Racial Issues

section 1

A First Look

A. Background Building

Racial issues are very deep and complex. Think about your own experience with people from races different from your own by answering this survey.

About your childhood. . . . (Circle the answer.)

1. When I was a child, I lived in a neighborhood that was racially _______.

a. mixed b. segregated.

2. My childhood friends were from________________

a. my race b. other races.

3. My school was racially_______________

a. mixed b. segregated.

4. As a child, I_____________ saw people who were from a different race,

a. often b. sometimes с almost never

About now....

1. The neighborhood I live in today is racially__________________

a. mixed b. segregated.

2. I have friends_______________________

a. from many different races b. mainly from my race с only from my race.

B. Topic

Before you begin to read, look at these topics. There is one topic for each paragraph. Look quickly at the reading to find these topics. Do not read every word at this point. Write the number of the paragraph next to the topic of that paragraph.

1. ________prejudice in the South

2. _________prejudice and discrimination are problems in the United States

3.__________ equal education

4. __________time is the answer

5. _________discrimination in the North

6. _________equal employment

7. _________blacks compared to other groups

C. Reading

Ironically, in the United States—a country of immigrants— 1

prejudice and discrimination continue to be serious problems. There 2

was often tension between each established group of immigrants 3

and each succeeding group. As each group became more financially 4

successful and more powerful, they excluded newcomers from full 5

participation in the society. Prejudice and discrimination are part 6

of our history; however, this prejudicial treatment of different 7

groups is nowhere more unjust than with black Americans. 8

Blacks had distinct disadvantages. For the most part, they 9

came to the "land of opportunity" as slaves and they were not free 10

to keep their heritage and cultural traditions. Unlike most European 11

immigrants, blacks did not have the protection of a support 12

group; sometimes slave owners separated members of the same 13

family. They could not mix easily with the established society either 14

because of their skin color. It was difficult for them to adapt to the 15

American culture. Even after they became free people, they still 16

experienced discrimination in employment, housing, education, and 17

even in public facilities, such as restrooms. 18

Until the twentieth century (1900s), the majority of the black 19

population lived in the southern part of the United States. Then 20

there was a population shift to the large cities in the North. Prejudice- 21

against blacks is often associated with the South. Slavery was 22
more common there and discrimination was usually more blatant. 23

(easier to see): Water fountains, restrooms, and restaurants were 24

often designated "white only." 25

In the North, discrimination was usually less obvious, but 26

certainly it created poor black neighborhoods, ghettos, in most large 27

cities. This happened because of discrimination in housing and the 28

movement of white city residents to the suburbs, often called "white 29

flight." 30

In the 1950s and 1960s, blacks fought to gain fair treatment, 31

and they now have legal protection in housing, education, and 32

employment. Because their neighborhoods are segregated, many blacks 33

feel that educational opportunities are not adequate for their 34

children. Busing children from one neighborhood to another is one 35

solution to inequality in education. Naturally, all parents want the 36

best possible education for their children. 37

One attempt to equalize employment and educational 38

opportunities for blacks and other minorities is "affirmative action." 39

Affirmative action means that those in charge of businesses, 40

organizations, and institutions should take affirmative (positive) action to 41

find minorities to fill jobs. Many whites are angry about this 42

regulation, because very qualified people sometimes do not get jobs 43

when they are filled by people from a certain minority. People call 44

this practice "reverse discrimination." 45

The situation of blacks is better today than it was in the 1950s, 46

but racial tension persists. Time will be the real solution to the 47

problem of race. 48

React

Look at line 10. The author says that blacks came to the "land of opportunity" as slaves. Why are the words "land of opportunity" in quotes?

D. Scanning/Vocabulary

Part 1

Write the line number where you find the word(s). Then choose the best meaning for the word as it is used in that sentence.

1. ironically

a. strangely b. naturally с obviously

2. succeeding

a. coming before b. successful c. following

3. excluded

a. prevented b. prejudiced с adjusted

4. heritage

a. property b. cultural past с. work

5. protection

a. conflict b. involvement с safety

6. majority

a. a large number b. some с most

7. associated with

a. compared to b. connected with с. qualified for

8. attempt

a. gain b. guarantee с effort

9. qualified

a. capable b. hired с ambitious

10. reverse

a. opposite b. done again с prevented

Part 2

Find a word that is the opposite of the one given. The line is given.

line 3 new

line 8 fair

line 9 benefits

line 10 free people

line 23 hidden

line 32 unlawful

line 33 mixed by race

line 36 fairness

line 43 inexperienced

E. Reading Comprehension

Circle the letter of the choice that best completes each sentence.

1. Because of _____, blacks could not easily mix in American society.
a.) skin color b. language с heritage

2. Special restrooms and water fountains for blacks were more common in _____
a. the North b. ghettos c. the South

3. ______is one attempt to equalize education.

a. Reverse discrimination b. White flight c. Busing

4. Blacks were different from other groups because they ______.

a. came with the first settlers b. adapted easily c. did not have support groups

5. There _______ discrimination in the North.

a. was b. wasn't c. was no

6. According to the author, there will be a solution to racial problems _____

a. in the future b. very soon с because of the 1950s

7. Affirmative action is most beneficial for _____.

a. minorities b. business с qualified people

8. In the North, discrimination was _____ to see.

a. easier b. more difficult с less difficult

9. The author thinks that prejudice and discrimination _____ in the United States.

a. are natural b. are the same for all groups c. form part of history

10. The author thinks that prejudice is ironic here because the US is a country of _.

a. wealth b. Immigrants с established groups

Look Again

A. Vocabulary

Circle the letter of the choice that best completes each sentence.

1. I love to eat;______ , I hate to cook.

a. ironically b. naturally c. financially

2. One____ of city living is the high cost.

a. advantage b. benefit c. disadvantage

3.________ He was _ from the club because of his religious beliefs.

a. participated b. excluded c. designated

4. Whites in the United States are the _________.

a. minority b. majority c. newcomers

5. The cruel ______of slaves in the United States is difficult to believe.

a. treatment b. protection c. heritage

6. Although she didn't like him, he _____ in calling her.

a. associated b. persisted c. designated

7. Busing is a(n)______ to equalize educational opportunities.

a. loss b. attempt c. participation

8. ____ public schools are not legal.

a. Integrated b. Associated c. Segregated

9. He is ______ to teach economics.

a. adequate b. qualified c. obvious

10. _______discrimination is clear and easy to see.
a. Reverse b. Blatant c. Unjust

В. Reading Comprehension

1. Compare blacks to other groups who came to the U.S. Give two examples of disadvantages which they had.

2. Give two examples of discrimination against blacks.

3. Reread the information about equality in education and try to explain what busing means.

4. Affirmative action means that organizations try to fill jobs with minorities. Why do you think people should do this?

C. Think About It

1. Is there discrimination in your country? Is it racial? Social? Or sex­ual? What kind of discrimination takes place? Employment? Hous­ing? Education?

The two graphs shown above are from an article about Asian Americans.

1. a. What does the "Asian Americans in the United States" graph measure?

b. For how many years?

2. a. What does "Income by Ethnic Group" measure?

b. Which ethnic group earns the most?

c. Which ethnic group earns the least?

d. What is the dollar difference between the highest earning Asian group and the lowest earning Asian group?

e. How do Hispanics compare to the other ethnic groups?

f. What reasons can you think of to explain the differences in income?

Date: 2015-02-03; view: 937