Mysoclab answers

Summary and Review 299

THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT Chapter 9 1. How many races do your friends or family think there are?

Do they think that one race is superior to the others? What do you think their reaction would be to the sociological po- sition that racial categories are primarily social?

2. A hundred years ago, sociologist W. E. B. Du Bois said,“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line—the relation of the darker to the lighter races.”

Why do you think that the color line remains one of the most volatile topics facing the nation?

3. If you were appointed head of the U.S. Civil Service Commission, what policies would you propose to reduce racial–ethnic strife in the United States? Be ready to explain the sociological principles that might give your proposals a higher chance of success.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES What can you find in MySocLab? www.mysoclab.com • Complete Ebook

• Practice Tests and Video and Audio activities

• Mapping and Data Analysis exercises

• Sociology in the News

• Classic Readings in Sociology

• Research and Writing advice

Where Can I Read More on This Topic? Suggested readings for this chapter are listed at the back of this book.

Racial–Ethnic Relations in the United States What are the major racial–ethnic groups in the United States? From largest to smallest, the major groups are European Americans, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. P. 280.

What are some issues in racial–ethnic relations and characteristics of minority groups? Latinos are divided by social class and country of origin. African Americans are increasingly divided into middle and lower classes, with two sharply contrasting worlds of experience. On many measures, Asian Americans are bet-

ter off than white Americans, but their well-being varies with their country of origin. For Native Americans, the primary issues are poverty, nationhood, and settling treaty obligations. The overarching issue for minorities is over- coming discrimination. Pp. 281–294.

Looking Toward the Future What main issues dominate U.S. racial–ethnic relations? The main issues are immigration, affirmative action, and how to develop a true multicultural society. The answers affect our future. Pp. 294–297.

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