Pre-Reading Week 1

-Ethnic studies focuses on a group’s heritage and cultural beliefs. It’s purpose is to inform others on the wide range of heritages’ and cultural traditions that the many different people of this world believe and practice. It differs from other disciplines like Sociology, where the main focus is on how people function. Anthropology is the most similar to Ethnic Studies, especially cultural Anthropology, because it focuses on the “why’s, who’s, and how’s” of culture. Why people believe and practice what they do, how it first began, and who they are. Political science deals with forms of governments within societies, which relates to Ethnic Studies, because most of them have some form of government and it allows people to see how it effects their culture and practices, and how it has effected their lifestyles over time.

-Ethnic Studies developed it’s own discipline because for people to get the best understanding of other cultures that inhabit the world they need to not broaden what they’re learning but narrow it down, so they’re focusing on certain things. It’s unique because it shows how people interact in society in relation to their ethnicity.

-I think anyone who opens up to learning about other cultures and people benefit from Ethnic Studies. Learning how people interact with others and how they’re affected by the word in different ways allows others to broaden their horizon, and maybe not be so close-minded to what they don’t know.

-Some of their reasons may stem from the idea that if students feel that their race or culture was made to feel inferior by the U.S. and the government that there would be an increase in people rebelling. When people obtain certain knowledge, like what’s really happening around the world they want to take a stand. When people take a stand the government becomes very protective and people get shut down.

-People who believe that the government is great and right, people who believe Americans are the greatest might be the ones resisting the growth of Ethnic Studies. Presumably people of white skin who believe they are inferior to other races and ethnicities, those who don’t want to accept the religions and traditions of people different from them also might be the ones resisting. The people in the world who accept others not matter their religion, sex, sexual orientation, or skin color, are likely the ones who want to increase amount of classes on Ethnic Studies. They like believe that a larger knowledge of the different and unique people living on this Earth will allow people to make more conscious decisions and be more accepting and respectful to those that surround them 

Word Count- 441