americans Respondent1; there is no inequality in the access o all social facilities. It is just a creation that we are discriminated in the access of social utilities such as health, education and housing. Respondent 2; education depends on the competence of applicant, we live in a human American society where is equal access to all social facilities Response from Asia Americans Respondent 1;there is equal access but those who came illegally fear being discriminated when searching for the health care facilities and admission to higher institutions of learning. Respondent2; admission to a school ad living in a decent hose depends on your financial abilities. There are no incidences of discrimination in relation to social services such as housing, education and health care. Response from Arab Americans Respondent1; we are always treated with suspicion whenever we look for quality social facilities. There are half-truths that we are security threats ad most owners of housing facilities are reluctant to admit Arab Americans. Respondent 2; suspicion, security concerns and our origins deny us access and admission to some housing facilities of choice. This is almost the case in relation to schooling for our children and admission to hospitals for medical care in both public and private hospitals. Theories of discrimination Assimilation theories argue that members of an ethnic population join mainstream societies through cultural adoptions. The assimilation extent is insufficient to explain ethnicity differences and persistence of conflicts in a society. Theories of ethnic pluralism explain the melting of assimilation process in the American society. The idea of maintaining ethnicity is a form of appreciating the presence of discrimination in the society. Biological theories identify human characteristics such as skin color, mental ability as crucial in the formation of ethnic heritage. Members of the American society found common bond with members of the same skin color in the society. Ecological theories emphasis that competition for scarce resources in the society is the sources of discrimination (Jimenez, p.34). Competition will make some dominant members to make life miserable for minority so as to reduce pressure on the scarce resources. Stratification theories argue that discrimination is as a result of unequal power distribution and this result in overrepresentation of some particular groups in society. Caste theories means that minority members of the society are pushed to lower society classes. Colonial theories explain the existence of discrimination as a result of search of raw materials and industry for raw materials. There is also search for market for manufactured goods. ETHNICITY AND RACIAL RELATIONS Society members hate one another with passion. The hatred escalates violence. Ethnic pride provides suspicion of other ethnic heritage. Each ethnic population perceives increase in ethnic population of other groups as a threat to their welfare. Ethnicity provokes emotions starting from ethnic pride to hatred o other ethnic groups. It is a genuine desire to tolerate and adapt to ethnic differences in the American differences. America is a multi- ethnic society (Bean, pg.57). Race and ethnicity Race refers to biological differences in terms of facial features, stature and skin color. People perceive differences in biology as permanent differences. The biological differences explain the origin of white and black people in the American society. The biological differences play a crucial sociological significance. When a person is referred to as ‘black’, this is made in reference to the skin color. When cultural values and beliefs, norms, laws play a part in discrimination, we say this is institutionalized discrimination. For instance, we can consider a case of housing practice. Areas such as schooling, politics and jobs are common form of discrimination. Currently in the US, civil rights groups do not accept such kinds of discrimination. There is provision for punishment for those found guilty of discrimination. This is through formation of enforcement agencies and watch dog groups (Jimenez, p69). Over the last few years, ethnicity has played a significant portion of society. There is wide ethnic diversity in American today. The upsurge of social movements is associated to ethnic diversity in America. Affirmative action’s policies are there to safe guard interest of ethnic populations. Some of the ethnic populations are increasing while others are declining. Shifts in ethnic composition reflect ethnic dynamics in the American society. Changes in demographics pose a threat to the ethnic groups which are declining in number. Ethnicity has spread to media and schools. Ethnicity is a hot political issue in the society.US census Bureau gives attention to ethnicity. Ethnic differences escalate tensions among different groups of people. Ethnic discrimination This refers to unequal and distinct treatment of people. Ethnic discrimination is as a result of a group denying some population subgroups access to some valuable resources. This is common among the dominant ethnic sub populations. Some of the valuable resources are health, power, education, income and jobs. Reverse discrimination refers to programs which will mitigate effects of previous discrimination among society members. Reverse discrimination s a source of hatred as the forms of past discrimination is propagated by different people. Ethnic discrimination is central in most political debates as the issue is source of tension among members of a society. Ethnicity in the American society is due to discrimination in resource location. Discrimination is a volatile process of denying American people in getting what they value. There exist identity dimensions in relation to form, nature and degree and extent of ethnic discrimination (Dinerstein, p.45). Types of discrimination The first type of discrimination involves genocide. This occurs when members of an ethnic group are killed or to the worst case the entire ethnic population is exterminated. The case of Nazi death camps is an illustration if genocide as a result of ethnicity in American society. Disease exposure to Native Americans is another god illustration. This type of discrimination is very intense form of discrimination. Expulsion is relatively less intensive form of discrimination in the American society. The exiled society members retain access to at least 1 valuable asset or resource in the society. The most valuable resource is life. The exiled members lose control to their property but they are not killed. Slavery in the United States of America is a form of expulsive discrimination. President Abraham Lincoln once thought f forming a state in Africa to sent free black people. The dominant members of the society make life miserable for the minority prompting them to leave voluntarily. Expulsion can be indirect coercion of people to leave a given place. Segregation is another form of isolation if society members through denying them access to valuable resources. During the post 2nd world war, Africa Americans were denied rightful access to schools, jobs and housing facilities. There was deliberate confinement of the Africans to decaying cores of relatively large cities (Dinerstein p.67). Exclusion involves denial of certain positions to specified ethnic groups. Slaves were not allowed access to basic citizenship rights. Africa Americans were not permitted to form industrial unions. Exclusion disempowered members of the American society from access to resources such as economic rights, political power, education, health care and housing. Selective inclusion is a situation where society members are only allowed access to certain positions but denied access to other positions. In the US, Asian immigrants were not allowed to work as laborers in railroads and start business services. Still today, Mexican Americans earn low wages as compared to their colleagues in the same jobs. They are excluded from good remunerations jobs besides access to better political ad educational arena. Abusive practices are in reference to law enforcement. Members of a specific ethnicity are abused in relation to law enforcement. There is literal dumping of poor neighbors. Waste disposal sites are located near residential places of the poor. This is what is referred to environmental racism. Racial profiling is used to identify incidence of potential crime in American cities. In racial profiling, members of specific ethnic populations are associated with crime. Police officers harass them in the name of searching for criminals in the cities. This results in denial of members in accessing to crucial resources in the society. There is a wide variation in the nature of discrimination in the American society (Dinerstein, pg.89). Institutionalization of discrimination When cultural values and beliefs, norms, laws play a part in discrimination, we say this is institutionalized discrimination. For instance, we can consider a case of housing practice. Areas such as schooling, politics and jobs are common form of discrimination. Currently in the US, civil rights groups do not accept such kinds of discrimination. There is provision for punishment for those found guilty of discrimination. This is through formation of enforcement agencies and watch dog groups (Jimenez, p89). Institutional discrimination is complex and subtle. There s common reference to past cases of indiscrimination and solutions need to consider the present day people views. The complexity of this case is illustrated in the manner in which native, and African Americans are denied access to crucial resources in equal measure with the whites. Ethnic stratification Ethnic stratification refers to the manner in which sharing of resources between dominant and minority ethnic populations. Ethnic stratification is in terms of prestige trends, power and income distribution. Differences in social hierarchies’ profiles dictate sharing of resources among members of the ethnic populations. There is continued prejudice of Mexican Americans. Ethnic stratification forces members to be large portion of lower and poor classes. There are mainly dominant in small businesses. There are restrictions of mobility to upper classes and this limiting mobility is persistent. Ethnic prejudice Ethnic prejudice is a form of stereotype which is directed to specific sub populations. There is overemphasis in negative aspects of a sub population. Segregation is another form of isolation if society members through denying them access to valuable resources. During the post 2nd world war, Africa Americans were denied rightful access to schools, jobs and housing facilities. There was deliberate confinement of the Africans to decaying cores of relatively large cities. Police officers harass them in the name of searching for criminals in the cities. This results in denial of members in accessing to crucial resources in the society. There is a wide variation in the nature of discrimination in the American society. The presence of illegal migration poses a threat to Native Americans. This in terms of competition for skilled jobs and this will breed discrimination. Majority of immigrants do not have higher education. The Native Americans will use low level of education to prejudice and discriminate the illegal immigrants in the United States of America (Dinerstein, p.110). Adaptations to discrimination and prejudice Forms of adaptations involve passive acceptance, assimilation, organized protest, revolt and rebellion, self segregation and withdrawal, and marginal participation and ethno genesis. Passive acceptance is when members of a society accept some forms of discrimination. African saves had no option but t accept subjugation there was stereotyping of slavery among the American societies. Passive acceptance represents manipulation of situations facing society members at a particular time. Marginal participation is where subordinate ethnic subpopulations require acceptance niche to use resources so as to make their lives prosper. Chinese Americans improves their lives through working for the American majority. The great number of Latin Americans is prospering due to establishment of specialized niches. Assimilation is where members of minority ethnic groups become part of large and dominant culture and society members. Withdrawal and segregation is a hard mode of adaptation. This is in reference to sustaining political and economic isolations. Rebellion is when society members strike back forms of discrimination. This can result into mass killings, violence and mobilizing of people for actions. Organized protest is in the case of integration of Americans and African Americans (Jimenez, p.87). Model of ethnic relations Source; ethnicity and immigration pdf. Discussion of racial and ethnicity discrimination The biological differences explain the origin of white and black people in the American society. The biological differences play a crucial sociological significance. When a person is referred to as ‘black’, this is made in reference to the skin color. The Native Americans feel like losing their identity. This is attributed to growing number of diverse ethnic and racial groups. Ethnic stratification results from existing tensions between dominant Anglo population and ethnic populations. Ethnic pride provides suspicion of other ethnic heritage. Each ethnic population perceives increase in ethnic population of other groups as a threat to their welfare. Ethnicity provokes emotions starting from ethnic pride to hatred o other ethnic groups. It is a genuine desire to tolerate and adapt to ethnic differences in the American differences. America is a multi- ethnic society. Ethnic stratification forces members to be large portion of lower and poor classes. There are mainly dominant in small businesses. There are restrictions of mobility to upper classes and this limiting mobility is persistent. . Currently in the US, civil rights groups do not accept such kinds of discrimination. There is provision for punishment for those found guilty of discrimination. This is through formation of enforcement agencies and watch dog groups (Dinerstein, p65). Institutional discrimination is complex and subtle. There s common reference to past cases of indiscrimination and solutions need to consider the present day people views. Dynamics of discrimination Most of African Americans are not able to find well paying white collar jobs in the American society. Majority of African America engage in labor jobs so as to earn a living and there is a passive limit in enrolment to white collar jobs. Absence of sustainable employment for African Americans compromise welfare systems for the African Americans. Access to education requires sound academic credentials. The limiting factor is financial resources to finance the education. The cost of education is too high. This prompts students to engage in student-working arrangement so as to survive. The student programs provide free time for students to engage in works (Jimenez, p.47). Housing is a valuable resource. There is segregation in allocation and access of decent housing among the Africa Americans. There is complete segregation of backs in some housing quarters. Identification of black and white American is on the basis of skin color. White ethnic groups are the majority while the Latin Americans are not easy to identify with some ethnic groups. Skin color has continued to form basis of identification of Africa and Native Americans. Basis of discrimination is on social cultural traits, social economic standings, and employment and income statistics. Some characteristics are referred to as black culture.soe white believes that Africans are uncivilized and subjects of sexual aggression. The election of president barrack Obama changed bias for the blacks in the society. There is a paradigm shift in the favoritism rate of the blacks in the society. This is because of the shown capability he did show to the rest of the world. Members of ethnic sub populations thought that the election was a transition between old discrimination to new era of cultural pluralism and appreciation of all people. There is a slight argument in relation to ethnic bias in the American society (Jimenez, p.56). The contemporary status and stratification of ethnic groups in the USA Ethnic stratification forces members to be large portion of lower and poor classes. There are mainly dominant in small businesses. There are restrictions of mobility to upper classes and this limiting mobility is persistent. Future of ethnicity in America Changes in patterns of migration are a threat in the American society. There is an increase in the number of immigrations to America. There is a communal settlement of ethnic groups in America. This is likely to dilute cultural relativism among members of the society. Some of the immigrant settlements are illegal and this calls for migration sanctions. Cases of migration without proper documentation are on the rise. The presence of illegal migration poses a threat to Native Americans. This in terms of competition for skilled jobs and this will breed discrimination. Majority of immigrants do not have higher education. The Native Americans will use low level of education to prejudice and discriminate the illegal immigrants in the United States of America. There is exaggeration of interest from political groups in relation to anti-immigration policies. Police officers harass them in the name of searching for criminals in the cities. This results in denial of members in accessing to crucial resources in the society. There is a wide variation in the nature of discrimination in the American society (Jimenez, p.56). Conclusion Assimilation is not a desirable outcome of discrimination. Ethnic pluralism is the language of current day American society. The degree of ethnic pluralism is limited. There is no provision for holidays and conservation of ethnic heritage of minority groups in the American society. Ethnic discrimination is central in most political debates as the issue is source of tension among members of a society. Ethnicity in the American society is due to discrimination in resource location. Discrimination is a volatile process of denying American people in getting what they value. There exist identity dimensions in relation to form, nature and degree and extent of ethnic discrimination. Forms of adaptations involve passive acceptance, assimilation, organized protest, revolt and rebellion, self segregation and withdrawal, and marginal participation and ethno genesis. Passive acceptance is when members of a society accept some forms of discrimination. African saves had no option but t accept subjugation there was stereotyping of slavery among the American societies. In the US, Asian immigrants were not allowed to work as laborers in railroads and start business services. Still today, Mexican Americans earn low wages as compared to their colleagues in the same jobs. They are excluded from good remunerations jobs besides access to better political ad educational arena. Abusive practices are in reference to law enforcement. Members of a specific ethnicity are abused in relation to law enforcement. There is literal dumping of poor neighbors. Waste disposal sites are located near residential places of the poor. This is what is referred to environmental racism. Works cited Bean, Frank D, and Stephanie Bell-Rose. Immigration and Opportunity: Race, Ethnicity, and Employment in the United States. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1999 Dinnerstein, Leonard, and David M. Reimers. Ethnic Americans: A History of Immigration. New York: Columbia University Press, 2009. Jiménez, Tomás R. Replenished Ethnicity: Mexican Americans, Immigration, and Identity. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, 2010 Read More