Ethnic relations play an integral role in any society. In George Frederickson’s “Models for
American Ethnic Relations: A Historical Approach”, four basic concepts are outlined and described: ethnic hierarchy, one-way assimilation, cultural pluralism, and group separatism.While reading “From
Rez Life” and watching the film Crash, I found that there are similarities in ethnic relations styles.These works are similar in that they both exhibit ethnic hierarchy in many different fashions.
In Crash, the entire movie is essentially about the differing cultures and stereotypes of non- whites. Although there are several cultures represented, one stands out as being dominant: whites. This amounts to whites being atop the ethnic hierarchy.It is also more …show more content…
For example, in the film the Hispanic locksmith was racially profiled by the middle-eastern shopkeeper. When the locksmith went to repair the lock after the shopkeeper’s business was burglarized, the shopkeeper asked him to replace the door or call a friend who would, implying that all Hispanics are available for cheap labor. Inversely, the shopkeeper was stereotyped merely in the way his character was presented.It is believed by many that middle-easterners in our country are stingy with their money, are prone to haggling over prices, and that they often try to get more work out of someone than that person may be willing to give.
“From Rez Life” paints a very different picture of the ethnic hierarchy concept. The predominant message of this work is that an ethnic hierarchy existed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.In this hierarchy, Indians (Native Americans) were at the bottom tier, and whites were at the top. The Indians were made to leave their native lands and walk the Trail of Tears to government-owned reservations, and their lands were made ready for white settlers. The government began a task force called the Bureau …show more content…
At these boarding schools, the children were made to cut their hair short, wear American (modern) clothing, and were told to abandon their native language and cultural identity. They were beaten, abused, and made to conform to the new social norm. This is but one way that ethnic hierarchy was defined in “From Rez
Life”.
Another form of ethnic hierarchy was displayed in the way that Indians treated their own. Some
Indian cultures adopted a “blood quantum” rule. This rule stated that those who did not possess at least x% pure blood for their intended cultures were considered impure. Because they were not “blood
Indians” they were ousted from their respective societies. They were not given the same rights and opportunities as purebloods. Purebloods believed that they were better in some way, and thus they climbed the ethnic hierarchy ladder, passing up their impure counterparts.
Especially today, ethnic relations continue to be important to the function of society. This is literally how people live with, for, or against others. Ethnic relations define what type of society is present, what it could become, and how rapidly it grows or declines. George Frederickson clearly
American Ethnic Relations: A Historical Approach”, four basic concepts are outlined and described: ethnic hierarchy, one-way assimilation, cultural pluralism, and group separatism.While reading “From
Rez Life” and watching the film Crash, I found that there are similarities in ethnic relations styles.These works are similar in that they both exhibit ethnic hierarchy in many different fashions.
In Crash, the entire movie is essentially about the differing cultures and stereotypes of non- whites. Although there are several cultures represented, one stands out as being dominant: whites. This amounts to whites being atop the ethnic hierarchy.It is also more …show more content…
For example, in the film the Hispanic locksmith was racially profiled by the middle-eastern shopkeeper. When the locksmith went to repair the lock after the shopkeeper’s business was burglarized, the shopkeeper asked him to replace the door or call a friend who would, implying that all Hispanics are available for cheap labor. Inversely, the shopkeeper was stereotyped merely in the way his character was presented.It is believed by many that middle-easterners in our country are stingy with their money, are prone to haggling over prices, and that they often try to get more work out of someone than that person may be willing to give.
“From Rez Life” paints a very different picture of the ethnic hierarchy concept. The predominant message of this work is that an ethnic hierarchy existed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.In this hierarchy, Indians (Native Americans) were at the bottom tier, and whites were at the top. The Indians were made to leave their native lands and walk the Trail of Tears to government-owned reservations, and their lands were made ready for white settlers. The government began a task force called the Bureau …show more content…
At these boarding schools, the children were made to cut their hair short, wear American (modern) clothing, and were told to abandon their native language and cultural identity. They were beaten, abused, and made to conform to the new social norm. This is but one way that ethnic hierarchy was defined in “From Rez
Life”.
Another form of ethnic hierarchy was displayed in the way that Indians treated their own. Some
Indian cultures adopted a “blood quantum” rule. This rule stated that those who did not possess at least x% pure blood for their intended cultures were considered impure. Because they were not “blood
Indians” they were ousted from their respective societies. They were not given the same rights and opportunities as purebloods. Purebloods believed that they were better in some way, and thus they climbed the ethnic hierarchy ladder, passing up their impure counterparts.
Especially today, ethnic relations continue to be important to the function of society. This is literally how people live with, for, or against others. Ethnic relations define what type of society is present, what it could become, and how rapidly it grows or declines. George Frederickson clearly