Abstract The paper discusses Steven Steinberg's book and shows how the book explores the vexing problem of why certain ethnic groups succeed in America, that is, that members of certain groups tend to realize the American dream of economic and social mobility, and other ethnic groups do not.
From the Paper "The myths of Black inferiority forced him into a necessary pattern of perpetual resistance to the cultural norms he was immersed in. This necessity for constant resistance to overt racism is one of the reasons, according to Steinberg, African-Americans have had such difficulty in assimilating into the American narrative of success. However, Douglass is also intent in showing, despite the myths of inferiority, his essential humanity and striving for enlightenment also shone forth in the depths of despondency and oppression. ?Though conscious of the difficulty of learning without a teacher, I set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read,? Douglass says. (1896)"
Abstract This paper is an exploration of poverty in Canada. Issues such as race, ethnicity, immigration and migration are considered in the contexts of rural and urban communities, as well as with regards to gender and class. The argument here is that Canada's transitions in economics and industry have helped to produce an institutionalized underclass who live in poverty and who have limited resources for changing the conditions of their living. This paper further indicates the ways economic and social policy need to elaborate on the needs of the poor if the underclass is to be assisted in ways that can produce a change in the populations who live in poverty.
Abstract This paper answers two questions on racial and ethnic relations. Firstly, whether assimilation is realistic or desirable for immigrant groups who have arrived since 1965. Secondly the rank and order of race, ethnicity, nativity, class are analyzed in terms of their relative importance in shaping one's life chances, in relation to American society.
From the Paper "This is a truth that should certainly have been learned in a society like that of the United States, where everyone but the Indians came from somewhere else and had to become accepted in the society that was being built (only the Indians were already here, and even they migrated at some point in the past across the Bering Strait). Yet, American society has continued to treat each new group that has arrived as interlopers. Discrimination has been used against nearly every new group--the Irish, the Jewish, Catholics, Hispanics, and blacks, among others. Group after group has managed to become ..."
Abstract This paper examines the way that race and ethnicity contribute to the development of deviance The author argues that race and ethnicity indirectly intertwine in unequal access to social rewards and other various forms of wealth, power, and prestige thereby causing deviance and violence. This paper defines race and ethnicity in the realm of deviance and analyzes why and how individuals and groups discriminate.
From the paper:
"Why is there inequality among men? Where do its causes lie? Can it be reduced or abolished altogether? Do we have to accept it as a necessary element in the structure of human society? Humans are unequal in many ways. They differ in physical features and in mental capacities, talents, strengths, and so on. All of these inequalities are a product of both social learning and genetic inheritance. More importantly, race and ethnicity become entwined in the unequal access to social rewards and other various forms of wealth, power, and prestige."
This paper presents the thesis that physical and social attributes, such as race and ethnicity, determine social interaction and involvement within society.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 8 sources, 2005, $ 62.95
Abstract The paper maintains that there is a tendency among white people living in Canada to downplay or ignore the relevance and importance of race or ethnicity, or even to be utterly unaware of it. However, people who belong to minorities in Canada contend that race and ethnicity have a powerful influence over social interaction and involvement within Canadian society. This paper shows that the people belonging to minorities are in fact correct: race and ethnicity do, to a large extent, determine social interaction and involvement within Canadian society.
A comparison of the effect of risk and protective factors on suicide attempts in a group of tri-ethnic adolescents divided according to race, gender and age.
Abstract This is a critique on a research paper about self-reported suicide attempts in a tri-ethnic group of adolescents. It evaluates and critiques a study performed on a group of students pertaining to adolescent suicide. This study examines the multiple factors affecting recent suicide attempts in adolescents from three different ethnic backgrounds. The resilience model is used to describe and analyze the relationships between these variables categorized according to sex, age and race.
From the Paper "Adolescent suicide is a major sociological dilemma and one that is growing with time. Past research shows that suicide is amongst the top three causes of death in 15-24 year olds and that this trend is multiplying rapidly in the younger age group. [Rew et al, 2001] Females have been shown to be more prone to attempt suicide and some ethnic minority groups seem to be more affected than others. Not only is this behavior a source of grief to the loved ones but its increasing pattern have also made it an important social, and medical issue. Previous studies have shown that both external and internal factors have a significant effect on the statistics relating to suicide. Data has been collected to show that physical and sexual abuses have a significant relationship to an increase in suicide attempts.[Rew et al, 2001] Feelings of depression, hopelessness and inadequacy are also associated factors to adolescent suicide. It has been seen however that even if these factors are present suicide attempts can be avoided by the influence of social values, religious influences, and peer support or social activities."
Abstract This paper was written in response to the following topic "Evaluate issues of race and ethnicity in the US in the context of international norms". It looks at races of all kinds and talks of how they were and are still viewed by the international community.
From the Paper "The United States has been a destination for migrants for hundreds of years and in fact could be described as almost completely composed of migrants, with the exception of the indigenous nations that existed here before the European population arrived. People from every nation of the earth have called America home. With this diversity of population there has been ample opportunity for interethnic relations to develop and issues of race have played an important role in the United States. Although not to the same extent, other countries are becoming increasingly diversified and interethnic relations have become primary policy concerns all around the world. In an effort to understand the political system and culture of the United States better, it is necessary to examine the country's race relations in an international context. Considering the scope of this work it would be difficult, if not impossible, to examine every aspect of race relations."
Abstract An examination of social control measures in republican America. The author looks at the way which women, men of color and people of varying ethnicities were treated and controlled. An examination of race, ethnicity and gender in the areas of politics, economics and social structure in early republican America. The author argues that these groups were subjected to similar measures rendering them subordinate.
From the Paper "While there were important differences in the ways in which Native Americans, black Americans and women were treated in colonial and early Republican America having to do with the complex ways in which race, ethnicity and gender intersected with the spheres of politics, economy and social structure. But against these differences may be weighed the many similar ways in which members of these three groups were subject to the same forms of social control, for women and men of color all found their bodies controlled, their destinies foreshortened, their economic prospects diminished, and their potential sense of agency stolen from them because of the social category to which they belonged."
Abstract This paper examines the influence of race, gender and ethnicity on personality development through a review of three novels, "House of Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros, "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina Garcia and "How Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent" by Julia Alvarez. It explores the problems that immigrant families encounter when they move to the United States as portrayed in these stories.
From the Paper "Race, ethnicity, immigration and their impact on one's personality are serious subjects which need to be studied carefully in order to understand why they cast such profound influence on human beings and their sense of self. In the three books namely, "House of Mango Street", "Dreaming in Cuban" and "How Garcia girls lost their accent", the authors give us unique insights into the subjects of race, discrimination and identity crisis and the role they play in the evolution of one's personality and character. The most important and by far the wisest approach towards these subjects was adopted by Sandra Cisneros, the writer of House on Mango Street. This is because while the other two writers deal with causes of immigration and the disturbing aspects of immigration, Cisneros focuses mainly on the internal conflict, dream and hopes of those who move from poor countries to the land of opportunity. It is very important to understand that all three have given a fictional touch to their own life stories since they all migrated to the United States with their families when conditions in their native countries appeared unfavorable."
Abstract This essay deals with the way that race is an issue in three modern utopian or distopian art pieces, David Brin's "Kiln People", the recent movie release of "Lord of the Rings", and the "Star Trek" television series. The paper explains that these three sources have been selected because all three of them are among the most popular of recent works in their respective genres, and each presents a strong utopian vision which, on the surface, is devoid of racism and may even present anti-racist messages, but at its center actually deals with serious issues of race and ethnicity.
From the Paper "Even before Moore, though, philosophers such as Plato created imaginary societies that showed the problems and the potential of the world. The earliest Utopias were probably places like Plato's Republic, which while not overtly racist did include stratification into slaves and masters and a "myth" that different people were born of essentially different qualities . Writing about Utopia was resumed seriously during the Renaissance, as interest in ideal government and long-lost cultures was renewed. (Donough) It became extremely prominent as a form of fiction, in addition to being philosophical, during the Victorian age and through the early 1900s. This was when science fiction was first being pioneered by people like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, (Wagner) and they were among the first to integrate Utopian and Dystopian story-lines into their fiction. For example, Well's The Time Machine, includes a very Dystopian idea of the future in which all humans are split into two competing and incomplete races."
Abstract The paper identifies and analyzes how the concept of race has changed within America over the past fifty years. The paper discusses the American Civil Rights Movement, the introduction of Affirmative Action and the issue of political correctness. The paper shows how the redefinition process has reduced racism between whites and minorities, but racism between these groups still exists in different ways today. The paper predicts that that these conditions will probably persist into the next fifty years as well.
Outline:
Introduction
Race and the Civil Rights Movements
Race and Affirmative Action
Race and Political Correctness
The Modern Understanding of Race Race in the Next Fifty Years
From the Paper "Awareness of race and racial issues is not racism, but in the modern era it is extremely difficult to distinguish between these concepts. The perception of race and racial awareness within the United States has transformed dramatically over the past five decades, where resistance to racial integration initially framed racial issues, but integration and diversity awareness resulted in gradual acceptance of persons of diverse races and a purposeful elimination of racism (Healy, 2004). Landmark events such as the Civil Rights movement helped characterize tolerance and equality as the rights of every American citizen, thus promoting awareness of race; barriers between races in terms of social, cultural, and economic status; and the opportunities that could result from a racially diverse nation (Tatum, 1992; Darder & Torres, 2004))."
Abstract Canada's large metropolitan areas, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, are increasingly defined by the ethnic and racial heterogeneity of their populations. As a result of increased immigration in the post-World War II period, the number of peoples with backgrounds other than English and French has swelled the population of the country. In many respects the experience of Canadian cities in this regard mirrors that of North American cities in general. It is in this context that this essay examines the phenomenon of ethnic and racial segregation in Canadian cities.
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book, "Governing Race: Politics, Process and the Politics of Race", by Nina M. Moore. The paper explains that the book not only tells the reader why race relations came to a head in the 1960s, but offers a unique viewpoint on the "politics of race", as well.
From the Paper "The author's thesis is quite clear from the very beginning of this book. She asserts, "race presents a challenge too difficult for American governing institutions to meet" (Moore xiv) in the Introduction of the book, and further asserts, "true socioeconomic and political race reform will remain a laudable, but elusive, goal of government policymakers" (Moore xv). Therefore, her book concentrates on both the successes and failures of racial politics in the country, zeroing in on the reforms that have not worked the politics of them, and why they have not worked. The author backs up her thesis with research, analysis, appendixes, a bibliography, and a clear knowledge of the subject and her research. The author notes, "Census Bureau reports as well as National Election Studies, the General Social Survey, Gallup Poll surveys, and other quantitative sources are used to buttress the regional and partisan focus" (Moore xxiv). The book includes six chapters and five appendixes, and covers Civil Rights from the "early years" to current trends in the political process."
Abstract This paper opens with a clear definition of both IQ and intelligence. The writer of this paper contends that IQ does not measure racial characteristics or individual phenotypic characters such as height or weight. IQ results are a measurement of the rank order or relative standing of test scores in a given population. IQ tests measure only cultural content, values and assumptions taught through formal education. This paper discusses the myths about race and IQ which go back a long way, to a time before IQ tests. The writer cites various philosophers and social scientists who believed that the branches of humanity were distinguishable both temperamentally and intellectually. The writer of this paper attempts to legitimize the viewpoint that intelligence is culturally based, not genetically based and that IQ is a measure of very limited usefulness in very limited situations with a very narrowly defined cultural group. This paper also analyzes one's exposure to technology and educational content and its impact on IQ scores, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Table of Contents:
Defining IQ and Intelligence
What About Race?
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "The myths about race and IQ go back a long way, to a time before IQ tests. Philosophers Hume, Kant and Hegel all believed that the various branches of humanity were distinguishable both temperamentally and intellectually. As difficult as it is to credit today, Kant and Hume associated "the dark pigmentation of persons of African origin with cognitive deficiencies, and Hegel wrote disparagingly of the natural temperament of Africans as explanatory of their cultures." They came by their prejudice 'honestly': Aristotle had argued that the dark pigmentation of the Africans of Egypt and Nubia in ancient times signaled cowardice. Thereafter, while philosophers no longer seemed to dabble in racial issues, social scientists did."
A comparison of three literary works by female Hispanic writers, "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisnero, "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent" by Julia Alvarez and "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina Garcia.
Abstract This paper compares three feminist Hispanic literary works: "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisnero, "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent" by Julia Alvarez, and "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina Garcia. The paper investigates how the issues of gender, race, ethnicity, belief, education, family and culture affect identity found in these literary works.
From the Paper "During the last few decades, a new genre has emerged, the female Hispanic writer. These women are enriching the American literature landscape with their lyrical stories and ethnicity. They are telling stories of young girls, mothers, grandmothers, and friends, who have been transplanted from a culture a world away into the American dream. They are telling their own stories. Telling those who read their tales what it's really like to grow up with little or no knowledge of the language and customs, trying desperate to adapt and meld into American life, weaving old ways and new into their own identity."
