Race and Ethnicity

1. Race and Ethnicity Native Americans Hispanics Asians

2. Native Americans--history • Conquest and removal 1492-1879 • 1838 Trail of tears • 1860s creation of the reservation system

3. History, contd • Assimilation 1880s-1930s • Tribes “de-recognized” • Residential boarding schools

4. Native Americans today--political conditions • Since 1920s are U.S. citizens, pay federal taxes • since 70’s tribes have greater autonomy: have their own govts, laws and police • but must obey US court interpretations of treaties and laws which apply to them

5. Native Americans Today--social conditions • Today about 1 percent--depending • less than 50% living on reservations • highest rates of alcoholism, unemployment, low life expectancies, infant mortality • Casino boom beginning in 80s • Federal law gives tribes right to offer gambling, negotiated with the state • mostly benefiting a few small tribes near urban areas

6. Hispanics • Largest American “minority” at over 12% • politically under-represented • some not citizens, young population, lower voting rates • but growing in political strength • “socially conservative, economically liberal” • a big prize for the two major parties • Predominantly Democrat, but not Cubans and Central Americans in Miami, Mexicans in Texas, etc.

7. Asians/Pacific Islanders • 4% nationally, but fastest growing ethnic “group” • Economically various: Indian-Americans on average wealthier than Caucasians, Laotians, Hmong, Khmer poorer. • Politically: • Like Hispanics, under-represented, but voter rates growing • Asians in CA mostly Dem, but often more conservative than other minorities/neighboring whites • differences between nationalities/ethnicities

8. Mixed race • 2000 Census the first to allow choosing multiple racial categories • by 3rd generation, most Asians and Latinos marry outside ethnicity

10. Whites become a minority