Though we have come a long way with advancing civil rights in the U.S., we apparently still have far to go.

According to an article posted on latimes.com (April 30, 2001), a recent poll conducted by the organization Committee of 100 found that one quarter of Americans hold "very negative attitudes" toward Chinese Americans. One third of Americans also question Chinese Americans' loyalty to the U.S.

When the same questions were asked about Asian Americans in general, the Web site reports the results were the same.

The poll was conducted before the emergency landing of an American spy plane in China, an event that polarized feelings about relations with China.

But Chinese Americans-and Asian Americans in general-are citizens of the U.S. and not foreign nationals. The poll suggests that a large number of Americans think otherwise.

Remember that when working with people, don't make assumptions about their citizenry or background. According to U.S. census figures, a third of Americans aged 17 to 27 are Native Americans or of African, Latino, or Asian descent. And as America continues into the 21st century, it's expected to become more diverse.

To learn to work with people from backgrounds different than your own, review the information in Module Three.