A Ethnic Geography 1 Study of spatial distributions

A. Ethnic Geography 1. Study of spatial distributions & interactions of ethnic groups - practice unique adaptive strategies - normally occupy defined areas 2. ethnic groups: populations bound by a common place of origin & culture, religion, language

- Is there such a thing as being “black”? - “White”? What is “whiteness”? - “Latino”? - Do the ideas of ethnicity and race create a divide between “us” and “them”?

One man is white & admits to having served 18 months in prison for possession of cocaine with intent to sell. The other is black & hasn't any criminal record. Which man is more likely to get called back? In a carefully crafted experiment in which college students posing as job applicants visited 350 employers, the white ex-con was called back 17% of the time and the crime-free black applicant 14%.

B. Problems encountered when defining “ethnic” 1. ethnic derives from Greek word ethnos meaning “people” or “nation” 2. “Ethnic”: a minority group in a host culture 3. strong feeling of group identity

Problems (Pt. 2) – membership is involuntary – born into the group – individuals may choose to discard their ethnicity – politics

Problems (Pt. 3) Main problem is different groups base their identities on different traits : Jews—primarily means religion The Amish—both folk culture & religion African-Americans—skin color Swiss-Americans—national origin German-Americans—ancestral language Cuban-Americans—anti-Castro, and anti-communist

C. Role of ethnic groups 1. “Keepers” of cultural traditions 2. provides group identity: friendships, marriage, religion 3. provides recreational outlets, business opportunities, & political power 4. Can give rise to suspicion, friction, distrust…. even violence

D. How ethnic groups change Acculturation: an ethnic group adopts the host society’s ways Assimilation: a complete blending with the host culture – involves loss of distinctive ethnic traits Ex: “Americans” are descendants of Germans, Scots, Irish, French, Swedes, Welsh, Native Americans – Intermarriage: most effective assimilatory device

How ethnic groups change (Pt. 2) 1. few ethnic groups have total “melting-pot” assimilation -- instead: Amalgamation Theory 2. last 25 years: resurgence of ethnic identity

Ethnic Islands Westby, Wisconsin

A. How do “ethnic islands” begin? charter group: the dominant ethnic group that sets the cultural norms and standards of an area ethnic islands: clustering of one particular ethnic group in a geographic area

Ethnic Neighborhood: Sao Paulo, Brazil

Indigenous Ethnic Islands in Latin America

B. Migration & Ethnicity I. Chain migration (communication with residents from the place of emigration): – – the decision to migrate spreads by both hierarchical & contagious diffusion actual migration = relocation diffusion chain migration continues Chain migration causes the movement of people to become channelized Ex: different parts of the Southwest draw upon different source regions in Mexico

Ex. Of Channelized Migration

II. Cluster Migration: ethnic groups immigrating from one place & forming a homogenous community in the host culture Exs: - Mormons in Utah - Dutch in Pennsylvania - French in Quebec

Ethnic Business: East Los Angeles

Ethnic Landscape: New Zealand It is a non-Maori house type with Maori design

C. Ethnic Islands & Cultural Conflict: Current ethnic conflicts: 1. Armenia (Christian-Muslim 2. the former Yugoslavia (Serbian Christians 3. 4. 5. 6. Bosnian Muslims) Sudan (Darfur) Nigeria (Muslim north-mixed religion south) Ireland (Protestant pro-British vs. Catholic Irish) Kashmir (India vs. Pakistan)

Religions in the Former Yugoslavia – mostly Catholic in north, Orthodox Christian in south, w/ Muslims mixed throughout “Ethnic cleansing” occurred in 1992 in Kosovo – ethnic Albanians (Muslim) were severely oppressed by Serbian nationalists

Armenian exclave (Christian) in Azerbaijan (Nagorno-Karabakh) Azerbaijani exclave (Muslim) in Armenia (Nakhichevan)

North African Transition Zone: - predominately Muslim north (with Sharia laws) while the south is mostly Christian/traditional African religions

Nigeria

Religious separation in N. Ireland & India

Afghanistan