Understanding Discrimination

Asian Americans and Latino Americans face many of the same types of discrimination. They face discrimination based on ethnic identity and language. They face housing discrimination, workplace discrimination, and criminal justice discrimination. Like Latino Americans, Asian Americans are thought to be members of fierce gangs. According to the website Understanding Discrimination Against Asian Americans, "There is simply too little information available, but the fear in many Asian American communities is that police automatically suspect anyone guilty of "Driving While Oriental" to be a gang member" (Understanding). Asian Americans and Latino Americans have both been in this country for a long time, and while Asians have assimilated more, some believe Latino Americans have not. Therefore, Asian Americans also face discrimination like the model minority myth, while Latino Americans face discrimination because people think they are all illegal.

Their communication needs have to do with being able to ask for services and not letting the model minority myth or language barriers get in the way. A major cultural sensitivity is language, and businesses that provide services must make a concerted effort not to let language get in the way. Interventions would involve teaching others basic Spanish phrases or the phrases of various Asian groups so that they could provide services.

Biracial people face many of the same challenges as other minorities in this country. However, this group may also receive discrimination from other minority groups. Self-identity is a large problem for biracial people because they cannot truly identity with any race. Effective interventions for them in the workplace are much the same as other groups. They should follow the workplace harassment policies set in place, and extra efforts should be made to educate them about these policies as well as questions during hiring procedures, such as that "generally, your employer cannot ask questions about your race during an interview" (Youth at Work). This is according to a web site called Youth at Work.

They are similar to all other groups in that they face discrimination based on color. However, they are different because many times they also face discrimination from minorities as well. They cannot truly identify with and belong to one race; therefore self-identity is especially important in biracial people. Current researchers say that biracial children must be given many opportunities to connect with people who look like them and have role models, etc. This is essential to their development.

Works Cited

Understanding Discrimination Against Asian Americans, Retrieved December 7, 2005 at Web Site:http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/soc/355lect10.htm

Youth at Work . Retrieved December 7, 2005 at Web Site: http://youth.eeoc.gov/race2.html