Fundamentals of Human Geography Chapter 7 Ethnicity and Race

Chapter Ethnicity and Race Ethnicity or Race ?

Ethnicity refers to a set of learned behaviors or cultural characteristics ( language , religion , history , origin ) shared by a group of people who are in the same ethnic group or nation . An example would be the Indian Nation , whose members share the same language and religion , and settled in the areas between Southern Los Angeles to Northern San Diego County . Race is a social construct that may be defined differently by different people using different methods at different times . Some may group people into different races based on genetic differences and ancestry , while others may group people into different races based on phenotypic ( appearance ) differences .

Defining race with the Pencil Test in Learn more about the Pencil Test which was used in South Africa until 1994 to determine someone ?

The changing of ethnic groups and races in the United State can be readily seen in the questions found in the US census dating back to the . For example , Mexican was considered a race rather than an ethnic group in the 1930 census . As another example , Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were grouped with the Asian race between 1960 and 1990 , they did not get their own race category until the 2000 census . Explore the different race , ethnicity and origin categories used in the decennial census , from the first one in 1790 to the latest count in 2020 . The category names often changed in a of current politics , science and public attitudes . For example , colored became black , with Negro and African American added later . The term Negro was dropped for the 2020 census . Through 1950 , commonly determined the race of the people they counted . From 1960 on , Americans could choose their own race . Starting in 2000 , Americans could include themselves in more than one racial category . Before that , many multiracial people were counted in only one racial category . See this related blog post for more information Years Click on a year column to see how the categories for a particular census compare to the 2020 census . Source Pew Research Center ) Race and Ethnic Issues in the US History of division The history of slavery in the United States laid the foundation for a racially divided society in America . As seen in the

questions from the 1790 to 1860 census , takers were not only determining respondents race ( white , black , mulatto ) but also whether they are free or slaves . in the census did not take place until 1960 . In this historically divided country , white individuals of English descent were known as the charter group , or the majority group of people in a country who promoted their own language ( English ) religion ( Protestant Christianity ) and system of governance . Anyone who does not align with the cultural characteristics of the majority group ( minority group ) is pressured politically ( restricting the use of English instruction in schools ) socially ( excluding whites from schools or certain neighborhoods ) and economically ( refusing to provide employment or loans to ) to act more like members of the charter group in their speech , dress , and behaviors . Over time , members of minority groups and their cultures may undergo the following changes due to interactions and pressures exerted by the majority group . Amalgamation the cultural characteristics of the majority and minority groups melt together and form a new ethnicity . Acculturation this often involves the minority adoption of the majority group cultural characteristics to a limited extent in order to function economically and socially in the host society . Assimilation the minority group mostly replaced its distinct cultural characteristics with that of the majority group . Racism in the US

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines race discrimination or racism as treating someone unfavorably because is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race ( such as hair texture , skin color , or certain facial features ) Even after the Civil War and the ratification of the Equal Protection Clause in the amendment of the constitution , the United States has used tests and laws such as the Brown Paper Bag Test ( comparing one skin color to a paper bag ) rule ( singling out individuals with any black ancestry ) and Jim Crow laws ( state and local laws that legalized racial segregation ) to deny African Americans access to employment , education , housing , and the right to vote . Other racial groups have been subjected to similar laws and legal rulings ( People Hall ) that deprived those groups ( Asian Americans , Native Americans ) of fundamental rights in the US . Bill . in ( Left ) At the racially segregated bus station in , North Carolina . May 1940 . Right ) Advertisement showing Uncle Sam kicking a Chinese man a cliff as others flee to the sea with captions The Chinese Must Go . 1886 ( Source jack Delano for the US Farm Security Administration on Commons The George Dee Magic Washing Machine Company on Commons ) Ongoing racial inequities Housing

Today , many race and ethnic groups choose to live close together either voluntarily or involuntarily in neighborhoods known as ethnic enclaves ( Chinatown , Little Italy ) Members of the same ethnic group may voluntarily live in ethnic enclaves because they may share similar experiences and cultural characteristics ( language , religion , immigration experience ) a rely on similar businesses or services for employment , daily living , recreation , and connecting with relatives in their home countries , feel safer living among members of the same ethnic group who are less likely to discriminate against them on the basis of race or other personal characteristics . share race A History Of How The Government Segregated America FRESH AIR listen 2017 Listen to learn how did the US . government practice of led to the involuntary segregation in housing in America . Source ) In other cases , ethnic enclaves may form involuntarily as discriminatory laws ( Jim Crow laws ) or racist behaviors prevent members of a certain race and ethnic group from living outside of certain areas . An example of this is , a practice that is now illegal , but was widely used in the past to deny African Americans ( and immigrants ) access to loans

and insurance needed for home purchases in predominantly white suburbs . SERRA MESA UNI ) VISTA Purl II ! ION BEACH am i , ta . i ' 00 . A . 39 mu . In I 30 , A , i I SAN DIEGO A ! a , tow , wi , Powered by The US federal government Home Corporation ( created these maps to inform banks of the risk of issuing home loans to potential home buyers in neighborhoods in the country . The risk or grade was calculated based on the neighborhood quality of housing the recent history of sale and rent values , the racial and ethnic identity , and the social class of the residents . It is nearly impossible for home buyers to secure loans to purchase homes in neighborhoods ( the neighborhoods ) because banks wish to minimize risks . At the same time , African Americans and immigrants wishing to purchase homes in neighborhoods were also prevented from doing so by the banks , because it was believed ( inaccurately ) that the infiltration of those groups in White , neighborhoods will depress the property value and desirability of those neighborhoods . Data source Mapping Inequity Project at the University of Richmond Digital Scholarship Environmental justice In looking at the locations of less desirable economic activities ( heavy industry and manufacturing ) and environmental hazards ( landfills , airports ) it may become clear that those undesirable facilities and hazards tend to be concentrated in the neighborhoods of groups ( minorities , economically disadvantaged groups ) The environmental justice movement seeks to remedy this inequity by making sure that all groups have equal access to decent and healthy places to live .

Powered by County of Los Angeles , California State Parks , 20 mi This map compares the location of airports in Los Angeles County with the percentage of people who as White Alone in each Los Angeles County block group in the 2020 US census . Research has found that residents near airports are exposed to higher levels of carbon monoxide , and have higher levels of asthma and heart problems . Only of LA county 22 airports ( 27 ) are in predominantly white block groups ( over 50 of their population as White Alone ) Data source US Census Bureau , Federal Aviation Administration ) Snapshot of Ethnicities in the US The distribution of different race and ethnic groups in the US today is shaped by migrants from within and outside the country , as well as historical events that displaced certain groups in favor of others . Take a look at the series of maps below and see if you can identify any spatial patterns where different race and ethnic groups can be found today .

, 600 mi Powered by Spatial distribution of people who as White Alone in the 2020 US Census . There are about 192 million people who as White Alone in the US . Data source US Census Bureau ) CUBA ) 600 mi al Powered by Hispanics or Latinos are mainly found in US states closest to Mexico and Caribbean countries such as Cuba .

There are about 62 million people who as Hispanic or Latino in the US in 2020 . Data source US Census Bureau ) CUBA . I ty , 600 mi Powered by Blacks or African Americans are mostly found in Southern states due to the history of slavery . Some started to migrate to other regions in the early 1900 , but many have recently returned to the South . There are about 40 million people who as Black or African American Alone in the US in 2020 . Data source US Census Bureau )

a , 600 mi Powered by American Indians and Alaskan Natives are mostly found in states that had or have sizable territories set aside for indigenous reservations , even though most of this population do not live on reservations today . There are about million people who as American Indian and Alaskan Native Alone in the US in 2020 . Data source US Census Bureau )

, USES , 600 mi Powered by Asians are found mostly in the Western US and Hawaii . There is also rapid growth in Asian population in New York and New . There are about 20 million people who as Asian Alone in the US in 2020 . Data source US Census Bureau ) Mexico City , 600 mi A Powered by Native Hawaiians and Other Islanders are dispersed throughout the mainland US . Many of them settled in Utah due to the long history of missionary activities by the Mormon Church in the South Pacific . There are about million people who as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone in the US in 2020 . Data source US Census Bureau )

' i ' Make ' 600 mi hi Powered by Spatial distribution of people who as Some Other Race Alone in the 2020 US Census . There are about million people who as Some Other Race Alone in the US . Data source US Census Bureau ) , AO NORA , 600 mi Spatial distribution of people who as population of two or more races in the 2020 US Census . There are about 14 million people who as population of two or more races in the US . Data source US Census Bureau ) Ethnic Landscapes The character of a region that has been settled by ethnic minorities may change over time , creating the following types of ethnic landscapes . Ethnic homelands Large areas that have been settled by an ethnic minority for a long time . These areas may have some kind of political autonomy , landmarks , symbols , and signs in the minority language that marks its history and attachment to the area . An example is the homeland in . Ethnic substrate An area that is no longer an ethnic homeland because its ethnic residents were assimilated into the majority culture . However , this area may still have ethnic restaurants and place names , and celebrate ethnic festivals , even though its current residents may not be familiar with the language or the history of those things . An example would be the upper Midwest , which has a large number of people of Norwegian descent , and has annual celebrations of Norway declaration of independence ( see map below ) Ethnic enclaves As mentioned previously in this chapter , these are areas with a high concentration of ethnic residents , and consist of specialized amenities ( places of worship , stores ) catered to particular ethnic groups . Ethnic enclaves found in urban areas , close to city centers , are referred to as ethnic neighborhoods . Ethnic enclaves found in the suburbs , made up of more established and residents are called ' Powered by

, Gan , A . 600 Powered by This map shows the percentage of each county population who reported that they are of descent in the 2020 US Census . Click on a county to see the exact percentage . Data source US Census Bureau ) Survey of Race and Ethnic Issues in Other Countries Canada Over the last 150 years , Indigenous children were taken from their parents and forced into Catholic residential schools to assimilate them into the Canadian culture . Thousands of Indigenous children were abused and died in these schools . The ethnic majority tried to ethnically cleanse or eliminate traces of the minority from the country in the Genocide of 1994 . India The killing of ethnic Hindus ( in the predominantly Muslim Kashmir province has forced to their ethnic homelands for safety , only to be prevented from leaving by Indian authorities . Sweden Previously lax immigration policies led to the doubling of residents in the last two decades . This prompted some Swedish politicians to blame immigrants for the rise in crime that occurred during the same time period . Brazil Land between ranchers , loggers , miners , and indigenous tribes often led to death threats and

violence , and even the genocide of an indigenous tribe . Targeted Killings of Minority Hindu in Indian Kashmir by Targeted Killings of Minority Hindu in Indian Kashmir ( Source News ) By Wing Cheung , College Keeping the world interesting one map at a time Fundamentals of Human Geography by Wing Cheung is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International ( BY )