Chapter 7: Ethnicity

The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

Ethnicity

• Ethnicity = share a cultural identity with people from the same homeland– Ethnicities have distinctive cultural traits

• Race = people who share a biological ancestor

Where Are Ethnicities Distributed?

• Distribution of ethnicities in the U.S.– Hispanics (Latinos) = 15% of U.S. population– African Americans = 13% of U.S. population– Asian Americans = 4% of U.S. population– American Indians = 1% of U.S. population

Distribution of Ethnicities in the U.S.

Figure 7-1 – 7-4

Where Are Ethnicities Distributed?

• Concentration of ethnicities in U.S. cities– 90% of African Americans & Hispanics live in

cities– Evidence of 20thc. European migration on the

landscape

Distribution of Ethnicities in Chicago and Los Angeles

Figure 7-5 Figure 7-6

Where Are Ethnicities Distributed?

• African American migration patterns– 3 major migration patterns

• Forced migration from Africa (18thc.)– Triangular slave trade

• Immigration from South to North cities (early 20thc.)• Immigration from inner cities to other urban areas

(late 20thc. to present)– The ghetto

Triangular Slave Pattern

Figure 7-8

African American Migration in the United States (Twentieth Century)

Figure 7-10

Where Are Ethnicities Distributed?

• Differentiating ethnicity and race– Often confusing– Race = genetically

shared traits– Racist

Where Are Ethnicities Distributed?

– Race = genetically shared traits

• Spatial effects of racism– “Separate but equal”– “White flight”

» Blockbusting– Apartheid in S Africa

Why Have Ethnicities Been Transformed into Nationalities?

• Rise of nationalities– Nationality =

identity between people who share a common allegiance to a country

– Nation-state

Figure 7-15

Why Have Ethnicities Been Transformed into Nationalities?

• Rise of nationalities– Nationalism = loyalty and devotion to a

nationality– Centripetal force = brings people together

Why Have Ethnicities Been Transformed into

Nationalities?• Multinational states

– Multiethnic state• State with multiple ethnic

groups

– Multinational state• State with multiple ethnic

groups who retain their own distinctive national identity

• Revival of ethnic identity

Ethnicities in Russia

Figure 7-18

• Multinational states– Former Soviet

Union– 15 Republics– 5 Groups

– Russia– 39 nationalities

Why Do Ethnicities Clash?

• Ethnic competition to dominate nationality– Ethnic competition in the Horn of Africa

Figure 7-21

• Ethiopia & Eritrea• Sudan• Somalia

Why Do Ethnicities Clash?

• Ethnic competition to dominate nationality– Ethnic competition in

Lebanon• Religious & ethnic differences

Figure 7-23

Why Do Ethnicities

Clash?

• Dividing ethnicities among more than one state– Dividing ethnicities in S Asia

• India & Pakistan• Sinhalese &Tamils in Sri Lanka

Figure 7-24

What Is Ethnic Cleansing?• Ethnic cleansing

– More powerful ethnic group forcibly removes less powerful group from their territory

• Ethnic cleansing in Europe– Largest forced migration = WWII

What Is Ethnic Cleansing?• Ethnic cleansing in

Europe– Former Yugoslavia

• Creation of multiethnic Yugoslavia

• Breakup of Yugoslavia– Ethnic cleansing in

Bosnia– Ethnic cleansing in

Kosovo– Balkanization

What Is Ethnic Cleansing?

• Ethnic cleansing in Africa– African boundaries don’t

match ethnic groups– Conflict between Hutu & Tutsi

• Rwanda• Democratic Republic of Congo

The End.