For topics related to race and ethnicity, it may be necessary to think about how a population has been described in the past in order to come up with a complete list of effective search terms. Below are some recommendations.
Note: You will see some terms that are now considered offensive or outdated. These terms may still be useful when searching for historical perspectives or when browsing by subject, since the Library of Congress Subject Headings are slow to change and do not always reflect current attitudes or usage.
Ethnicity and Race in General
- antiracism
- antisemitism
- ethnic groups
- ethnic relations
- ethnicity
- Islamophobia
- minorities
- people of color
- race
- race discrimination
- racial
- racism
African Americans
- Afro Americans
- African Diaspora
- Blacks
- Colored people (in works written before the 1980s)
- Negroes (in works written before the 1970s)
Asian Americans
- Chinese Americans (or other specific nationalities)
- Oriental or Orientals
European Americans and whiteness
- Anglo-Americans
- Caucasians
- European Americans
- White ethnicity
- Whiteness
- Whites -- Race Identity
Immigrant Populations
- immigrants, immigration
- emigration
- illegal aliens
- undocumented immigrants
- [nationality] and immigration (example: Guatemalans and immigration)
Latino Americans
- Latino/as
- Hispanics
- Hispanic Americans
- Chicano/as
- Mexican Americans (or other specific nationality)
Native Americans
- American Indians
- Indians of North America
- First Nations
- Native Americans
- Cowlitz Indians (or other specific tribes)
If you'd like learn more about research and online resources, stop by the Beaman Library Reference Desk.
Beaman Library uses Library of Congress Classification to organize books.
Topics related to Ethnicity and Race
In U.S. History: E184
In Anthropology: GN537-GN674
In Labor: HD6050-HD6305
In Sociology: HT1501-HT1595
In Social Services: HV3176-HV3199
African Americans
In History: E 184.5-E185.98
In Education: LC2699-LC2913
Asian Americans
In History: E184
In Education: LC2630-LC2638
Immigrant Populations
In U.S. History: E184
In Social Services: HV4005-HV4013
In Education: LC3701-LC3747
Latino Americans
In History: E184
In Education: LC2667-LC2698
Native Americans
In History: E75-E99