Chapter 7 Cultural Landscape Outline

Chapter 7: Ethnicities

Key Questions and Issues

  • Key Questions:

    • Why was this bridge blown up? (Page 250)

    • Why are these people burning torches on a mountain? (Page 243)

  • Key Issues:

    • Where Are Ethnicities Distributed?

    • Why Do Ethnicities Have Distinctive Distributions?

Key Ethnicities in the U.S.

  • Major U.S. Ethnicities:

    • Hispanics

    • African Americans

    • Asian Americans

  • These groups represent the most numerous ethnicities in the U.S.

Ethnic Segregation

  • Patterns of Segregation:

    • Migration of ethnic groups can result in segregation, often impacted by discrimination.

Case Study: South Africa

  • Apartheid (1948-1994):

    • Under apartheid, laws enforced racial segregation, stripping non-whites of their rights.

    • Though laws have been repealed, remnants of apartheid still exist in South Africa.

Ethnic Diversity

  • Locations:

    • Regions of significant ethnic diversity include Quebec, Lebanon, and the former Yugoslavia.

  • Conflicts in regions such as the Horn of Africa and Sudan demonstrate the competition for land among different ethnicities.

Introducing Ethnicities

  • Definition of Ethnicity:

    • Ethnicity refers to cultural heritage shared among groups.

  • Cultural Significance:

    • Ethnic identity affects income, life expectancy, and social dynamics in the U.S.

Geographic Patterns

  • Cohesion vs. Isolation:

    • Ethnic identities derive from interaction with other groups and geographical isolation.

  • Ethnic identity remains a stable aspect of culture despite globalization trends.

Ethnic Distribution in the U.S.

  • Patterns and Examples:

    • Hispanics: Predominantly found in the Southwest.

    • African Americans: Concentrated in the Southeastern U.S. and in major urban areas.

    • Asian Americans: Primarily located on the West Coast, especially in California.

Migration Patterns

International Migration of Ethnicities

  • Forced Migration:

    • Most African Americans trace their descent to forced migration as slaves.

  • Voluntary Migration:

    • Many Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans are recent immigrants, often in pursuit of better opportunities.

Internal Migration of African Americans

  • Interregional Migration:

    • Movement from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West during the 20th century.

  • Intraregional Migration:

    • Within cities, many African Americans have migrated from ghettos to outer-city or suburban areas.

Segregation Laws

  • Historical Context:

  • Jim Crow Laws: Segregated public facilities based on race, perpetuated until the mid-20th century.

  • Repealed effectively after civil rights movements, but physical and cultural segregation persists.

Ethnic Conflicts

Conflicts Arising from Ethnicities

  • Common Themes:

    • Ethnicities compete for control over territories, often leading to violence.

    • The case of Lebanon: divides between Christians and Muslims leading to an inconsistency in governance.

Case Study: South Asia

  • Kurdish Population: Split among Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, leading to disputes for independence.

Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide

Definition and Historical Context

  • Ethnic Cleansing: Forcible removal of a less powerful ethnicity by a dominant group.

  • Genocide: The deliberate mass killing of an entire ethnic group.

Examples of Conflict

  • Balkans: During the breakup of Yugoslavia, ethnic cleansing of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) occurred, particularly through manipulation of territorial claims.

  • Rwanda: Hutus' genocide against Tutsis, leading to profound implications for ethnic relations in Africa.

Conclusion

Current and Continuing Issues

  • The complexities of ethnicity relation to national identity continue to pose challenges, with educational and societal ramifications in areas with a history of conflict laying a foundation for ongoing ethnic tensions.