The racial and ethnic groups of the American people has been dynamic over time. It is known that new immigrants from Latin America and Asia have contributed to the large measure of the phenotypic and cultural diversity to the population of America in the recent past. Furthermore, boundaries between the ethnic and racial groups have become intensified because of the large rates due to intermarriages and the high number of those with diverse and mixed ancestry. Research shows that the ethnic racial differences in the mortality and the morbidity are attributed to the socioeconomic resources. The course of American ethnic and racial politics over some years have been known to depend majorly on the African-American community and other racial groups living in America (Telles 45). For many years, the black Americans have been regarded as a minority group in the American society. The issue has been considered as a complex issue and brings about the ethnicity-related policy that impacts on the African-American politics. In the recent past, it has been seen that there is affluent African American greater mistrust of the white society. Some of the blacks have been arguing that the whites are investigating the black elected Americans so as to discredit them because of their minority in the elective positions. Accordingly, the majority minority group issue has been influencing the wellbeing of the American society.
In the United States of America, the ethnic and racial classes are categorized into Hispanic or Latino origin, the White Americans, the Black and African Americans, the Asian Americans and also the Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Furthermore, the other ethnic groups are the Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and the Middle Easterners and North Africans as well. These ethnic classes have been undermining the economic wellbeing of the U.S. Racial discrimination is believed to have originated due to the classification of Americans into the majority and minority groups in terms of ethnic and racial aspects.
Historically, racial and ethnic groups have been affecting the economic wellbeing of the American society. White Americans are considered to the racial majority in the United States of America. On the other hand, African-Americans are considered to be the largest racial minority in the country. The African Americans amount to 13.2% of the total American population. Additionally, the Hispanic and Latino Americans make up to 17% of the total population in the country (Yetman 17). Both the Hispanic and Latino Americans are considered the largest ethnic minority in America. Research shows that in every region, the White Americans are the majority except in the Hawaii where their number is small. However, in the Midwest United States, the white Americans stand at 85% of the total population according to the American Community Survey. Additionally, the Non-Hispanic Whites comprise 79% of the total population, and this has been considered as the highest ratio in the region (Yetman 25). Additionally, in the South America, the whites comprise of up to 35%, and this accordingly influences the decision making is such regions.
Research shows that in the United States of America, since the early history, Africans, Native Americans, and Europeans are considered to be of different races. For several years, the grouping of such races has been based on the person's appearance, a social circle which includes how they live and also the known ancestry to such groups (Telles 87). History has been used as an important tool especially during the slavery period as it determines those who could work in the plantation farms.
Ethnic groups and social groups in America has influenced the political and economic status of the country. Historically, the race has been used to determine the ruling class. For many years, the black Americans have not been given a chance to rule, but the whites have been the dominant ruling class in the country. However, in the 19th century a person of mixed Euro-Amerindian was only considered to rule and given the right but a person of pure black original especially an African origin could not be considered the potential for ruling the country. The rule was however broken when the Obama a black American became the first black American president in the United States of America. Initially, the whites have been mistreating the black Americans as they were considered minority regarding ruling the country (Yetman 76).
Furthermore, in healthcare, the racial and ethnic groups disparities have also contributed to the discrimination cases on the American healthcare system. Research shows that healthcare professionals, policy makers and researchers in the American healthcare system have been advocating for the removal of discrimination which is usually based on the racial and ethnic groups. The scholars have also been believing that sometimes access to healthcare services is the centerpiece and this explains the inequalities which are found in the healthcare system of America. With regards to the recruiting of the healthcare workers, the American healthcare system has been recruiting professionals majorly from the American whites (Telles 94). Many scholars have undertaken their research to explain the inequalities found in the healthcare system. Research shows that there is high awareness among the scholars regarding the disparities in the healthcare system in the United States of America and it is thus important country to understand them to ensure that equality in the healthcare is addressed.
Furthermore, research has also shown that ethnic minority patients in most hospitals in the United States of America are often cared for by health professionals who are considered to have poorer indicators of technical quality. The quality of such physicians is low because of the lower procedure volume rates that can be followed by the higher-risk-adjusted rates of mortality. Additionally, it has also been shown that when a physician from majority ethnic group serves a patient from a minority group, he or she will tend to have poor communication with the patient. Research also shows that ethnic minority patients are considered to be patients with poor health status and thus are rarely served by a physician from the ethnic majority group. Additionally, there has been reports showing inefficient interpersonal communications from the physicians who come from the ethnic minority group and serves a patient from an ethnic minority group. It is thus important for the government to ensure the elimination of ethnic and racial disparities to make sure that there is quality in the healthcare system (Yetman 58). The strategies that can be used to eliminate such cases include the removal of the stigma that physicians from ethnic majority groups are much better than the physicians from the minority groups.
What is more, the labor market has also been affected by the ethnicity and racial disparities in the United States of America. According to the constitution, the job market should be "race blind, " but key indicators shows that the workplace in the country has been faced with racial and ethnicity since time immemorial. Research shows that ethnicity and race play a critical role in determining the career opportunities and job placement. The problem of ethnicity and racial discrimination has been witnessed by those looking for job placement in the United States of America. In most cases, those from the ethnic majority groups secure the jobs while those from the ethnic minority groups find it hard to secure the jobs. Research also shows that whether a person is looking for employment or considering a new line of work, ethnicity and race are used for considering those who are to get the jobs. Even though there have social policies trying to address the same, there still exist ethnicity and racial disparities in different parts of the United States of America. On the other hand, the employees from ethnic minority group have been receiving low salary compared to their counterparts from the ethnic majority groups.
American education system has also been impacted by the ethnicity and racial disparities. According to the education act, education should be equal to all the ethnic and racial groups found in the country. However, whenever the ethnicity and racial factors are used as discrimination factor in the education sector, the quality of education in the country goes down. For example, research shows that in the United States students have been admitted to various schools based on the ethnicity and racial factors. Children from ethnic majority groups have been getting places from well-established and equipped schools. Those from the ethnic minority groups are given limited access to schools which are considered to be providing high-quality education. Additionally, the schools have also been employing teachers on the discrimination basis. The teachers from groups which are considered minor in the societies are discriminated when it comes to employment opportunities (Yetman 133). Even when the teachers from ethnic minority and ethnic majority groups have equality of opportunity, the ones from the ethnic majority are given priority. The ethnic and racial disparities in the education sector have been affecting the quality of education in America for quite a length of time. However, stakeholders have been coming up with policies to address to ethnicity and racial discrimination in the American education system.
In my opinion, the ethnic and racial groups adversely affect the progress of the United States of America. Because many sectors discriminate other disadvantaged groups such groups might fill undermined, depressed and thus might not be in the position to take part actively in the economic building of the nation. Racial and ethnic classes adversely impact the society and it is important to establish policies that prevent such happenings and ensure equality in all the sectors of economy.
Works Cited
Telles, Edward E. Pigmentocracies: Ethnicity, Race, and Color in Latin America. 2014.
Yetman, Norman R. Majority and Minority: The Dynamics of Race and Ethnicity in American Life. Allyn and Bacon, 1999.
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