We’ve covered 2 chapters on diversity and assimilation (and pluralism). In chapter 3 we go into greater detail on prejudice and discrimination. The chapter open with a discussion on all-weather liberals and all-weather bigots

Learning Goal: I’m working on a sociology writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

We’ve covered 2 chapters on diversity and assimilation (and pluralism). In chapter 3 we go into greater detail on prejudice and discrimination. The chapter open with a discussion on all-weather liberals and all-weather bigots. This shows the variety of ways to describe people who are prejudice and negative their attitudes. There are some people who can be prejudice and not be discriminatory, while others can be both prejudice and discriminatory toward other group(s) or individuals. What is prejudice and discrimination? Prejudice is a thought (negative image or attitude) and discrimination of the action, preventing people to have access to opportunities. Prejudice can also surface when the economy is down. You will hear people say, “I had a good job until the Mexicans came in and took our jobs.” “I found out that this job just hires Mexicans.” This can also be an example of scapegoating, blaming other people? “Prejudice can lead to feelings of frustration and aggression.” People sometimes deal with personal feelings or disappointment by expressing their anger against a substitute target (or scapegoating)”(p. 71). As the book suggests, minorities make as easy target for blame. So, how does a person become prejudice towards Mexicans or any group? Socialization? I remember watching a film about babies in a hospital maternity ward. The camera goes up close to the babies and asks, “are these children prejudice? You begin to hear that prejudice is learned behavior. The authoritarian personality point to a situation where children are around parents that are prejudice and they learn this type of prejudice and stereotypes about groups. The authoritarian personality suggest that these children also come from a family situation that has “stern and highly punitive styles of parenting” (71). They in turn, have fear toward the parents and produces scapegoating and target prejudice towards minorities.

In my home office, I have a Mexican learning on a cactus. It was a gift from my class. I couldn’t draw a Mexican on the board, so they bought me a statue of Mexican. The statue has two stereotypes. One, a Mexican sleeping-lazy, and second, a Mexican leaning against a cactus. Or, Mexicans are lazy and stupid. We have so many examples of stereotyping of minority groups that we you hear them in every day life. What happens to those who are in the receiving end of stereotypes? People begin to believe the stereotypes, both the majority and the minority group. I’ve heard Latino students tell me, “I’ve never been good in math, that’s the way we are.” This leads to what is called “the self-fulfilling prophecy“. The group begins to believe that this is the way they are. The real test of time about stereotypes, they can lead to bad decisions about people. We will discuss the “Black lives matters” movement, example of stereotyping becoming “racial profiling”. Class difference can lead to stereotyping that can create “labels”, labels of being from a lower class. There was an old TV program called “the Beverly Hillbilly’s.” They discovered oil on there land back in the hills of Tennessee and moved to Beverly Hills, California. Now they were part of the wealthy families of Beverly Hills. But, the brought their “hill culture” with them. Their neighbors were a “refine upper class personalities” (the bankers wife), that fought to have them removed from the Beverly Hills. The hillbilly’s did not have the upper class culture. This is an important point to make and to be aware of the consequences of “social mobility.” Social mobility is the functionalist concept that suggests, when you have an education, get a good job, good salary, you can experience social mobility for all your hard work. You can move from a working class to the middle class. However, keep in mind, you grew up in the working class and have that “class culture” that you bring with you into the middle class. The middle class has it’s own culture and does different activities than the working class. When I go to the desert with my working class friends to race dune buggies, some of middle class friends don’t go out to the desert, why? Now, add my Latino culture, and what do have? We’re out in the desert racing listening to Mexican Music, joking in Spanish, great beverages, and having a great “Mexican working class time”. When you compare classes, and your moving into an upper class, this can change you. Living in Palm Springs has changed me from living in San Diego. In time, you will experience “social distance” between yourself and your family, friends, co-workers. Social distance is another concept that our chapters cover that we will discuss throughout the semester.

When the United States began to move from the city to suburbs in the 50’s and early 60’s, many were White middle class folks. Many of their children were raised in these “White middle class” neighborhoods. This first suburban neighborhood that sociologist began to study was Levittown, Pen. Many moving to Levittown to get away from city and it’s crime, dirt, and minorities. Their kids went to better schools, parks, great clean neighborhood streets and infrastructure, and many family support systems (PTA, Boy and Girl Scouts, etc.). Many grew up without coming into contact with minorities, this lack of contact caused the “social distance”, they were pretty much segregated in their own way. I mentioned before, when I got drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, I have met White males who had never interacted with Mexicans or eaten Mexican food. However, they did know the “stereotypes” about Mexicans. Many were prejudice and tried to discriminate Mexicans in the service. Overall, there were just as many White soldiers who loved being around Mexicans and other minorities. Many are still my friends from high school or were in the service. They had “contact” with minorities and didn’t have “fear”, like many of you in this class. Your “socialization” was diverse, you had contact with many groups and people that you got along with regardless of race and ethnicity. That’s why I asked you about your high school population in your first discussion.

The last point, “hate” and “hate crimes”. Living in Palm Springs, we have a large LGBTQ community. In fact, our mayor is gay, and we have two council members who are gay. Throughout our country hate crimes are on the rise and much of these hate crimes target the LGBTQ community, if you read and follow the news, you will find the rise of hate crime against high school kids that are gay. There are numerous reports on hate crimes toward Mexicans and African Americans. We will discuss hate crimes against our groups, which occurred throughout their (minorities) history in the U.S.

Ch. 7 Native American Indians

Robert Blauner used the term, “internal colonialism” to characterized the status of minority communities in the United States. The term “colonialism” describes the status of conquered people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and other nations under the control of European rule. The United States before independence was governed by the British and fought for their U.S. Constitution in time. As you recall, “taxation without representation.”, based on governmental and economic policies under a King and Queen. Like colonialism, Blauner suggests’ that the reservation, Black ghetto, Mexican American/Latino barrio, and other minority communities are under the control of the President, Congress, and the Federal government. As the result of this control, “Native American Indian life was marginalized, powerless, and isolated.” (P. 126) Native American Indians were basically excluded from society in what can be suggested as, “outa sight, outa mind.” Except when it has to do with a “pipeline,” or “Washington Redskins.” Or, when people ask, “why do we have so many casinos?” The Native American Indian population was historically reduced by disease and warfare, and from “genocide.” Then, there is the U.S. Census Bureau who is in charge of counting all the people in the United States, as a Constitutional responsibility. Prior to the 60’s, the Census Bureau had not profiled the total U.S. population, this meant that important area of society were not being taken care of. For example, the census determines financial aid, political districts and representation. This is important today because the Trump administration wants to add a Citizenship REQUIREMENT to the counting, only those who are citizens can be counting. Make sure you keep up with this issue, it will be in the news until this is resolved.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there has been a resurgence in the Native American Indian population, along with an increase of culture, language, and spirituality. Many tribes have gone back to the old ways of sharing and cooperating with tribal members, enhance solidarity, and land ownership. The tribes continue to attack the effects of the BIA, “the Acts,” “lack of education,” and maintaining “SOVEREIGNTY.” The reservation continues to create positive experiences to tribal life, similar to the Black community and Barrio. While they live in a segregated community and lack resources, this creates a sense of community and creates solidarity among the tribe. When it comes to assimilation, which direction should Native American Indians go?

Today, when we study SES, Native American Indians have the lowest educational attainment levels than all the minority groups. The have some of the highest unemployment rates than all groups. Health conditions have not improved on many reservations, they lack poor housing, health care, and infrastructure (water systems, sewage system, streets, etc. Why do these conditions continue to exist when they have casino money? Not all reservations have casinos. Overall, Native American Indians have a low SES, this is what the last part of chapter 6 is discussing. Another point is marital assimilation, marrying outside of the Indian tribe. Will this affect “blood quantum” What about the political process of political participation, representations, and elections? How will people, especially the younger generations deal with these issues? Pipelines? Stereotyping? Chapter 7 address many of these issues.

Select ONE of the following questions. It should be 1- 1 1/2 in length, double space, regular font. Make sure you add quotes for information that you use from the textbook, and the page you found the answer. The second part should be your opinion. Make sure you read the rubric to get an idea of what I’m look for, besides the syllabus. This report is due on Sunday June 23, 11:30 pm

1. Define and distinguish between prejudice and discrimination. Distinguish between the affective and cognitive dimensions of prejudice.

2. Describe the seven degrees of Borgardus’s social distance and it’s relationship to other cultural based theories of prejudice.

3. Explain the scapegoating hypothesis and how it applies to the workplace in today’s society?

4. Among the U.S. minority groups, Native American Indians have a unique relationship with the Federal government. Describe this relationship and explain how it has affected Native American Indians. In what ways, if any, has this relationship been positive or negative? Acts?

5. Discuss the Red Power Movement. When did they became a movement? What did they fight over for the Native American Indians in the U.S. AIM? What were the issues that AIM went after? What would Indians say about SES?