Question

Do you think the ethnic identity issues experienced by White ethnics are more or less complex than those experienced by people of color? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Although the racism, discrimination, prejudice and harassment experienced by white ethnics falls under the same umbrella of racism, the racism faced by African Americans is a little bit more complex. The issues faced by Asian Americans are mostly to do with identity issues, that is, they are often asked the question 'where are you from?', which arises from their immigrant status are they are often stereotyped as foreigners. If we examine the historical origins of these systems and ideologies. Many of our Western or American ideas about race and ethnicity come from specific moments in history marked by colonialism, immigration and other tides that shifted populations and demographics. With such changes and the intermixing of different races and ethnicities, dominant groups rose to power and exerted influence over others by occupying and controlling the landscape, language, culture, and rituals. In these varied historical examples, the white group attained dominance, while the subordinate groups, specifically people of color, were relegated to the social, political and economic margins. This means that the subordinate group historically has had very little or no power, and individuals in that group were often denied the rights and opportunities afforded to the dominant group. The dominant group holds social, political and economic power, and thereby determines who is worthy of sharing that power. Of course, there is also a long history of resistance among marginalized communities. For decades and centuries, ethnic minority communities have battled mightily to secure rights and opportunities that have often been systematically denied. This is a struggle that continues to this day in new and evolving forms.