Research Paper on:
Support for Social Integration

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Bennett Berger discusses the construction of culture. Appiah begins an article entitled "Synthesis: For Racial Identities" within the context of a book he co-edited on race relations, and begins  with attention to the theories of W.E.B. Dubois (74). Berger suggests that ideas concerning race are social constructions and one may surmise from these articles that the creation of four  ethnic/racial groups --African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans, and Native Americans--have been a movement that began as powerlessness and progressed to power. Each of these authors however do have  a different take on the matter of ethnic identity, power and powerlessness. Appiahs approach seems to work best in this context and best supports the development of ethnic groups  from powerless to power. Appiah begins also by saying that Jefferson and Arnold both thought that when they applied a racial label they identified people with a shared essence (76).  Appiah argues against this notion (76). He goes on to explain that when they were labeled, the people just assumed that Negroes had a lot in common intellectually, religiously,  culturally and socially than they actually did (76). In many ways, the author makes a case for suggesting that such labels are in and of themselves just erroneous. That said,  another question that crops up is whether pluralism or integration is essential for the development of ethnic groups and the individuals that make up the those groups. Along  the lines of the argument made by Appiah--though not in agreement with all of his notions-- it seems that integration is essential for the development of ethnic groups. Many would  think that pluralism would enhance cultural development; however, it serves to separate the ethnic group from the larger culture and in some ways then, integration is more conducive to maintaining