Vanessa's E-Portfolio

Course Description

This course is an examination of the racial and ethnic relations in society. We will consider the social and economic processes that foster and ethnic antagonism in American society. We will explore how prejudice and discrimination operate through racial attitudes and intergroup relations, and how cultural values affect the personal relationship with each other.

• Explore the issues of social or ethnic discrimination
• Understand the concept of diversity
• Analyze the changing social structure in regards to race and ethnicity
• Describe the historical and cultural background of non-dominant groups in society
• Summarize the ways society is becoming more tolerant of all groups

 The focus of my Race ethnicity course was to understand that we are all more similar than different. Many people come to America looking for a better life for our children, just like many of us here in America may move to another state or county for better schooling for our children. At the beginning of the class we had to ask a question about a group of people and research it for our final project. I decided to focus on the group of Sikhs on how they probably face bullying post 9/11. The main reason I chose the Sikhs to research was because now of days we hear a lot of negative about anyone associated with the middle east. I never really understood their way of life, but just like anyone ignorant found myself making jokes.

Adding on, I found I related to my project because of my ethnic background being Hispanic. We hear now more than ever the negativity about my culture. Therefore, by being uneducated about the middle east cultures and religion, I was being hypocritical. Due the fact, my philosophy of life is be the change you wish to see in the world. So, I embarked on understanding the middle east culture and various religions. What I found is in America all minorities whether culture or religion are more alike than dislike.