Family Questions for the Midterm

Below are my selections, with some editing, from the family questions & answers that were submitted. Remember that you only need to focus on the families in your section (240A-8:00 or 240B-9:30).

240A - 8:00-9:20AM

GREEN FAMILY (Ellie, Coleman, Alex) No questions submitted, so you do not earn the 4 points for this activity.

BLUE FAMILY (Kathrine, Sarah, Katie, Emily) 4pts.

1. What is the difference between RACE and ETHNIC GROUP? (2)

ANSWER: Race is determined by socially-selected PHYSICAL traits, whereas ethnic groups are distinguished by CULTURAL traits such as religion, music, food, language.

2. Identify and briefly describe any TWO of the four strategies for overcoming prejudice that were presented in class lecture. (4)

ANSWER: any TWO of the following: (1) CONTACT - breaking down barriers and fostering contact between people of different ethnic and racial groups that is meaningful and direct. Equal-status contact is most effective; unequal-status contact may just reinforce prejudice. (2) COOPERATIVE ACTION - people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds working together for a common goal, such as in the military. (3) EMPATHY - taking the role of someone from a different racial and ethnic background and trying to see the world from their point of view. Promotes understanding but this does not mean you agree with their perspective. Intellectually, this is mainly what we're trying to do in this course. (4) LAW - cannot legislate directly against prejudice, but by regulating behavior you may help to break down barriers which in turn may help you to overcome prejudice. So, law may work INDIRECTLY to overcome prejudice.


RED FAMILY: (Allison, Marquel, Chris, Andrew) 4pts.

1. In what sense is the "melting pot" metaphor an inaccurate way to describe America's diversity? (2)

ANSWER: Because it was applied only to the mixing and blending of the different white ethnic groups from different European countries. It did not include people of color such as Blacks, Indians, or Asians.

2. Toward the end of Part 2 of the video series, what was meant by the phrase "white man's burden?" (1)

ANSWER: this refers to the belief shared by both American and European colonizers that it was the white man's duty to conquer, convert, and educate the inferior races of people in different parts of the world to the white man's ways.
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240B - 9:30-10:50AM

BLACK FAMILY (Onyx, Alan, Melanie, Kaitlyn) 4pts.

1. Based on class lectures on the basic definition of PREJUDICE, identify TWO of the four sources from which prejudice is learned. (2)

ANSWER: any TWO of the following: (1) authority figures, (2) media images, (3) negative experiences, (4) discrimination.

2. Explain the difference between ETHNOCENTRISM and RACISM. (2)

ANSWER: Ethnocentrism involves judging other groups based on one's own culture's standards and values. Or, seeing one's culture as superior and right, which all cultures seek to instill in their people. Racism involves judging others as inferior based on innate physical characteristics.


YELLOW FAMILY (Aubrey, Lauren, Zach, Dani) 4pts.

1. Many famous people referred to both in class lecture and the video series were quoted as arguing that in order to overcome race we must first do what? (1)

ANSWER: Acknowledge it.

2. Describe the argument the Japanese man, Takeo Ozawa, made to the Supreme Court in his petition to be declared white so he might be eligible to become a naturalized citizen. And what was the decision of the Court? (2)

ANSWER: He argued that SOCIALLY he was white: he learned English, converted to Christianity, was patriotic. But the court ruled that did not matter since "SCIENTIFICALLY" he was not white, so his petition was denied.
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That's it. See you tomorrow, when we'll make some more progress in Dr. Tatum's book and have time to review for the midterm on Thursday 10/22.