Race and Ethnicity

minority group

historically disadvantaged as compared to the dominant group

race

socially constructed category rooted in the belief that there are fundamental differences among humans

ethnicity

the type of social identity related to ancestry and cultural differences. members share awareness of common cultural identities.

racism

the practice of stereotyping that keep racial minorities in inferior positions; the reliefs in racial supremacy. A form of prejudice

prejudice

opinions or attitudes held by members of one group toward another

stereotyping

thinking in terms of fixed and inflexible categories

scapegoats

individuals or groups that are blamed for a fault they aren’t tied to.

discrimination

the actual behavior that denied to members of a particular group resources or rewards that others can obtain

white privilege

the unacknowledged and unearned assets that benefit whites in their everyday lives

institutional racism

occurs through the respected and established institutions of society rather than through the hateful actions of some bad people

racial microaggressions

small slights, indignities, or acts of disrespect that are hurtful to people of color, even though they are often perpetrated by well-meaning whites

scientific racism

misuse of science to support racist assumptions

apartheid

system of racial segregation started in Africa

assimilation

new immigrant groups would assume the attitudes and language of the dominant white community

melting pot

merging different cultures and outlooks by stirring them all together

pluralism

ethnic cultures exist separately yet participate in the larger society’s economic and political life.

multiculturalism

ethnic groups exist separately and equally

immigration

the movement of people into a country to settle

emigration

the process where people leave a country to settle in another.

diaspora

dispersal of an ethnic population from a homeland into foreign areas

affirmative action

granting better treatment to disadvantaged groups or groups subject to dicrimination

genocide

the systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group

ethnic cleansing

the creation of ethnically homogeneous areas through the mass expulsion of other ethnic populations via targeted violence, harassment, threats, and campaigns of terror

segregation

the practice of keeping racial and ethnic groups physically separate by law; maintaining a dominant group.