Key Concepts in American Pluralism and Race Relations

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to American pluralism, race relations, and historical ideologies.

Pluralism

The idea that diverse cultures can coexist harmoniously within one nation.

Ideology

Systems of belief that appear natural but maintain power structures.

Imagined Community

A concept by Benedict Anderson where nations are socially constructed through shared stories, media, and symbols.

American Exceptionalism

The belief that the United States is uniquely virtuous or destined for greatness, obscuring its histories of violence.

American Jeremiad

A rhetorical form that critiques America's failures and calls for a return to its ideals.

Racialization

The process of assigning racial meaning to groups.

Hypodescent

A racial classification system where any Black ancestry classifies a person as legally Black.

Racial Essentialism

The belief that races have fixed biological or cultural traits.

Orientalism

A discourse defining 'the East' as exotic and justifying Western control, as studied by Edward Said.

Decolonization

The process of restoring land and sovereignty to Indigenous peoples; not just a symbolic gesture.

Precarious Citizenship

Status of Puerto Ricans as U.S. citizens without full political rights.

Cultural Exploitation

Taking cultural elements from a marginalized group without giving back.

Intersectionality

The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, which can create overlapping systems of discrimination.

Meritocracy Myth

The belief that success is solely based on talent and effort, ignoring structural inequalities.

Colorblindness

A perspective that ignores structural racism and obstructs efforts to address inequality.

Stereotype Threat

The fear of confirming negative stereotypes that harms individual performance.

Settler Colonialism

A structure in which settlers attempt to eliminate Indigenous peoples to claim land.

Masculinity vs. Manliness

Manhood refers to moral virtue while manliness covers physical strength and aggression.