Race and Ethnicity It is undeniable that there is a steady growth in the population of ethnic groups in the United States. The various races and ethnic groups existing in the country only give credence to the fact that America is the nation of immigrants; a melting pot of different races and ethnic groups. Understanding the difference between race and ethnicity will give one a broad perception of the cultural traits of the different minority group. Having an awareness of the common consciousness of the shared origins and traditions of example, the Hispanic/Latino people, will increase ones sensitivity and open-minded acceptance of whatever strange way of life, characteristics and actions they may have. Majority of Americans can easily trace their own ethnic origins but after the third generation (these are oftentimes citizens born to parent/s whose mothers or fathers or both parents are naturalized citizens) onto the next generations, most of them either have tried their best to forget where they came from in order to assimilate into the American society or they were not exposed to their ancestors cultural traditions. The only way to find ones way into his cultural history is to study and understand his beginnings and the shared belief and custom of ones ancestors. Ethnicity and the study of it has become the foundation for the reinterpretation of the American immigrant experience. Studying the influx of immigration into the United States, it will seem that the minor ethnic groups will become the major populace of the country.
The Essay on Misconception of Identifying Ethnic Groups by Cultural Elements
Misconception of Identifying Ethnic Groups by Cultural Elements The common misconception in relating ethnicity and culture is to define ethnic groups by cultural elements. Firstly, ethnic group is a category of people which is bound together by common characteristics that differentiate them from other groups. On the other hand, culture is a system of knowledge shared by a relatively large group of ...
A survey conducted a couple of years ago made a prediction that by the year 2000 the number of the Hispanics will have a dramatic increase and will outnumber all other minority groups. A 2-year period study published in 2003 confirmed this prediction because of a 9.8% increase in the population; there were 38.8 million Hispanics in the United States according to a survey conducted from July 2000 to June 2003. This is just a scenario which involves the Hispanics, there are other ethnic groups like the Asians and the Europeans not to mention the African-Americans in the country so one can imagine what will happen by the year 2050. The steady surge in the racial and ethnic diversity will definitely bring a number of changes in the fabric life in the country. The transformation will bring about revolution from the simple chooses of food products on grocery shelves to the political ideologies, public opinions and sentiments. With the upsurge and dramatic increase in the population of ethnic minorities in the United States, it is inevitable that clashes will be created between and even among these groups. The disputes over jobs, political power, schools and lifestyle between these groups will need concentrated efforts from the government to reach out to each of these groups.
The situation will call for newly created laws and policies which will ensure the freedom, rights and privileges of this new group of Americans. Reference List Archdeacon, T. J. (1983).
Becoming American: an ethnic history. New York: Free Press. El Nasser, Haya.
(2003) 39 million make Hispanics largest U.S. minority group. USA TODAY Posted 6/19/2003 5:13 AM. Updated 6/19/2003 6:39 AM. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on July 5, 2007 . Thernstrom, Stephan, Orlov, Ann & Handlin, Oscar, eds.
(1980).
Harvard encyclopedia of American ethnic groups. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University..
