Some identity groups have had to deal with hardships and persecution and contend with distrust and disapproval. Others have gained quick success in climbing the economic and political ladder. All have had to make significant adjustments to secure access to health care, work, housing, and political rights, which means coming to terms with dominant cultural practices and expectations within the community.
Understanding this journey sheds light on the issues and vulnerabilities faced by historically marginalized identity groups and provides greater understanding of the complexity of the United States.
Choose one of the following identity groups from the list below. You will analyze the historical background and treatment of that identity group within the United States and its current status with regard to social engagement and economic security.
Native Americans
African Americans
Hispanic Americans
Asian Americans
Sample Solution
Historical Background and Treatment of African Americans in the United States:
African Americans have experienced a long history of oppression and discrimination in the United States. From the enslavement of Africans brought to the country against their will beginning in 1619, to Jim Crow laws, segregation, redlining practices, and racial profiling today, African Americans have been subject to systemic racism that has denied them basic rights as citizens. Even after slavery was abolished with the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, African Americans were still limited economically due to exclusionary policies such as sharecropping agreements and other labor contracts that kept them locked into poverty. Furthermore, they were denied social engagement through denial of access to public services like education and voting rights—a tradition which continued until legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.