🎉Intro to Political Sociology Unit 6 – Race, Ethnicity, and Politics

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Race socially constructed category based on physical characteristics (skin color, hair texture, facial features)
  • Not biologically determined, varies across societies and historical periods
• Ethnicity refers to shared cultural heritage, language, religion, and traditions
  • Can be self-identified or ascribed by others
• Racism belief in the superiority of one race over others, justifying discrimination and prejudice
• Discrimination unequal treatment of individuals based on their race or ethnicity
  • Can be individual, institutional, or systemic
• Prejudice preconceived opinions or attitudes about a group, often based on stereotypes
• Minority group numerically smaller and holds less power than the dominant group in a society
• Dominant group holds disproportionate power and privilege in a society, setting cultural norms and values

Historical Context

• Colonialism and imperialism led to the exploitation and subjugation of non-European peoples
  • Justified through ideologies of racial superiority and "civilizing mission"
• Slavery in the Americas based on the forced labor of Africans, creating a racial hierarchy
  • Legacy of slavery continues to shape race relations and inequalities
• Scientific racism emerged in the 19th century, using pseudo-scientific theories to justify racial hierarchies
  • Influenced eugenics movement and Nazi ideology
• Civil rights movements in the US and globally challenged legal segregation and discrimination (1950s-1970s)
  • Landmark legislation (Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965) aimed to ensure equal rights
• Immigration policies historically used to restrict entry based on race and national origin (Chinese Exclusion Act, quota systems)
  • Shaped demographics and experiences of ethnic groups in the US

Theories of Race and Ethnicity

• Social constructionism views race and ethnicity as socially created categories, not biologically determined
  • Meanings and boundaries of racial and ethnic groups vary across societies and historical periods
• Primordialism sees ethnic identities as fixed, unchanging, and deeply rooted in history and culture
  • Criticized for essentializing identities and ignoring social and political factors
• Assimilation theory assumes minority groups will gradually adopt the culture and values of the dominant group
  • Seen as a one-way process, ignoring the persistence of ethnic identities and cultures
• Pluralism recognizes the coexistence of diverse racial and ethnic groups within a society
  • Emphasizes the importance of maintaining distinct identities and cultures
• Internal colonialism applies the concept of colonialism to the unequal relationship between dominant and minority groups within a society
  • Highlights the economic and political marginalization of minority communities

Institutional Racism and Discrimination

• Institutional racism refers to policies, practices, and norms within institutions that create and maintain racial inequalities
  • Can be intentional or unintentional, embedded in the structure of organizations
• Education disparities in funding, resources, and disciplinary practices contribute to achievement gaps and unequal opportunities
  • School segregation persists through housing patterns and school district boundaries
• Criminal justice system disproportionately targets and incarcerates people of color
  • Racial profiling, harsher sentencing, and barriers to reentry perpetuate inequalities
• Employment discrimination in hiring, promotion, and wages limits economic opportunities for minority groups
  • Stereotypes and bias can influence decision-making, even when policies appear neutral
• Housing discrimination through redlining, steering, and predatory lending practices segregates communities and limits wealth accumulation
  • Contributes to concentrations of poverty and unequal access to resources
• Health care disparities in access, quality of care, and health outcomes reflect systemic inequalities
  • Social determinants of health (poverty, stress, environmental factors) intersect with race and ethnicity

Political Participation and Representation

• Voting rights historically restricted based on race, through literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to remove barriers and protect minority voting rights
• Voter suppression efforts (strict ID laws, closing polling places, purging voter rolls) disproportionately affect communities of color
  • Justified under the guise of preventing voter fraud, despite lack of evidence
• Descriptive representation refers to the extent to which elected officials reflect the demographics of their constituents
  • Minority groups often underrepresented in political institutions
• Substantive representation concerns the advancement of minority group interests and policy preferences
  • Can be achieved through coalition-building and advocacy
• Majority-minority districts deliberately drawn to ensure minority representation
  • Controversial, as they can also concentrate minority voters and limit broader political influence
• Political parties have historically taken different approaches to race and civil rights
  • Democrats' "New Deal" coalition included African Americans, while Republicans' "Southern Strategy" appealed to white racial resentment

Social Movements and Activism

• Civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s challenged legal segregation and discrimination
  • Used tactics of nonviolent resistance, civil disobedience, and mass mobilization
• Black Power movement emphasized self-determination, cultural pride, and resistance to assimilation
  • Influenced by anti-colonial struggles and global liberation movements
• Chicano movement fought for the rights and cultural recognition of Mexican Americans
  • Organized around issues of labor rights, education, and political representation
• American Indian Movement (AIM) advocated for tribal sovereignty, land rights, and cultural preservation
  • Protested broken treaties and federal policies of termination and assimilation
• Asian American movement challenged stereotypes, discrimination, and U.S. foreign policy in Asia
  • Emphasized pan-Asian solidarity and linked struggles to other communities of color
• Immigrant rights movement has organized against deportations, family separations, and restrictive policies
  • Advocated for pathways to citizenship and humane treatment of undocumented immigrants

Intersectionality and Identity Politics

• Intersectionality examines how multiple identities (race, gender, class, sexuality) intersect to shape experiences of oppression and privilege
  • Recognizes that individuals can face multiple, compounding forms of discrimination
• Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term to describe the unique experiences of Black women
  • Argued that single-axis frameworks of discrimination law failed to capture their lived realities
• Identity politics refers to political mobilization based on shared experiences of marginalization
  • Aims to challenge dominant power structures and advocate for group-specific interests
• Critiques of identity politics argue that it can be divisive, essentialist, or detract from class-based solidarity
  • Proponents see it as necessary for achieving justice and self-determination
• Intersectional approaches to social movements recognize the interconnectedness of struggles
  • Emphasize coalition-building and solidarity across different communities
• Debates around universalism vs. particularism in political theory and practice
  • Tension between advocating for universal rights and attending to group-specific needs and experiences

Contemporary Issues and Debates

• Affirmative action policies aim to redress past discrimination and promote diversity in education and employment
  • Criticized as "reverse discrimination" by opponents, defended as necessary for equal opportunity by supporters
• Reparations for slavery and historical injustices, including monetary compensation and investments in Black communities
  • Debates around feasibility, responsibility, and forms of reparations
• Police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, protesting police violence and systemic racism
  • Calls for police reform, accountability, and alternatives to policing
• Immigration debates around border security, asylum policies, and the treatment of undocumented immigrants
  • Competing narratives of national identity, economic impacts, and human rights
• Hate crimes and the rise of white supremacist extremism, often targeting racial, ethnic, and religious minorities
  • Challenges in addressing online radicalization and the mainstreaming of extremist views
• Representation and diversity in media, arts, and culture, challenging stereotypes and exclusion
  • Movements for greater inclusion and authentic storytelling
• Environmental racism and the disproportionate impact of pollution and climate change on communities of color
  • Intersections of racial justice and environmental justice movements