Myths and misconceptions about inter-group relations are very dangerous to the stability of any society.
Knowing the facts about the impact of racial and ethnic inequality is the starting point to raising our
racial/ethnic
collective consciousness towards addressing the problem.
Review census and descriptive statistical data on pages 403-422 of rethinking the color line. While
examining
the data, think of:
What you thought you knew about any of the issues
The extent to which the data supports or negates what you thought you knew
How the misinformation about race/ethnicity incites racism and discrimination
The specific issues on which the data help you to revise your knowledge about race/ethnic relations in
the US
Using the Census data (figures), analyze 5 of the statements below.
As a way to approach the assignment, imagine that someone is expressing the following perceptions and
feelings:
- Because of Affirmative Action (this is not a policy debate), jobs are now being given to unqualified
minorities at the expense of whites.
- It is terrible what is happening in many universities and colleges. A large number of unqualified
minorities at getting accepted with lower scores than whites.
- Because of public pressure, the majority of Fortune 500 Companies in the US are promoting minorities
to CEO's at the expense of qualified whites.
- Race/ethnicity is a biological reality. Thus, the racial classifications adopted by the US Census have
been
consistent over the years because they conform to the way nature made people.
- Racial segregation is now a thing of the past. After all, the majority of Americans now go to school and
live in neighborhoods with equal proportions of people of diverse backgrounds.
- The American criminal justice system is fair. All people get treated the same by the justice system
regardless of race and ethnicity.
- Because they constitute 74% of the U.S. population, Caucasian adults are more likely to be stopped,
searched, and arrested on pretext by the police. Similarly, Caucasian juveniles are most likely to placed in
detention facilities for the least violation for which other minorities get a pass by the police and public
schools administrators.
- It is very strange in this day and age to be hearing minorities talk about racial/ethnic hatred. For every
single white race/ethnic-hater, there is equal number of angry blacks (Hispanics or Native Americans) who hate Caucasians.
Your task is to shed light on the reality of race/ethnic relations in the US--the extent to which these claims
are true, partially true, or false based on the empirical evidence. This is not about your personal beliefs or
experiences; it is about using the data. Do not hesitate to combine basic statistical trends observed in the
appendix to support in your analysis.