Question 1
Ethnicity is an inherited status based on the community in which one lives. In some cases, it can be adopted if an individual moves into another society. In America, membership of an ethnic group is defined by shared ancestry, cultural heritage, homeland, language, or dialect. People from different races and ethnicities often show large discrepancies in well-being including mortality, health, school performance, and access to family and community resources (Goodwin-Gill 150). I am an African-American. My great-grandfather was a former slave of African origin. I can trace back my roots from Nigeria because my last name is a common cultural symbol in Nigeria. I am from the Fulani community which is a nomadic pastoral group.
In our neighborhood, there are a number of families that arrived through the DP act from Europe. For instance, my friend Rashid’s family was first transferred to separate camps where they were given a degree of independence. They are among the survivors who found themselves liberated but not free. Their starting point was their unique legacy, and their rehabilitation was dependent on the formation of a new community which believes in the rule of law and respect for humanity. The current internal migration in the United States suggests that broad-based economic forces are responsible for the decrease in migration (Goodwin-Gill 151). My family is more concerned with the recent housing market construction and the recession caused by the downward trend in migration. Typically, in the United States, relocation activity involves both changes in employment and housing market activity. Migration decisions are founded in the idea of individual maximization of expected net benefit to location choice (Dussich 425).
Question 3
There is the need to respect the diversity of cultures in the United States. Many people believe that culture and America cannot be separated. “Culture shapes American identity and influences the behavior” (Banks 16). In the class, I learned that as a society, we need to think about the advantages of various cultures and how staying with other people with diverse groups can improve our understanding of their cultures. Most people tend to enjoy only a single aspect of cultural variety; food. Students should be taught how to respect other cultures, their values, and beliefs. Exploring cultural diversity requires efforts to understand and accept the similarities and differences between people.
I am aware of the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. The policy addresses the problem of refugees, and the administration of this law influences subsequent policies on refugees. This act helped individuals who were victims of persecution by the Nazi government. It dealt directly with Italy, Germany, France, and Australia (Fike, Christopher & David 130). The displaced persons were allowed to bring their family with them as long as they had values and beliefs which were in line with what the society was advocating.
The policy has affected me personally in the sense that I find it difficult to secure a job because of the competition. The main provisions of the Displaced Persons Act included approval of over 200000 visas and the right to adjust the status of the displaced persons who entered the nation prior to the year the amendment was done. Immigration is still shaping the demographic composition and the values of the United States, and it is associated with pull factors forcing people to move towards their target states for better education, family reunion, and employment opportunities.
