SOCI 461 Lecture Notes - Canadians Of German Ethnicity, Complete Control, Indian Act

• School: McGill University
• Department: Sociology (Arts)
• Course: SOCI 461
• Professor: Richard Koestner

Document Summary

Canadians are freer to choose their ethnic identity. People w/ the most freedom to choose are white european canadians. Irish used to be associated w/ negative implications but have achieved upward mobility and blended w/ the majority. Thus they no longer find their identity imposed on them. Defines symbolic ethnicity as a nostalgic allegiance to the culture of the immigrant generation or that of the old country; a love for pride in a tradition that can be felt w/o having to be incorporated in everyday behaviour . Most african canadians lack the freedom to enjoy symbolic ethnicity. Their identity as a people of african descent is not an option b/c a considerable number of non-blacks are racists and impose the identity on them. He states that it doesn"t matter to a racist whether a black person is a professor, genius, or fool. Racism is the belief that a visible characteristic of a group indicates group inferiority and justifies discrimination.