Notes:
race, a socially constructed category of people based on real or perceived physical differences
Ethnicity, social and cultural characteristics that set apart one group of people from another
origin, the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or their ancestors before their arrival in the United States.
stereotypes, generalized opinions, and impressions of individuals, groups, or social classes
cultural appropriation, when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in stereotypical, exploitative, or disrespectful ways, associated with Halloween costumes
stereotype threat, a concern experienced when one feels at risk of confirming the inferiority or negative characteristics of one’s group
prejudice, a preconceived judgment or opinion of other people and races that leads to preferring one kind of person over another
discrimination, unfair or differential treatment of individuals and groups
redlining, the practice of arbitrarily denying, limiting, or charging more for financial services, insurance, or access to healthcare to specific neighborhoods, based on racial and economic issues
microaggressions, words, and deeds that negatively impact marginalized individuals, groups, or communities
Racism, the belief that one race is superior to others resulting in unequal or demoralizing treatment of other races
institutional racism, societal patterns that produce negative treatment against groups of people based on their race
racial colorblindness, the idea that ignoring or overlooking racial and ethnic differences promotes racial harmony
diversity, the recognition and respect of the different attributes of races and ethnicities
pluralism, maintaining social equality and distinct cultural characteristics within and among races and ethnicities
assimilation, the process in which minority groups lose their distinct cultural characteristics and are absorbed into the dominant group
majority group, a group that controls the economic, social, and political power and resources, is often, but not always, the group largest in population.
minority group, a disadvantaged group with significantly less economic, social, and political power and resources, represents subordinate groups such as Hispanic, Black, Asian, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.
majority-minority, when a population or district consists of over 50 percent minorities
white privilege, an invisible package of unearned assets held by Whites
segregation, the separation of groups based on differences such as ethnicity, gender, race, social class or religion
desegregation, the elimination of the policy of segregation by legal and social means
affirmative action, policies designed to promote educational and job opportunities for minorities and women, in higher education
de facto segregation, segregation that happens “by fact,” rather than a requirement, remains. In other words, even though there are laws prohibiting segregation, it still exists structurally in the educational system, communities, and prisons.
model (or ideal) minority group, an ethnic group that is more academically, economically, and socially successful than other racial minority groups, is widely held in the U.S.
internal colonialism, the exploitation of a society’s minority group by its dominant group in the U.S.
apartheid, policies, regulations, and laws implemented by a government to keep racial and ethnic groups separate.
Population transfer (HP), the involuntary relocation of a minority group by a dominant group, is a type of forced migration and can be indirect or direct.
indirect population transfer, when the minority group population chooses to leave a location.
direct population transfer, when the dominant group makes a minority group population leave a location by force.
genocide, the systematic killing of one group based on differences in race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
hate crime, criminal behavior directed at individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion
implicit bias, unconsciously held attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes about others.
glass ceiling, social and legal barriers designed to prevent minorities and women from advancing in the workplace
split-labor market, a byproduct of the capitalist system that splits workers along racial and ethnic lines to weaken worker solidarity.
amalgamation, the creation of a new group due to the combination of a minority and a majority group
contact hypothesis, the idea that prejudice decreases when two groups of equal status come into contact, indicates that there are advantages to diverse groups intermingling in society