The Amish do not condemn modern living.To the Amish family and faith matter the most and they hold these standards against any modern goods.
For an example- they do not use TVs, not because Tvs are bad, but because they have the potential to have a negative influence.The Bible condemns laziness and the TV is also seen as something that fosters the bad habit of laziness and as something that could interfer with family life.
The Amish do use some modern goods that do comply with their faith- the New Orders use tractors and modern milking machines, pregnant women, invalids and business men can use mobile phones.The Old Orders can use drills and lawnmowers and the Beachy Amish-Mennonites use electricity, cars and computers.Some even listen to hymns on CDs and use the Internet to have blogs.Each church differs slightly- one church will permit lawn mowers but no buttons on clothes for vanity's sake, but the next church may not permit lawn mowers, but will permit buttons and electricity in the barn.The Amish use gas power, solar power and hydrological power to run their fridges, water heaters, lamps, stoves and milking machines.
Another factor, is the verse:
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The Amish include the use of electricity as conforming with the world.If electricity is introduced, they fear their values and faith will disintegrate--especially when they saw Mennonite churches that got gradually more liberal with cars and electricity and then computers and DVDs and then the Internet and discarding plain dress and now have left the faith.
PS-There are blacks, Indian, coloureds and Hispanics who are Amish-Mennonite and Conservative Mennonite in faith.The Amish faith is stricter and therefore harder for outsiders to join.The Amish and Mennonites also originated from Europe, which is why so many are white.