Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Groups by Richard T. Schaefer (Essay Sample)

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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 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 is 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 still remain.
In day to day society, not all ethnic groups are viewed or treated equally. It seems that identifying a minority group in a 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 as much power or control over their own lives when compared to members of a majority group. Some people may argue that since America is a democracy, the majority rules. All in all, 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 experiences 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 them, some of who may appear different from them. Such differences do not matter. However, so many people have for a long time acted as if differences between shared culture, geographical origins and physical characteristics do matter, meaning that unique groups have been formed in people’s minds. Ethnicity and race have numerous meanings for different individuals. Most of the times, such meanings are inaccurate and based on old-fashioned theories that were rubbished by scientists a long time ago.
Race may not distinguish human beings from one another biologically. Consequently, it begs the question as to why then does race seem so important. The reason for this is due to the social meaning that individuals have attached to race. Simply put, race is a social construction in a process that suits oppressors as they are the ones who decide what is considered privileged and what is not. The way race is accepted in a soci...