Nastural Science

1. Explain the Noel Hypothesis: (a) What sorts of things does it try to explain, (b) How does it explain them? (Text, lecture)

A) The Noel hypothesis states: if two or more groups come together in a contact situation characterized by ethnocentrism, competition, and a differential in power, then some form of racial or ethnic stratification with result. The Noel hypothesis helps explain why colonists enslaved black Africans instead of white indentured servants of Native Americans. a. All three groups were the objects of ethnocentric feelings on the part of the elite groups that dominated colonial society. b. Competition between existed between colonists and all three groups. c. Native American tribes were well organized and able to resist colonist’s attacks. White indentured servants were preferred over black indentured servants and this gave them bargaining power. Africans, however, had become indentured by force and coercion who had no bargaining power. This differential in power between Africans and colonists explains why they were enslaved instead of the other groups.

B)

2. Explain Myrdal’s vicious cycle, and make sure to indicate (a) what it tries to explain, (b) how it explains this, (c) how it fits with the Noel hypothesis. (text, lecture)

3. Explain Blauner’s distinction between colonized, immigrant, and hybrid (colonized/immigrant minorities).

• The Blauner Hypothesis identifies two different initial relationships--colonization and immigration and hypothesizes that minority groups created by colonization will experience more intense prejudice, racism, and discrimination than those created by immigration. Moreover, colonized groups will experience disadvantaged status longer than will groups created by immigration.

(a) How is this distinction helpful?

(b) Give two examples of each, and tell us how Blauner’s classification is useful starting point to begin understanding the probable assimilation challenges faced by each group.

Group Ethnic Factor Competition Power Inventory of unique aspects of this group experience

Germans -not black

-language increases

-protestants decrease Potential increase

Reduced by spread of German population Reduces power factor -farmers