Race and Ethnicity in America
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this activity, students should be able (through writing) to:
· Contemplate sociological definitions of race and ethnicity so as to understand how race and ethnicity are displayed (and lived) in everyday life.
· Demonstrate comprehension of the ample evidence that race and ethnicity are socially constructed categories and that society’s resources are distributed along racial and ethnic lines.
Specifics of the Activity:
For this activity youll be watching a television show and analyzing how it reflects the realities of race and ethnicity in contemporary society. You will be using existing sources as a research method to conduct a content analysis of one episode of a specific TV series you choose.
· Refer back to the content within this course module to be sure you understand the major concepts relative to understanding the sociology of race and ethnicity.
· Choose a television series (whether its a drama, comedy, or reality show) that takes place in current times and includes racial and/or ethnic minority characters.
· Watch an episode of your chosen series (you want look for an episode you can play more than once). Take notes while you watch the episode.
· Write a cohesive 750-1000 word essay discussing your content analysis. Your goal is to the answer question prompts below and to incorporate and explain relevant sociological concepts about race and ethnicity as you progress through your essay.
1. How many minority characters are featured in the episode? What portion of the total cast do they represent? What kind of an impact does the episode have on you as a viewer? How might it shape the perceptions of audience members with regard to race and/or ethnicity?
2. In what ways are minority characters portrayed? (Its best to just focus on one or two characters here.) Do the characters uphold certain racial or ethnic stereotypes –or do they challenge them?
3. Describe instances in which characters display their ethnicity in a situational or symbolic capacity. How does the race and/or ethnicity of characters intersect with other social statuses and or identities (such as class, gender, and/or sexuality)?
4. Use information from the current module for reference here: To what extent do you think the show reflects the real world? In what ways may the show help to maintain or perpetuate prejudice and discrimination in society –and in what ways might the show help to counteract prejudice and/or discrimination in society?
Note: This activity is borrowed from pages 230 and 231 in:
Ferris, Kerry and Jill Stein. 2020. The Real World; An Introduction to Sociology. 7th Ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc.
links to use no others:
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045219
