Understanding Ethnicity and Race

Ethnicity Race
Genealogy: Ethnicity is defined in terms Racial categories presume a
of shared genealogy, whether shared genealogy, although
actual or presumed. this often is not the case.
Typically, if people believe Most races actually share
they descend from a multiple geneologies with
particular group, and they significant cross-over.
want to be associated with
that group, then they are in
fact members of that group.
Significance: Ethnicity connotes shared Race presumes shared
cultural traits and a shared biological or genetic traits,
group history. Some ethnic whether actual or asserted.
groups also share linguistic Scientific measures of race
or religious traits, while are exceedingly problematic
others share a common group to verify. Most racial
history but not a common categories are defined by
language or religion governments -- not by
scientists.

Definition: An ethnic group or ethnicity The term race refers to the

is a population of human
beings whose members
identify with each other, on
the basis of a real or a
presumed common
genealogy or ancestry.
Nationalism: In 19th century, there was
development of the political
ideology of ethnic
nationalism -- creating
nations based on a presumed
shared ethnic origins (e.g.
Germany, Italy, Sweden...)
concept of dividing people
into populations or groups on
the basis of various sets of
physical characteristics.
However, it is usually
governments that decide on
the racial categories in a
given country.
In 19th century,the concept of
nationalism was often used to
justify the domination of one
race over another within a
specific nation.

Legal System: In last decades of the 20th
century in the U.S. and in
most nations, the legal
system as well as the official
ideology prohibited ethnic-
based discrimination
In last decades of the 20th
century, the legal system as
well as the official ideology
emphasized racial equality

Conflicts: Often brutal conflicts Racial prejudice remains a

between ethnic groups have continuing problem
existed throughout history throughout the world.
and across the world. But However, there are fewer
 most ethnic groups in fact get race-based conflicts in the
along peacefully within one 21st century than in the past.
another in most nations most
of the time.

Distinguishing Factors: Ethnic groups distinguish Races are assumed to be

themselves differently from
one time period to another.
They typically seek to define
themselves but also are
defined by the stereotypes of
dominant groups.
distinguished by skin color,
facial type, etc. However, the
scientific basis of racial
distinctions is very weak.
Most scientific studies show
many changes in racial
identity over time, and cross-
over traits among races.

Race relates to a person's appearance - chiefly the color of their skin. It is determined
biologically, with genetic traits such as skin color, eye color, hair color, bone/jaw structure
etc.

Ethnicity, on the other hand, relates to cultural factors such as nationality, culture, ancestry,
language and beliefs.

For example, take the Caucasian race. The physical characteristics of Caucasians were
described by M. A. MacConaill, as being "light skin and eyes, narrow noses, and thin lips.
Their hair is usually straight or wavy". Caucasoids are said to have the lowest degree of
projection of the alveolar bones which contain the teeth, a notable size prominence of the
cranium and forehead region, and a projection of the midfacial region. A person whose
appearance matches these characteristics is said to be a Caucasian. However, there are many
ethnicities within the Caucasian race e.g. Irish, Welsh, German, French, Slovak etc. What
differentiates these ethnic groups from each other is their country of origin, language they
speak, cultural heritage and traditions, beliefs and rituals.

"Race relations" is one of the dominant themes in American politics from time to time, and
refers to relationships between the major race groups - white, black, Latino and Asian. Note
that use of the word "Asian" as a race includes a vast variety of ethnicities such as Chinese,
Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. America has also had a sometimes troubled history with
ethnic strife e.g. during the waves of Irish and Italian immigration to the U.S. These
immigrants were Caucasian but had a different ethnicity compared to the Anglo Saxons who
preceded them, and were forced to face ethnic discrimination.