Symbolic Ethnicity Essay - 999 Words

Symbolic ethnicity is a term coined by Herbert Gans. It refers to ethnicity that is individualistic in nature and without real social cost for the individual. These symbolic identifications are essentially leisure time activities, rooted in nuclear family traditions reinforced by voluntary enjoyable aspects of being ethnic (Gans 424-429). Symbolic ethnicity is practiced and enjoyed by white Americans. It is a way for descendants of white Europeans to learn about and be proud of their heritage. That is not the case for non-whites who are grouped together by the white majority making ethnic identity difficult . This type of ethnicity is rooted in immigrants of European descent. It could be the Feast of Saint Anthony or†¦show more content†¦This creates a situation where Caribbean blacks who are steeped in heritage are typically unable to partake in their own ethnic celebrations like their white counterparts. When Caribbean blacks arrive in America, they attempt to distance themselves from the American black (Ogbu, J.U. 425-429). When a black group attempts to celebrate its heritage, other groups march in order to disrupt these types of celebrations. Every time a black organization wants to march or celebrate, the KKK or other white supremacist group alternatively marches to cause conflict. When this type of celebration does take place, it is typically limited locally to black neighborhoods with no media coverage. Asians are treated in a similar fashion being grouped together as one nation. There are Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and Cambodian to name a few. These p eople when assimilated into American culture become one group, Asian, which in many cases offers no opportunity to express their own national heritage or culture in America. Grouping of these minorities puts all blacks whether American or otherwise and Asians under the same umbrella and therefore dealing with the same stereotypes. These imagesShow MoreRelatedEthnicity and Religion Quiz778 Words   |  4 PagesETH 125: Quiz 4 *Ethnicity and Religion* **Please highlight the correct answer. Once completed, save and rename the file with your first name and then upload to the Assignment tab which is due next Sunday.** The following materials are based on Schaefer’s Chapter 5: Ethnicity and Religion 1. The largest ancestral group of European Americans is a. French. b. Irish. c. German. d. Norwegian. 2. 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