culturally deprived/disadvantaged

these terms imply being substandard in some vague hierarchy of cultures, whereas those so labeled are sometimes bicultural, bilingual, and rich in their own cultural traditions. Question the label; if deprivations exist, identify them and relate them to their probable causes in social or economic conditions. In the social sciences, "cultural deprivation" implies poverty; if that's what you mean, say so. Clyde W. Ford (We Can All Get Along) suggests using "culturally dispossessed." See also underprivileged.