University of Phoenix Material

Appendix E

Part I

Define the following terms:

|Term |Definition |
|Racial formation |An analytical tool in sociology that was developed by Michael Omi and Howard Winant. This is used |
| |to look at race as a socially constructed identity, where the content and importance of racial |
| |categories is determined by social, political and economic forces. |
|Segregation |Refers to setting apart or separating things or people. More common form is racial segregation |
| |which applies to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a|
| |public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home. |
|De jure segregation |De jure meaning concerning law. De jure segregation is segregation that is imposed by the law. |
|Pluralism |A condition in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups are present and |
| |tolerated within a society. |
|Assimilation |The process whereby a minority group gradually adapts to the customs and attitudes of the |
| |prevailing culture and customs. |

Part II

Answer the following questions in 150 to 350 words each:

• Throughout most of U.S. history in most locations, what race has been the majority? What is the common ancestral background of most members of this group?430

Throughout most of U.S. history the ‘White’ or ‘Caucasian’ race has been the majority. Generally the people belonging to these groups are of Irish, English, French, Scottish, Dutch, Norwegian, German, Italian, or Swedish decent.

• What are some of the larger racial minorities in U.S. history? What have been the common ancestral backgrounds of each of these groups? When did each become a significant or notable minority group?

Asian Americans, African Americans(Blacks), American Indians, and Hispanic/Latina Americans are some of the larger racial minorities in the U.S. Asian Americans began to become a larger minority during the gold rush in