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ͻ Categorized under Nature


   

Very few of us accurately describe the difference between ethnicity and race, simply because we tend to
lump them into the same definition. While the dictionary can represent each of these words to be highly
similar, there are differences.

Ethnicity is not just a person͛s race. We can say that a Caucasian is white, but that doesn͛t describe his
ethnicity. If we lined up a Caucasian from Ireland, Israel and Canada in a photograph, it would be
difficult to discern from which country each person originates. Yet, if we gave them appropriate items
from their culture, it becomes easier to determine their country of origin. Ethnicity is about tradition,
learned behavior and customs. It is about learning where you come from, and celebrating the traditions
and ideas that are part of that region.

At one time it was easy to tell one͛s ethnicity, but as the global conglomeration offered more choice and
change (as well as borrowing styles and ideas from other cultures), it has become impossible to identify
ethnicity based solely on distinctive features.

Ethnicity gives us room to change because we can reject our own and embrace another. You can move
from one region to another and assimilate your beliefs, actions and customs to identify with that ethnic
orientation. You cannot do the same with race.

Race is your biologically engineered features. It can include skin color, skin tone, eye and hair color, as
well as a tendency toward developing certain diseases. It is not something that can be changed or
disguised. Race does not have customs or globally learned behavior. Going back to our three Caucasians,
each could be cloned and placed in different cultures throughout the world that were primarily not
Caucasian. While their behavior would change, their physical and biological features would not.

Race can be used to describe other elements of biological and regional differences. For instance, you can
be born Jewish (which is usually referred to as a religion), but it does not mean that you have embraced
the Jewish customs or religious beliefs. In such cases, the same term can be used to describe either
ethnicity or race.

Ethnicity does not always describe color either. One can claim to be African, which indicates an entire
multi-regional, multi-cultural continent. You can enhance the definition by assigning a sub culture to the
ethnicity, such as South African, or Ethiopian. There can be a wide range of skin colors and tones
throughout Africa, ranging from the white skin and fair haired faces many associate with the Aryan race
to the dark skin, black haired faces that many associate with African regions.

Summary:

1. Ethnicity is about the learned cultural behaviors celebrated throughout regions around the world.
(. Race is an indication of the heritage with which you were born, regardless of location or learned
behavior.

3. Ethnicity can be altered or mimicked through choice and beliefs.

4. Race cannot be altered.


 
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So that we understand the race and ethnicity difference better, we will first understand what is a race
and what is ethnicity. Once the definitions are understood, we will be able to fathom the difference
between the two better.

    
Race has been defined as, "human population, that is believed to be distinct in some way from other
human beings based on real or imagined physical differences". The racial classification is rooted more in
the idea of biological classification of humans, based on the morphological features, such as skin color or
facial characteristics. More often than not, an individual is externally classified into a racial group,
instead of the individual choosing, where does he/she belong as part of his/her identity. The whole
concept of race and specific racial groupings is often controversial, because of their impact on social
identity and how the identity influences a person͛s position in the social fabric. Some examples of race
include, Chinese, the Indians, the Arabs, etc. Read on African-Americans.

  
  
The term ethnicity is derived from the Greek word Ê
, which roughly translates to ͚nation͛. More
commonly it is said to be people of the same race, who share a distinctive culture. In the modern day
usage, the word ethnicity is used to reflect the different kinds of encounters industrialized states have
with the different types of so called ͚subordinate͛ groups, such as immigrants and colonized subjects. To
explain it further, ethnicity refers not to the physical characteristics, but to the social traits, which are
shared by a certain group of human population. The distinction is made on the basis of nationality, tribe,
religion, faith, language, culture and traditions. The examples of ethnicity include the Hispanics or the
Latin American community, the Native Americans in the United States of America, etc. To understand
ethnicity better, take a look at the list of different ethnic groups in the Philippines.

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The first main difference between race and ethnicity is the fact that race is primarily unitary. A person
can only belong to one race, but can have multiple ethnic affiliations. To elaborate the point further,
ethnically a person can be called Irish or Polish, but if the difference has to be made on the basis of race,
then the person is classified as black or white. The next fundamental difference is that race is socially
imposed and is also hierarchical. At the same time, a person has no control over his or her race. It is
more about how you are perceived by others around you. But when it comes to ethnicity, a person can
have control over ethnicity up to a certain limit. We will take an example to understand the point better.
If a person is born in India to Indian parents, but is adopted by a French family in France. Ethnically he
feels French, eats French food, speaks French and is well versed with the French history and culture, but
is not aware about Indian history, language, culture, etc. However, when the person travels to the
United States, he is treated racially as Asian.

If I have to sum up the difference between race and ethnicity in one line, race is nature, whereas
ethnicity is nurture, in other words, it is birth characteristics as opposed to cultural heritage.
 ° 
   

Genealogy Ethnicity is defined in terms of
shared genealogy, whether
actual or presumed. Typically, if
people believe they descend
from a particular group, and they
want to be associated with that
group, then they are in fact
members of that group.
Significance Ethnicity connotes shared
cultural traits and a shared group
history. Some ethnic groups also
share linguistic or religious traits,
while others share a common
group history but not a common
language or religion.
Definition An ethnic group or ethnicity 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...)
Legal System In last decades of the ( th
century in the U.S. and in most
nations, the legal system as well
as the official ideology
prohibited ethnic-based
discrimination
Conflicts Often brutal conflicts between
ethnic groups have existed
throughout history and across
the world. But most ethnic
groups in fact get along
peacefully within one another in
most nations most of the time.
Distinguishing Factors Ethnic groups distinguish
themselves differently from one
time period to another. They
typically seek to define
Racial categories presume a
shared genealogy, although this
often is not the case. Most races
actually share multiple
genealogies with significant
cross-over.
Race presumes shared biological
or genetic traits, whether actual
or asserted. Scientific measures
of race are exceedingly
problematic to verify. Most racial
categories are defined by
governments - not by scientists.
The term race refers to the
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.
In last decades of the ( th
century, the legal system as well
as the official ideology
emphasized racial equality
Racial prejudice remains a
continuing problem throughout
the world. However, there are
fewer race-based conflicts in the
(1st century than in the past.
Races are assumed to be
distinguished by skin color, facial
type, etc. However, the scientific
basis of racial distinctions is very
 themselves but also are defined weak. Most scientific studies
by the stereotypes of dominant show many changes in racial
groups. identity over time, and cross-
over traits among races.

  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.

  , 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.

The U.S. population's distribution by race and ethnicity in ( 9 was as follows: The total population was
3
million in ( 9.

    

White alone
4.8 ((9.8 million
(of which 3 .4 million are White Hispanic and Latino Americans.
Excluding these, this category comprises 65.  or 199.3 million)
Black or African American alone 1(.4 38.1 million
Asian alone 4.5 13.8 million
American Indian or Alaska Native alone .8 (.5 million
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone .15 .454 million
Some other race alone 4.9 14.9 million
Two or more races (.4
.5 million