Chapter Nine: Racial Inequality
Discuss the changing social definitions of race.
Feedback:Race is a socially constructed invention used for socially marking groups based on presumed physical differences.
While races are thought to be physically distinguishable populations that share a common ancestry, races per se do not
actually exist; what persists is the idea that they do. At different times in U.S. history, many of the people considered
White today and thought of as the majority group are descendants of immigrants who at one time were believed to be
racially distinct from native-born White Americans, the majority of whom were Protestants. Racial categories vary in
different regions of the country and around the world. Someone classified as Black in the United States might be
considered White in Brazil and Colored in South Africa.
Source ID: 3.0.1
Learning Objective: LO 9.1: Understand the concepts of race and ethnicity.
Topic/Concept: Defining Race and Ethnicity
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q9.2.52
Discuss the concept of racial–ethnic groups. What are four groups in the United States that have been
constructed as both racially and culturally distinct?
Feedback:The term racial–ethnic group refers to groups that are socially subordinated and remain culturally distinct within
U.S. society. It includes (a) the systematic discrimination of socially constructed racial groups and (b) their
distinctive cultural arrangements. The categories of African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native
American have been constructed as both racially and culturally distinct. Each group has a distinctive culture,
shares a common heritage, and has a common identity within a larger society that subordinates it. The racial
characteristics of these groups have become meaningful in a society that continues to change.
Source ID: 3.0.2
Learning Objective: LO 9.2: Describe the characteristics of the four major racial–ethnic groups in the United States.
Topic/Concept: Racial–Ethnic Groups in the United States and Inequality
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q9.2.53
Discuss how health disparities are affected by social conditions such as race.
Feedback:Research finds that health disparities are affected by social conditions. On virtually every measure of health,
racial–ethnic minorities are disadvantaged. Environmental racism is the disproportionate exposure of some racial
groups to environmental toxic substances. Racial minorities are more likely than other groups to live near
hazardous waste facilities. Those living in high opportunity neighborhoods, which are typically White, can
expect to live up to 20 years longer than residents of a low opportunity neighborhood in the same city.
Source ID: 3.0.3
Learning Objective: LO 9.2: Describe the characteristics of the four major racial–ethnic groups in the United States.
Topic/Concept: Racial–ethnic Groups in the United States and Inequality
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q9.3.54
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