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Ethnic Studies Topics We Should All Know About

Knowledge is Power

By AMPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Ethnic Studies Topics We Should All Know About
Photo by Kostiantyn Li on Unsplash

If you have never taken Ethnic Studies before, this is for you. I put together a small group of topics to describe some terms as easily as possible and to also help better understand and grasp some main ideas.

Eurocentrism

Eurocentrism relates to the histories and cultures of non-European civilizations. It shows a rather wrongful history of cultures that are explained to have originated from Europe, but in reality, they were not. Ignorance plays a huge part in Eurocentrism because it underestimates non-European civilizations as inferior, therefore, providing people an insight that simply does not want to accept other cultures such as African American and Asian backgrounds. Although it is quite old, in many of the history books we grew up on, it is exactly what we are taught; our world evolved from all of Europe.

Global Capitalism

Global capitalism is where we see dominant organizations disrupting by means to take over lands, resources, and work all across the world. These organizations profit off the sacrifices and successes of others. It involves processes that are seen in business and are driven by economic resources.

Epochality, Global Capitalism and Ecology | Mr. Rows Namoura Coffee (wordpress.com)

Settler Colonialism

Settler colonialism is when foreigners take advantage of other people’s lands and resources for their own benefit. It most likely has to involve some sort of violence or war in order to acquire and “steal” what other people have already created and maintained for years. The cultures the foreigners attack or disrupt affect the current people living in these lands due to losing everything they have built and grown to love. A good example of this is the acquisition of the current known states: Texas, California, Nevada, part of Utah, and New Mexico. These all are due to White Supremacy. They also constitute African Slavery and genocide.

Structural vs. Ornamental Multiculturalism

Ornamental multiculturalism can be easily seen when people appreciate other cultures, and use it in different ways of expressing their appreciation. For example, people dress up in certain cultural attire, like Cinco De Mayo, to appreciate the Mexican culture. Ornamental multiculturalism, however, does promote Eurocentrism, along with monoculturalism; therefore, there should be one culture overall. It is positive in a way, yet at the same time, it might not be. This is due to the continued discrimination of a variety of cultures, yet others still show appreciation in ways that are unexplainable.

25 Cinco De Mayo Costumes And Outfit Ideas To Wear On May 5th | YourTango

Structural multiculturalism, on the other hand, is a belief that there should be more than one culture. Having a variety of cultures does give better information overall about the cultures within the society; more awareness of cultures. In addition, since a variety of cultures are among each other, some may be more dominant or competitions can arise.

Racial Prejudice vs. Racism

Racial prejudice is, for example, when someone says, “White people cannot cook well.” The idea of racial prejudice does not affect the idea of fewer opportunities for certain ethnicities. It creates ideas about certain people and generalizes groups into certain categories and biases.

Racism is, for example, when someone says, “Black people are loud and crazy.” Racism is a made-up justification that relates to subjugations towards assemblies of people. It is opposed to certain ethnicities, and the cruelties towards these ethnicities cause further actions to be taken, for example, fair justice. Also, it can influence fewer opportunities to members of particular ethnicities, although it should not happen.

Ethnic Studies

Studies that relate to different nationalities, and those who have been neglected in one form or another throughout American history. Ethnic studies relate to the deep and real histories of how America really became to be what it is now. Many of the cultures that are not seen in history books, had major impacts on the success of the US as a whole, and not only the first colonists who arrive that we only learn about and how our country became the US. The past events of ethnic studies show us the reality of the hardships, struggles, neglect, and mistreatment of cultures who were once free to do as they wish in a land, they called their own.

Black Lives Matter Movement

The Black Lives Matter Movement began in the sense of the constant discrimination and cruelty and continued mistreatment of African Americans. Major events and real-life experiences leading to this movement are those that involved injustice, like police brutality and unnecessary killings of unarmed men, women, and children. Different perspectives in our world contributed to this human rights organization to help dedicate and bring justice around the world for African Americans.

How the Black Lives Matter Movement Might Just Save Us from Our Economic Crisis - HR Daily Advisor (blr.com)

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AM

To help connect missing pieces and dots on perspectives of life and open new inspirations in your life.

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  • Timothy E Jones2 years ago

    Very insightful

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