Abstract
This paper provides a literature review on the subject of asthma in racial and ethnic minorities. The review focuses on the risk factors that contribute to greater asthma prevalence and poorer asthma control and treatment in racial and ethnic minorities.

Outline:
Introduction
Asthma Prevalence, Morbidity, and Mortality
Factors Contributing to a Higher Prevalence of Asthma in Minorities
Disparities in Asthma Control and Treatment
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Minorities, the poor, adult women, and children under the age of 18 are disproportionately affected by asthma (ALA, 2007a). According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (2007) African American children had a 17% prevalence of asthma, compared to 12% in Non-Hispanic Whites, 10% in Hispanics, 10% in Native Americans, and 6% in Asians. In adults however, Native Americans had the highest rates of asthma, with a 16% prevalence compared to 11% in African Americans, 10% in Whites, 8% in Asians, and 8% in Hispanics. Puerto Rican adults had a higher prevalence of asthma than most races, with an 11.6% prevalence (CDC, 2004). This fact is masked by the lower rates of asthma in other Hispanic subgroups.
Regardless of age, African Americans were more likely to be hospitalized and to die because of asthma complications compared to all other races, even when taking into account the higher prevalence rates of asthma in this group. Compared to Whites, African American children were 4-5 times more likely to be hospitalized due to asthma, while African American adults were 3-4 times more likely to be hospitalized, and they were also five times more likely to use the emergency department (ED) to seek asthma care (KFF, 2007). African Americans were disproportionately represented in deaths due to asthma even when socioeconomic status was accounted for --they represent only 12.1% of the population, but they account for 25% of all asthma deaths (ALA, 2007a)."

Tags:symptoms, wheezing, minorities, healthcare

Abstract
This paper attempts to demonstrate that minorities, especially African-Americans, are unfairly treated by the U.S. criminal justice system. The paper cites statistics showing that, while all minorities are afforded less than fair treatment by the criminal justice system, African-Americans seem to be particularly vulnerable to sentences involving capital punishment. The paper further asserts that African-Americans suffer from political, social, psychological and economic exploitation at the hands of powerful whites in this country and, as a result, black people generally are purposefully put into situations where the commission of criminal acts are seen as the most effective solution to their problems. The paper concludes that the problem will only end once white people honestly recognize the racism that exists within the U.S. on all levels of society and end it.

Table of Contents
Race, Ethnicity and the Criminal Justice System
Drug Policies and Racial Disparities

From the Paper
"In 1996, six in 10 jail inmates were racial or ethnic minorities -- 41 percent were African American, 18 percent were Hispanic and 3 percent Asian or Alaska Native, according to the Department of Justice. The Sentencing Project, a Washington-based think tank, reported in 1995 that 32.2 percent of all African Americans men between the age of 20 and 29 are under criminal justice supervision on any given day -- in prison or jail, on probation or parole. Even more unsettling, nationally blacks are incarcerated at a rate of 7.66 times greater than whites. This paper shall demonstrate how minorities, especially African-Americans, are unfairly treated by the US criminal justice system."

Tags:jail, inmates, racial, ethnic, minorities, hispanic, prison, probation, parole, non-white

Abstract
This paper examines the potential impact of Obama's election to minorities residing in America. According to the paper, when President Obama officially became the most powerful elected official in the world's most powerful nation, he proved conclusively that a black man could become president and that race was no longer a barrier to the highest office in the land. The paper further considers the responses of several local residents to the president's election and what it means for minority-white relations in America.

From the Paper
"The election of Barack Obama to the White House was historic on many levels, but especially because of what it promises to do for minorities residing in America. When President Obama officially became the most powerful elected official in the world's most powerful nation, he proved conclusively that a black man could become president and that race was no longer a barrier to the highest office in the land. Over the next several pages, this essay will look at the responses of several local residents to the president's election and what it means for minority-white relations in..."

Tags:effect, obama, minorities

Abstract
This essay discusses three short stories, which are "Canadian Experience" by A. Clarke, "How are You?" by M. Mallet and "Sophie" by E. Carr. The author explains who or what is responsible for the things that happen to the three main characters in the stories. The paper relates that two stories are about immigrants and the third story is about a native Canadian, people who are minorities and vulnerable.

From the Paper
"This essay looks at three characters from three different stories and examines who or what is responsible for what happens to each of them. The essay also shows to what extent what happens to the three of them and who/what is responsible is similar and to what extent it is different for each of the three. The stories chosen for the essay are: "Canadian Experience" written by Austin Clarke, "How are you?" written by Marilu Mallet and "Sophie" by Emily Carr. The main characters in all of the three stories have one thing in common: they are `minorities', at least in one sense."

Tags:shortstories, canadianliterature, minorities

Abstract
This paper looks at the number of racial minorities who are judges and lawyers and looks at the reasons why the numbers are so low. It also looks at preemptory challenges and gives reasons why they should be kept and why they should be abandoned.

Tags:minorities, judges, lawyers, racial

Abstract
This paper addresses the lack of positive role models of various ethnic minorities in both the film and television industries. While the writer of this paper notes that there are more African-Americans working in TV news as it seems to be one field where color and race have made a far greater impact in hiring practices, there is still much work to be done in the positive portrayal of different ethnicities in both film and TV. This paper also explores the careers of past and present professionals who have made great strides in promoting themselves as positive ethnic role models.
Topics covered in this report include:
Introduction
Hispanics
African-Americans
Asians
Native Americans
Summary and Conclusion
Works Referenced

From the Paper
"This brings up the issue of whether the portrayals of African-Americans in films and on TV should only be handled by black directors and writers. It seems that there is a vast difference of opinion, with some citing the old Cosby Show as one preaching family values to every ethnic group, while the comedies "What's Happening?" and" Good Times" became the precursors of the black comedies on WB and Fox networks today. Some critics feel the new shows, and such programs as the "Wayans Brothers" and the "Martin Lawrence Show" are basically anti-white humor, just as stereotypical in their way as the old Step'n'Fetchit anti-black humor was in the Thirties and Forties."

Tags:media, communication, racism, minority, perception, film, television

Abstract
As the American population continues to become more diverse racially, members of visible minority groups within the population become more prominent. Simultaneously, with the increase in diversity, income distribution in the American economy has become more distorted. While economic growth in the United States has surged over the past decade, the income gap has widened; not only between the richest and poorest Americans, but also between moderate-income and low-income Americans. Members of visible minorities in the population tend to be represented disproportionately in the low-income and poverty classifications in the United States. While there is an abundance of implications of this state of affairs, one of the more crucial ones is access to health care. Individual and household financial capacity, the scarcity of employer-paid health insurance among small businesses, cultural differences based in social psychology and other factors frequently act as impediments to health care access for low-income individuals and households among visible minority population groups in the contemporary United States. This problem and these issues are investigated in this study. The study identifies causal factors for the gap in health care access between lower-income Americans and members of visible minorities in the United States, on the one hand, and more affluent Americans and members of the majority segment of the population, on the other hand. The initial chapter of this study delineates the problem investigated. Specific research questions are formulated and stated to provide greater focus for the investigation.
Social psychological theory and applied social psychology literature are reviewed in the second chapter. Literature relevant to the functioning of low-income and visible minority population groups in the United States within a social psychological context are reviewed in the third chapter. The fourth chapter is devoted to a review of literature relevant to both the health care system in the United States and the experiences of low-income and visible minority population groups in relation to health care access and health care delivery in the United States. An assessment of the problem investigated, performed within the structure of the research questions, is presented in the final (fifth) chapter. Conclusions drawn from the study findings are stated and recommendations for further research are made. The summary conclusions reached through the conduct of this study relate both to health care access and health care utilization by low-income persons and members of visible minorities. With respect to health care access, the summary conclusion reached is that a universal system of health care entitlement is required in the United States. In relation to health care utilization by low-income persons and members of visible minorities, the summary conclusion reached is that extensive education is required for both low-income persons and members of visible minorities, on the one hand, and health care providers, on the other hand. Low-income persons and members of visible minorities require education on the benefits and function of health care services, while health care providers require education in the social mores of the diverse populations they must serve.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Problem Delineation
Background on the Problem
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Review of Relevant Social Psychology Theory and Literature
Introduction
Sociological Theory and Health Care
The Welfare State
Accessing Contemporary Health Care
Role of Ethics in Accessing Health Care
Alternative Health Care Delivery Systems
Chapter Conclusions
Social Functioning of Low-Income and Visible Minority Population Groups
Introduction
HIV/AIDS Related Behavior
Initiatives to Improve Health Care
Access and Behaviors
The American Health Care System and the Experiences of Low-Income and Visible Minority Groups
Introduction
The American Health Care System
Analysis of Health Care Delivery Systems
Care Quality
Alternative Approaches to Health Care
Bio-ethical Issues
Problems of Accessibility
Initiatives to Improve Minority Access
Chapter Conclusions
Assessment of the Problem Discussion, Recommendations for Further Research
Appendices
Annotated Bibliography

From the Paper
"Social Cognitive Theory [self-efficacy] emphasizes the role of expectancies, self-efficacy, peer normative influences, and social competency skills as key components affecting adolescents' behaviors (DiClemente, Lodico, Grinstead, Harper, Rickman, Evans, & Coates, 1996). The applicability of models based on social psychological principles for understanding African-Americans' decision-making and sexual behavior has been questioned because most such models tend to be individually-focused and do not take into account the social context in which the behavior is embedded (Cochran & Mays, 1993). Social cognitive theory, however, explicitly integrates behavioral, cognitive, and environmental factors as reciprocally interactive. Thus, given the hypothesized multi-factorial nature of sexual decision making and the potential impact of the high-risk social environment of the study population, approaches based on social cognitive theory are thought to be particularly relevant for understanding the myriad factors that may affect African-Americans' sexual behavior."

Tags:Simmelian, Four, Quadrants, HIV/AIDS, TRA

Abstract
This paper investigates the reasons why about two thirds of the prison population consists of minorities. The author points out that all races of people are more likely to report crimes committed by minorities than crimes committed by whites, which leads to more minorities in the judicial system. The paper relates that more minorities live in poverty, which contributes to their inability to post bail or afford a good lawyer. The author states that, under sentencing guidelines, judges are expected to tailor sentences according to specific characteristics of individual offenders. The paper suggests that white people commit crimes because of social influence, which have a lesser sentence: whereas, blacks commit crimes because of attitude and personality, which have a harsher sentence. The paper recommends that the Sentencing Reform Act must be amended and society must find a better means of regulating arrests.

From the Paper
"To start, a crime would have had to been committed. From that point, one of two things may happen. An investigation begins or a witness reports what they have observed. If a suspect is detained they are questioned, or searched depending on probable cause. If enough evidence is gathered a suspect is then put under arrest and is booked, fingerprinted and waits for arraignment. After an arrangement, a suspect is given a bail and if met the suspect is released until their trial date. From this point, a suspect is tried in a criminal court to be judged by either a judge or a jury of his/her peers."

Tags:harassing, non-English speaking, poverty, sentencing guidelines, attitude

Abstract
An exploration of child pornography and the Internet. This paper is written from a point of view that supports the April 2002 ruling of the United States Supreme Court. Definitional issues, police entrapment, civil rights and consensual acts of people depicting minors are discussed. Although this paper does not contain any extremely vulgar or obscene material it has the potential of being offensive because of the touchy subject matter.

From the Paper
"Other ideas with the rejection of the child pornography definition is the concept of consensual acts and the idea of digital imaging enhancement to make picture appear as if they are depicting minors. Digitally enhanced child pornography will be addressed later in this paper, but I would like to address my opinions on consensual acts. When most people imagine child pornography they envision a child being raped. I agree with the child pornography stereotype; when I began this research I also envisioned child pornography as a world filled with brutal heinous rapes. Not all cases of child pornography portrayed on the Internet involve child rape scenes. The pornography at hand "might have been a picture of a seventeen year old in an unrevealing gym suit" but due to social reactions to the word child pornography is visualized as "an infant being sodomized by a brawny adult" (Chatelle 1996). Child pornography can encompass such things as teens engaging in consensual sexual acts, statutory rape as well as children wearing beach or gym clothes. In a case such as that no one is harmed in the production of the material except the norm views and expectations placed on society? In 1996 Congress "passed the Child Pornography Prevention Act" which is aimed at the goal of preventing "the production and distribution of computer generated sexual images of children" (Hatcher et al 1999: 418). Originally this legislation was passed to ensure that even "the production, distribution, and reception of images" that were altered to resemble images of minors engaging is sexual encounters were criminalized (Hatcher et al 1999: 418). However on April 16th 2002, the Supreme Court "struck down provisions of a federal law that made it a crime to create or distribute virtual child pornography that used computer images or young adults rather than actual children" (Greenhouse 2002)?.because of media depiction and definitions of child pornography the virtual dilemma will continue as a moral crusade."

Tags:aclu, act, child, cybercrime, cyberliberties, pedophilia, pornography

Abstract
This paper discusses what correctional policies can be created from the principles of restorative justice (based on indigenous justice principles). The writer looks at whether these values are more compatible with some offenses than others. The writer also discusses whether they are more appropriate for some types of offenders than others. Further, the writer discusses reasons why juveniles of color have higher rates of contact with the police than white youth.

From the Paper
"According to Restorative Justice online, restorative justice is a systematic response to wrongdoing that emphasizes healing the wounds of victims offenders and communities caused or revealed by the criminal behavior. Three principles form the foundation for restorative justice. Justice requires that we work to restore those who have been injured. Those most directly involved and affected by crime should have the opportunity to participate fully in the response if they wish. Government's role is to preserve a just public order and the community's is to ... "

Tags:youth, corrections, sentencing, law, justice, ACLU. minorities, racial profiling, sentencing guidelines, restorative justice