Racial and Ethnic Families: Strengths and Stresses

The history of the United States reflects a multiracial or multiethnic society. The Americas owes this to the historical slave trade and the historical economic trends in terms of labor supply. Natives in the American context make approximately 70% of the population. The remaining 30% composes of people of different origins and diverse cultures. Even the natives themselves were ‘contaminated’ due to colonization by the British in the years preceding 1776. The concept of multi-ethnicity, therefore, is not a new terminology to anyone who has interest with the United States of America. The present borrows from the past, and, therefore, this situation has not changed yet. Immigration in America, both legal and illegal, has characterized the Americas till today. This paper seeks to analyze the past and the present state of ethnicity, racism and colorism in the United States, and also touching on the advantages and weaknesses of a multiracial society.

References

Banks, A.C. & Banks, A.J. (2010).Multicultural education: Issues and perspectives. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

The book focuses on various definitions of culture and the diverse aspects at which culture is looked at. The variables of exceptionality, gender, class, race, and color have been looked at and their influence on teaching and student behavior discussed. The concept of many cultures in the school is brought out well. The perceptions of the teachers, students, workers, and other stakeholders, are discussed. The author devotes the first three chapters in laying out the concept of a multiracial classroom.In the following chapters starting chapter four, the author tries to bring out the role of the school in promoting the advantages of multiculturalism. He argues that multiracialism should be taken to be an advantage and not a demerit; that all students regardless of their ethnic backgrounds should be helped to achieve academic excellence.

Michaelsen, K.L., Kumar, K. & Watson, E.W. (1998). Cultural diversity’s impact on interaction process and performance: Comparing homogenous and diverse task groups. Academy of Management Journal, 36 (3), 590-602.

This article examines the effect of cultural diversity on performance and interaction. The author argues that a difference is seen in the performances of different cultural groups. The authors emphasize the importance of recognizing the uniqueness in people. The article sees logic in identifying and being proud of the strengths that come along as a result of cultural diversity. Focusing on the positive rather than the negative traits of a particular group of people are emphasized.

William, M., Kurtines, J. & Szapocznik. (1993). Family psychology and cultural diversity: Opportunities for theory, research and application. American Psychologist, 48 (4), 400-407.

The authors are concerned about Hispanic youths and their families in a multiracial context. The very first part of this article reviews literature of the family and culture in the perspective of having emerged in a multiracial context but displaying differences. In other words, the article displays people with different ways of living, yet they live in the same place.On the second part, the authors survey an individual in the context of these culturally diverse families. The way these diverse cultures are borrowing from each other is brought out well. An individual may tend to interact with all the cultures, claims the article, despite the pressure from sociology, to follow their culture. The authors also have discussed how a family behaves in the context of diverse cultures. The pressure of the members of the family on individuals to embrace their culture rather than other peoples’ culture is well portrayed. This article proves a good one for furtherance of research in this topic.

Joe, F. & Clairece, F. (2013). Ethnic relations (7^thed). Cachan, France: Lavoisier A.S.A.

The authors display a deep understanding of the ethnic situation in the United States. The situation of racism and race, the ethnic groupings and culture have been expounded on. The way the affected people adapt to these multiracial situations are discussed. The issue no immigration in the USA and its contribution to multiracialism is expounded. The authors argue that commercial and industrial capitals owe their tribute to the slave society.The book also discusses in detail and the conditions of the different racial groups found in the United States. They discuss the concept of racial hierarchy in relation to African Americans, Irish Americans, English Americans, Jewish Americans, Cuban Americans and the Native Americans among other groups of people that live in America. The authors also expound on democracy and politics in this multiracial society.The issues revolving the colonization of America and the resistance that led to independence is also discussed. The contributions of the different groups towards independence and formation of government is given a high note. The authors also discuss the economy of the US on a multiracial dimension.

Cox, T. (1993). Cultural diversity in organizations: Theory, research and practice. California: Berrett Koehler Publishers.

The book explores the concept of cultural and ethnic diversity in organizations in five parts. The very first chapters of the book bring about the situation as it is in organizations. Leaders and mangers of organizations have to deal with this issue and manage it day to day. The author argues that groups of people tend to identify and isolate themselves in the work place based on what they share. The concept of discrimination and stereotyping, therefore, comes about. Actions of prejudice may then characterize decisions by the management.Cox asserts that groupings lead to cultural differences and tensions, attracting the vice of ethnocentrism. The result of this is intergroup conflicts at the place of work. The last part of this book focuses on management of ethnic tensions and how leadership should be applied to solve interethnic issues.

Phinney, J.S. (1996). When we talk about American ethnic groups, what do we mean?American Psychologist, 51 (9), 918-927.

Phinney focuses on the belief that people hold about the different ethnic groups in America; that they consider a certain psychological reasoning or functioning for the different groups. He argues that ethnicity is complex. If then these people were to understand the psychology of ethnicity, then they would assess its aspects that impacts on the outcomes of interest.In the second part of this article, Phenny examines three aspects of ethnicity: the strength, salience and meaning of ethnic identity; cultural values and norms; and the attitudes and the experiences that are common with the minority groups. Phenny lastly gives his stance on how these aspects can be understood, not based on the psychological dimension.

Richard, C.O. (2000). Racial diversity, business strategy, and firm performance: A resource based view.Academy of Management Journal, 43 (2), 164-177.

The author refutes the idea of emphasizing the valuing of diversity just by word of mouth rather than in practice. The article examines the performance of a firm on the related to the way it handles issues concerning ethnicity and diversity. He argues that cultural diversity is an advantage to a firm, only if it is applied in the right concept. The author reiterates that managers who have encouraged diversity and applied division of labor and specialization have realized positive results. You will enjoy going through this article.

Massey, S.D. (1995). The new immigration and ethnicity in the United States. Population council, 21 (3).The author is concerned about what he calls ‘new immigration. He asserts that immigration in the United States is on the rise day after day and that new languages are being added now and then in the cities of America. Massey connotes that the new way of living that is portrayed completely disagrees with the culture brought by the Europeans.

In the chapters following the first two, Massey discusses the effect of immigration in the US; that its implications in the economy are not as adverse as feared by many. Massey argues that the new immigrants do not drain public resources, do not have strong effects the wages and salaries and that they do not compete with the natives in matters of displacing the natives. As he ends, Massey cautions that the suspicion with which immigrants are being accorded is an issue of concern.We can, therefore, conclude that ethnic issues are a concern in America even to date, and they are not ending soon. Many immigrants are settling in the US, contributing to increase in its multiracial basis. The positive side of multiculturalism should be tapped for productivity.

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