Race & Ethnicity

What is the difference between race and ethnicity? Is there a difference between race classification in ancient and modern societies? Why is ethnicity important to an individual and a social group? Define and distinguish ethnic groups from each other in your own society.

            American culture has been very concerned with race and ethnicity for decades, with prejudice against certain races being prevalent and immigration now being seen as a “problem.” Despite all of us being part of the same species, we are often categorized and given or denied certain rights because of our race – an arbitrary social construct formed from the basis of common human phenotypic features, which was formed to oppress people – or our ethnicity – our cultural heritage. Racism has been an issue throughout both modern and ancient cultures, all with different justifications used to oppress other groups of people, though racial classifications differ between the modern and ancient world due to the limited exposure to certain phenotypic traits. Justifications for racism have varied throughout the last several thousands of years, ranging from the ancient theories of the Egyptians and Greeks, to Christian, Social Darwinist, and even Eugenic theories.

            Ethnicity is important to an individual and a social group because it provides a sense of place and an identity that cannot be easily taken away. An Australian immigrant may become an American citizen, but they will always continue to be an Australian. In America, there are hundreds of identifiable ethnic groups – groups who share an ethnicity – and despite many of them having assimilated into American culture, their cultural practices have equally intermingled with American views. For example, the University of Northern Iowa hosts hundreds to thousands of international students from all across the globe, including Chinese, Arabic, and Russian (there are many more than this, but these three I know for certain have large populations among the student body). The majority of these students have assimilated into American culture very well, but their practices have influenced our culture in return. UNI boasts a Center for Multicultural Education, which often celebrates the cultural holidays of different ethnicities, and promotes understanding of other cultures to benefit our own.