Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Groups by Richard T. Schaefer

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Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Groups by Richard T. Schaefer
Racial and Ethnic Groups by Richard T. Schaefer is a book that assists students to perceive ethnic and race relations in a social-historical context. By reading the book, students get to understand the past in a way that can help them shape the future. Race and ethnicity are rather complicated in the United States. This nation is very diverse and becoming even more so, with about 17% of the entire population being members of the minority groups. Despite the population’s constitution changing, the issues of discrimination, mistrust and prejudice remain.
In day-to-day society, not all ethnic groups are viewed or treated equally. It seems that identifying a minority group in society is a simple task. In America, the groups identified as minorities, which include African Americans and Native Americans, are outnumbered by non- African Americans and non-Native Americans. A minority group may be defined as a subordinate group whose members do not have that much power or control over their lives when compared to members of a majority group. Some people may argue that since America is a democracy, the majority rules. Overall, it is worth bearing in mind that the subordination of a minority group is more than just its inability to yield any form of power over society. Members of such a group experience a constriction of life opportunities that go beyond any personal limitations they have. Minority groups do not share what a certain society defines as variable in proportion to its numbers.
People observe those around t...