The racial identity of South Asians has long been a subject of some

Question

The racial identity of South Asians has long been a subject of some controversy in the United States. In the early years of the twentieth century, when whiteness, or African ancestry, was a prerequisite for naturalization, American courts vacillated on the question of whether Asian Indians were white or not. In contrast to Mexicans and Armenians, who were deemed white for the purposes of citizenship acquisition, and Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino applicants who were not, the verdict on the racial classification of Indians changed from case to case. American uncertainty over South Asian racial identity has also been mirrored in the Census Bureau's frequent changes in its classification of this group. Over the course of the last century, respondents of South Asian origin have been classified variously as ` Hindu', ` White', ` Other', and 'Asian'

South Asian newcomers are not alone, however, in confronting an American racial landscape that at first seems to have no clear place for them. Not only does the diversity of the United States' contemporary immigrant pool ensure a steady influx of people who do not fit easily into the traditional black/white dichotomy, but in the past as well, immigrants tested, stretched and molded the nation's conceptions of racial categories. As Ignatiev has shown, Irish immigrants were not considered white until well after their arrival in the United States, and this was true of other European groups as well. Similarly, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino Americans were not always considered to constitute a pan-ethnic Asian race.

But unlike the Irish who have already become white, or the Chinese and Japanese who are now Asian, the racial classification of South Asians in the United States is still in flux. Although they now seem firmly ensconced in the census ` Asian' category, this is a recent development and one that came about only after considerable debate. Moreover, several writers have described an uneasy alliance between South Asians and East Asians under the pan-ethnic `Asian' rubric. Finally, other Americans seem unsure as to the racial status of these immigrants. F. James Davis finds evidence that some blacks consider Indians to be black as well, and Rosemary Marangoly George reports a widespread concern among Indian Americans in California over being taken for Mexican or black. More broadly, Nazli Kibria maintains that South Asians are seen as "ambiguous non-whites" in the United States.

Defined as 'the socio-historical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed', racial formation is both a macro-level process and the culmination of myriad individual encounters. Given their inchoate racial status, South Asian Americans may offer unusual insight into this process of racial formation.    1 
 1. The main topic of the passage is

(A) the socio-historical process by which racial categories are created
(B) the racial status of ambiguous non-whites in the United States
(C) census bureau classifications in the United States
(D) the process of racial formation as exemplified by the case of the South Asians in the United States
(E) the racial identity of South Asians in the United States

2 
 2. The author mentions the Irish most likely in order to

(A) prove how flexible racial categories can be over time
(B) suggest that they may not really be white
(C) counter the claim that all non-Africans are white
(D) suggest that South Asians follow their example
(E) differentiate between them and immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines

3 
 3. The information in the passage suggests that in the early twentieth century, it would have been difficult for a person from which of the following ethnic groups to obtain citizenship?

(A) A Briton
(B) A Filipino
(C) A Mexican
(D) An Armenian
(E) An American of African descent

4 
 4. According to the author, which of the following is true of racial formation?

(A) It is an irreversible process. 
(B) It is a social-historical process.
(C) It offers unusual insight into South Asians.
(D) It offers unusual insight into the human race.
(E) Itis a racist practice.

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 22 Date: 13-Jan-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Source: Reading Comprehension Practice (Docs)

Akhileshsinghlit · Answer

Que: 3

Para 1 says: "In contrast to Mexicans and Armenians, who were deemed white for the purposes of citizenship acquisition, and Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino applicants who were not"

How we can confirm that it was difficult for only Filipino applicants to obtain citizenship. The passage says all three - Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino.

100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing:  
  Para 1:   The racial identity of South Asians, controversy in the United States
  Para 2:   like south Asian identify controversy, Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino, that at first seems to have no clear place for them, confronting at American racial landscape
  Para 3:   recent development South Asians are classified under Asian' category, views of F. James Davis, Rosemary Marangoly George, and Nazli Kibria
  Para 4:   the socio-historical process, a racial formation is a macro-level process and the culmination of myriad individual encounters. South Asian Americans may offer unusual insight into this process of racial formation.

1. The main topic of the passage is 
  Explanation:    as mentioned in passage, 
highlights more about the south Asians in the US, about racial identification.
“The racial identity of South Asians has long been a subject of some controversy in the United States”
“ South Asian confronting an American racial landscape that at first seems to have no clear place for them ”
“ The racial classification of South Asians in the United States is still in flux .”
“ South Asian Americans may offer unusual insight into this process of racial formation ”

(A) the socio-historical process by which racial categories are created 
  Wrong:   Irrelevant, as it is only mentioned in the passage, but more details are not mentioned or elaborated to come to conclusion 
(B) the racial status of ambiguous non-whites in the United States 
  Wrong:   Out of scope
(C) census bureau classifications in the United States 
  Wrong:   Out of Scope
(D) the process of racial formation as exemplified by 
the case of the South Asians in the United States 
  Wrong:   Trap! Racial formation is yet to be formed, currently categories under “Asian” 
  (E) the racial identity of South Asians in the United States 
Correct – as per supporting sentence mention above from the passage.

2. The author mentions the  Irish  most likely in order to  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage,
“Not only does the diversity of the United States' contemporary immigrant pool 
ensure a steady influx of people who do not fit easily into the traditional black/white dichotomy,
but in the past as well, 
 immigrants tested, stretched and molded the nation's conceptions of racial categories . 
As Ignatiev has shown, Irish immigrants were not considered white 
until well after their arrival in the United States, 
and this was true of other European groups as well.”

(A) prove how flexible racial categories can be over time - Correct  
(B) suggest that they may not really be white   Wrong:   – Irrelevant 
(C) counter the claim that all non-Africans are white   Wrong:   – Out of scope, no such data mentioned in it.
(D) suggest that South Asians follow their example   Wrong:   – No such mentioned in the passage
(E) differentiate between them and immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines
  Wrong:   No Such details in the passage

3. The information in the passage suggests that in the early twentieth century, 
it would have been difficult for a person from which of the following ethnic groups to obtain citizenship?  
  Explanation:   bases on sentence mentioned in the passage,
”  Japanese ,  Chinese , and  Filipino  applicants who were not, 
the verdict on the racial classification of Indians changed from case to case. 
American uncertainty over South Asian racial identity has also been mirrored in 
the Census Bureau's frequent changes in its classification of this group”
So, it’s either  a Filipino  or  a Japanese  or  a Chinese  – Option B, or Option C
 
(A)  A Briton – Not mentioned in the passage  
(B) A Filipino – Correct - Might be trap!
(C) A Japanese – Correct - Might be trap!
 (D) An Armenian - were considered white for the purposes of citizenship acquisition,
(E) An American of African descent – Not mentioned in the passage

Between B and C - any one option is correct 
But Option B - might be, as Filipino can be dispute, as a part to which side of South asia or East asia, as
 "American uncertainty over South Asian racial identity has also been mirrored in the Census Bureau's 
frequent changes in its classification of this group ", where else Japan is clear with "East Asian"

4. According to the author, which of the following is true of racial formation?  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage, 
“The   socio-historical process   by which racial categories are 
created, 
inhabited, 
transformed, 
and destroyed', 
racial formation is both a macro-level process and the culmination of myriad individual encounters.”
(A) It is an irreversible process  – cannot be inferred from the passage 
  (B) It is a social-historical process – correct, as per information mentioned in the passage  
(C) It offers unusual insight into South Asians  – cannot be inferred from the passage 
(D) It offers unusual insight into the human race.  – Out of scope  
(E) Itis a racist practice  – irrelevant

Sajjad1994 · Answer

I agree with  Akhileshsinghlit  and  100mitra

Both  (B)  and  (C)  could be the answer to question number 3, I have replaced the answer  choice (C)  to remove the flaw. Now it looks good.

Cheers

shubhhu123 · Answer

we 
we have to answer only according to options. You are absolutely correct that it was difficult for all three, but in options only fillipino is given. Hence best choice.

Prob2303 · Answer

Hi Sajjad,

Can I get the OE for Q2?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The author mentions the Irish most likely in order to

Explanation

Racial categories are considered by most to be fixed. The author gives the example of the Irish to prove that they can be flexible.

Answer: A

Prob2303 · Answer

Hi Sajjad,

It's a very short explanation, just like the informed and patient consent passage.

The racial identity of South Asians has long been a subject of some

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The racial identity of South Asians has long been a subject of some

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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