Question 1

Why is assimilation the preferred model for race/ethnic relations according to functionalists?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism is a sociological perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. According to functionalists, each part of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole. When it comes to race and ethnic relations, functionalists often argue that assimilation is the preferred model because it promotes social cohesion and stability, which are essential for the smooth operation of society.

Assimilation refers to the process by which minority groups gradually adopt the culture, norms, and values of the dominant group, leading to a reduction in cultural distinctions and potential conflicts. Here are some reasons why functionalists might prefer assimilation as a model for race/ethnic relations:

1. Social Integration: Functionalists believe that assimilation helps integrate diverse groups into a single social fabric, creating a sense of belonging and shared identity. This integration is seen as crucial for maintaining social order and preventing the fragmentation of society.

2. Reduction of Conflict: By adopting the dominant culture's norms and values, minority groups are thought to reduce the potential for cultural clashes and conflicts. Functionalists argue that assimilation minimizes differences that could otherwise lead to misunderstandings, discrimination, and social tensions.

3. Shared Values: Functionalists emphasize the importance of a shared value system for the smooth functioning of society. Assimilation is seen as a way to ensure that all members of society subscribe to common values, which facilitates cooperation and consensus.

4. Economic Efficiency: From a functionalist perspective, assimilation can lead to a more efficient economy by creating a more homogeneous workforce. This homogeneity is believed to facilitate communication, reduce barriers to workforce mobility, and improve overall productivity.

5. Social Solidarity: Assimilation is thought to foster social solidarity by creating a sense of unity and common purpose among people from diverse backgrounds. This solidarity is essential for the collective well-being of society and for the support of its institutions.

It is important to note that the functionalist perspective on assimilation has been critiqued by other sociological theories. Critics argue that the emphasis on assimilation can overlook the value of cultural diversity, lead to the erasure of minority cultures, and perpetuate power imbalances by favoring the dominant group's culture. They also point out that assimilation does not always result in positive outcomes for minority groups and can sometimes lead to marginalization and loss of cultural identity.

Contemporary sociologists often advocate for models that recognize and celebrate cultural diversity, such as multiculturalism or pluralism, which allow for the coexistence of multiple cultures within a single society while still promoting social cohesion and mutual respect.

Question 2

Provide evidence that this period in history-the late nineteenth and early twentieth century-was a racial dictatorship. Conversely, provide evidence that this period could be described as the beginning of a racial democracy.

Accepted Answer

The late nineteenth and early twentieth century was indeed a period of racial dictatorship in many parts of the world. This was a time when colonial powers, particularly in Africa and Asia, imposed their rule over indigenous populations through force and subjugation. The European powers, in particular, implemented policies of racial segregation and discrimination, treating non-white populations as inferior and denying them basic rights and opportunities. This was evident in the establishment of apartheid in South Africa, the Jim Crow laws in the United States, and the racial hierarchy imposed by European colonial powers in their overseas territories.

On the other hand, this period could also be described as the beginning of a racial democracy in some contexts. There were movements and individuals who fought against racial oppression and advocated for equality and justice. The abolitionist movement in the United States, the anti-colonial struggles in Africa and Asia, and the civil rights movements around the world all sought to dismantle racial dictatorship and create a more inclusive and equitable society. These movements laid the groundwork for the eventual dismantling of formal racial segregation and the recognition of the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of race.

In conclusion, while the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was marked by racial dictatorship in many parts of the world, it also saw the seeds of racial democracy being sown through the efforts of activists and movements fighting for equality and justice. The struggle for racial equality and justice continues to this day, but the period in question was a pivotal time in the ongoing evolution of racial relations and the pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable society.

Question 3

Define passing. Explain the costs and benefits of passing for African Americans during the Jim Crow era.

Accepted Answer

Passing refers to the practice of a person from a marginalized or oppressed group, such as African Americans, attempting to present themselves as a member of a more privileged or dominant group, often by concealing their true identity or background.

During the Jim Crow era, passing for African Americans carried both costs and benefits. The costs of passing included the psychological toll of denying one's true identity and heritage, as well as the constant fear of being discovered and facing potential backlash from both the white and black communities. Additionally, passing often meant severing ties with family and community, leading to a sense of isolation and loss of cultural connection.

On the other hand, the benefits of passing for African Americans during the Jim Crow era included access to better employment opportunities, improved living conditions, and the ability to avoid the pervasive discrimination and violence that were rampant at the time. Passing also provided a sense of safety and security, as individuals could potentially avoid the harsh realities of segregation and racial violence by assimilating into white society.

Overall, passing for African Americans during the Jim Crow era was a complex and deeply personal decision, with individuals weighing the potential benefits against the significant costs. It is important to recognize the immense pressure and systemic racism that forced many African Americans to consider passing as a means of survival, while also acknowledging the sacrifices and internal conflicts that came with this choice.

Question 4

What is meant by the notion that the United States is a melting pot? Provide a sociological critique of that understanding of American assimilation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by the notion that...

Question 5

Anti-Semitic feelings among non-Jewish students grew on college campuses and soon admissions quotas became commonplace, particularly in professional schools of law and medicine, thus restricting Jewish access to some of the most prestigious occupations in American society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

To what extent has the United States favored the assimilation of racial/ethnic minorities? Provide examples of when assimilation has not been an option for particular racial/ethnic groups. What are some factors that influence the ability of a group to assimilate into the dominant culture? What are some factors that inhibit a group's chances of assimilating into the dominant culture?

Accepted Answer

The answer of To what extent has the United States...

Question 7

Some have described the violence and oppression of the Jim Crow era directed against African Americans as a time that was "worse than slavery."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following was a former Confederate Cavalry General who organized and led the first Ku Klux Klan meeting in April 1867 with the explicit goal of reducing black political participation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nathan Bedford Forrest
B)   Dred Scott
C)   T. D. "Daddy" Rice
D)   Leonidis C. Dyer

Question 9

This term refers to when a member of one racial group becomes accepted as and understood by others to be a member of another racial group; the term has most often referred to African Americans who become seen and accepted as white.

Accepted Answer

A)   Fleeting
B)   Passing
C)   Transients
D)   Jim Crow

Question 10

While slavery can be viewed as an example of racial dictatorship, the ten years known as the Reconstruction era can be viewed as the beginning of a racial democracy, where the actions of the federal government supported the full civil and political rights of blacks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Passing can be understood as resistance to the racial hierarchy and, simultaneously, acquiescence to it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways assimilation can take place, according to sociologist Milton Gordon?

Accepted Answer

A)   Anglo-conformity
B)   Melting pot
C)   Cultural pluralism
D)   Two-way assimilation

Question 13

In detail, describe at least three attempts at the forced assimilation of Native Americans during the late 1800s and early 1900s by the U.S. government. How successful have these efforts been?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In detail, describe at least three attempts...

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT an example of the attempted forced assimilation of Native Americans during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

Accepted Answer

A)   Forced relocations of Native Americans to reservations
B)   The boarding school movement
C)   Military battles
D)   The encouragement of private property ownership through legislation that led to the breakup of communally held lands

Question 15

Anti-Catholic sentiment took political form in the emergence of the _________. One of its primary goals was to keep Catholics and immigrants from being allowed to hold political office; fervently anti-immigrant, its members believed that America should be a Protestant country, and feared that Catholics were hostile to U.S. values and would be more loyal to the Pope than to the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)   Democratic Party
B)   Populist Party
C)   Know-Nothing Party
D)   Republican Party

Question 16

No other European ethnic group faced the discrimination that the Catholic Irish faced in the United States; help wanted ads discouraged Irish men and women from applying, by stating "No Irish need apply," even for menial jobs. In the South, work considered too dangerous for slaves was considered ideal for Irish laborers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Use Hubert M. Blalock's power-threat hypothesis to explain the preponderance of lynching and race riots during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use Hubert M. Blalock's power-threat hypothesis to...

Question 18

Describe the changing racial ideologies associated with the shift from slavery to Jim Crow and thus how racial discrimination against African Americans changed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the changing racial ideologies associated with...

Question 19

Sociologist Milton Gordon expanded on Park's notion of assimilation, by noting that Park only emphasized cultural assimilation, whereas the ultimate measure of assimilation was _______, where dominant and subordinate groups merge in interpersonal relationships as well as internalizing the norms of the dominant group (integration in intimate relationships, such as families, friendship networks, social circles, and marriages).

Accepted Answer

A)   Cultural
B)   Amalgamation
C)   Structural
D)   Civic

Question 20

Racial hierarchies are not static; instead they are constantly responding to changing social and historical conditions, as well as to challenges from subordinate groups.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 5: Race Relations in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Why is assimilation the preferred model for race/ethnic relations according to functionalists?

Provide evidence that this period in history-the late nineteenth and early twentieth century-was a racial dictatorship. Conversely, provide evidence that this period could be described as the beginning of a racial democracy.

Define passing. Explain the costs and benefits of passing for African Americans during the Jim Crow era.

What is meant by the notion that the United States is a melting pot? Provide a sociological critique of that understanding of American assimilation.

Anti-Semitic feelings among non-Jewish students grew on college campuses and soon admissions quotas became commonplace, particularly in professional schools of law and medicine, thus restricting Jewish access to some of the most prestigious occupations in American society.

Some have described the violence and oppression of the Jim Crow era directed against African Americans as a time that was "worse than slavery."

Which of the following was a former Confederate Cavalry General who organized and led the first Ku Klux Klan meeting in April 1867 with the explicit goal of reducing black political participation?

This term refers to when a member of one racial group becomes accepted as and understood by others to be a member of another racial group; the term has most often referred to African Americans who become seen and accepted as white.

While slavery can be viewed as an example of racial dictatorship, the ten years known as the Reconstruction era can be viewed as the beginning of a racial democracy, where the actions of the federal government supported the full civil and political rights of blacks.

Passing can be understood as resistance to the racial hierarchy and, simultaneously, acquiescence to it.

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways assimilation can take place, according to sociologist Milton Gordon?

In detail, describe at least three attempts at the forced assimilation of Native Americans during the late 1800s and early 1900s by the U.S. government. How successful have these efforts been?

Which of the following is NOT an example of the attempted forced assimilation of Native Americans during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

Use Hubert M. Blalock's power-threat hypothesis to explain the preponderance of lynching and race riots during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Describe the changing racial ideologies associated with the shift from slavery to Jim Crow and thus how racial discrimination against African Americans changed.

Racial hierarchies are not static; instead they are constantly responding to changing social and historical conditions, as well as to challenges from subordinate groups.