US History II-Issues Quiz Review

What is Race?

-Ancient societies did not divide people according to physical differences, but according to religion, status, class, even language. -When the US was founded, equality was a radical new idea. But our early economy was based largely on slavery. The concept of race helped explain why some people could be denied the rights and freedoms that others took for granted. -Racial practices were institutionalized within government, laws, and society. -Our government and society have created advantages to being white

How did the government racialize housing and wealth?

-The housing market available to most non-whites was rental and later, public housing in segregated urban centers. -Government sponsored urban redevelopment programs destroyed more housing than they built. -90% of all housing destroyed by urban renewal was not replaced; 2/3 of those people displaced were black or Latino. -As urban renewal projects destroyed taxable properties, the burden for maintaining social services was shifted onto fewer and fewer residents---encouraging white flight and making the poor poorer.

The Downward Spiral

1. White Flight Begins- the departure of whites from places (as urban neighborhoods or schools) increasingly or predominantly populated by minorities. 2. Property Value Goes Down- When people leave, the decline in demand causes housing prices to fall. 3. Taxes Go Up- White residents take their wealth with them. 4. Services Suffer 5. Rock Bottom

De Facto Segregation

Established by practice and custom

How much of the $120 billion in home loans underwritten between 1934 and 1962 went to non-whites? Why?

Less than two percent of the $120 billion in home loans underwritten between 1934 and 1962 went to non-whites. The colored people were discriminated against.

De Jure Segregation

Racial Segregation established by law

Institutional Racism

Racism which is built into political and social institutions Examples: housing contracts, redlining, Bank lending policies, Racial profiling, use of stereotyped racial caricatures by institutions: "Indian" mascots -More Subtle -Less Visible -Gives advantages to cartain groups -Less identifiable than individual acts of racism

Redlining

Redlining is the practice of denying, or charging more for, services such as banking, insurance, access to health care, or even supermarkets, or denying access to jobs to residents in particular, often racially determined, areas. When you have different races living on the same street together then it is considered to be an unsafe neighborhood socially and economically.

Prejudice

Rigid and unfair generalizations about an entire category of people -Attitudes 1. He was prejudiced to give her the job solely on her looks. Great you think she got the job! but what about her qualifications? 2. The guy suffered from racial prejudice and so didn't let the man into his house to fix the boiler. The guy lost out just cause he didn't like the colour of his skin and is now sat in a cold house. 3. The jury were prejudiced towards the defendant because they already knew he was guilty of other crimes, but were not pertaining to the case in hand. The mans past had nothing to do with what he was standingon trial for, but the jurors had already predetermined what type of man he was.

Racism Cycle

Stage 1: Prejudice and Discrimination l l Stage 2: Social Disadvantage l l Stage 3: Belief in minority's distinctive/native weakness

Racial Steering

The practice in which real estate brokers guide home buyers torwards or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race.

Blockbusting

The practice of persuading white homeowners to sell quickly and usually at a loss by appealing to the fear that minority groups and especially black people will move into the neighborhood, causing property values to decline.

How did the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) change down payment requirements and loans terms for home mortgages? What effect did this have on home buying in America?

They provided loans to average Americans so they could purchase a home. Not many people could buy homes at a relatively low rate. The average person could own a home.

Discrimination

Unequal treatment of various categories of people -Actions 1. Not hiring (insert race). 2. Not giving young people a chance. 3. Not giving old people the time of day. 4. A woman and a man at the same company and same post (women make less than men) 5. Segregation of whites an blacks in schools.

Which group is most likely to be segregated?

Whites

Individual Racism

overt (open to view or knowledge; not concealed or secret) acts of racism done by individual people

White Flight

the departure of whites from places (as urban neighborhoods or schools) increasingly or predominantly populated by minorities.