Senate So White

Critical Analysis

1. White Americans are better represented in the U.S. Senate than any other racial group. What group has the least representation?

2. What story does the chart tell about race and power in America?

3. Explain why this racial disparity in representation exists?

4. What is one political consequence of this disparity?

5. Explain whether this disparity would be the same in the House of Representatives.

6. In a democracy, all people are supposed to be equal. Does this chart show that all people in America are equal?

7. Describe a connection between the data from this chart and the Connecticut Compromise.

8. What could remedy the inequality described in the chart?

9. The author of the chart above proposes that D.C. and Puerto Rico become states. How would that impact the data from the chart?

10. Why don’t DC and Puerto Rico get Senators?

11. Describe one policy change that would likely happen if all racial groups in America were represented equally?

12. One student responded to this chart by making the claim that it doesn’t matter what race of politician represents a state or district as long as they do what is best for the country. Respond to this claim.

Learning Extension

Read David Leonhardt’s NYTimes editorial, The Senate: Affirmative Action for White People to learn a bit more about how racial disparities in politics works.

Action Extension

Read the comments on David Leonhardt’s NYTimes editorial, The Senate: Affirmative Action for White People then leave your own comment.

Visual Extension

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