...Defining Race and Ethnicity Robert Cogg * Race is a very real topic in American society. Although race is a subject that is not easily and very scarcely talked about, the conversation is much needed and should be addressed at a much more frequency. Race and ethnicity come up in some way, shape, fashion or form in our everyday lives whether we like it or not. I will define what both race and ethnicity mean to me and how these terms are important in our society. Defining Race and Ethnicity Being that I am an African American male, race and ethnicity are very relevant in my everyday life. I have been discriminated against, and hired, both because of my race. I have been denied and accepted on the basis of my race. Ethnicity is defined as an ethnic group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage that is real or assumed- sharing cultural characteristics. Race is defined as the categorization of humans into populations or ancestral groups on the basis of various sets of heritable characteristics. This being understood, systematically and historically my race is that of a discriminated one. History has shown that African Americans suffered slavery, and still suffer the effects of slavery to this day. This is what makes race and ethnicity relevant to me. In my everyday life I may have to list my race at any moment. If I fill out a job application I am asked my race and ethnicity. If race doesn’t matter, then why am I asked? If there...
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...I think that race and ethnicity in everyday life in the United States is important, but less so than it used to be. Now that people are being more desensitized to ethnicity at younger ages and everyone is more accepting of people that it is becoming lesser of an issue. Since people are more open about other races and religions that there is not much of a social barrier anymore. Yes, race and ethnicity are important because they help define individuals. When those individuals are in groups of people who could care less about what color they are, because they accept people by character, then I do not think that the topic is relevant. I know that not everyone like every race and ethnicity because of some personal vendetta against them, those people are the ones who are still making it an issue. Race still matters for those who think that some people are more superior to others, or they hold negative stereotypes towards other races. I still think that race and ethnicity are important under certain circumstances. A good example would be in schooling. It is not important in the way that children will segregate those who are different from them, but in the way that it would be a great learning tool for them to experience diversity. The kids would get personal experience with different ethnicities and that would help them break down any sort of social barrier they have in their mind about other races. I know little kids can be weird when it comes to topics like people with different...
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...RACE AND ETHNICITY These words have such a strong meaning for me. They define me and have shaped my entire life. These two words will forever be a part of my life, my family, my career and my dreams. My race can be told before you ever hear me speak. I can never be mistaken as something else. There will always be preconceived ideas about me just because of my race. As you probably have already guessed I am black. In our country the politically correct term is African American but to me, I am a Black American. This view has cause a lot of discussion within my own race as you can imagine. My ethnicity is closely tied to my race. The culture in my community is very different from a lot of others I have met and so similar to some. I laugh because of a lot of the assumptions that neither I nor my children fit. In this country, to me, your race and ethnicity shapes everything about you as a person. Because of your ethnicity, you wind up having certain beliefs regarding religion, politics, how you raise your children and type of career you choose. Depending on the type of upbringing you have will determine what your views are. The thing is that your race and ethnicity determines what type of upbringing you will receive which in turns controls everything else. The only thing with any of this is that you should always strive to look beyond those two things and try to see life from another view and have patience and tolerance for beliefs and people that are not...
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...Race or Ethnicity Jessica Hamilton Eng. 125 Prof. Abonado November 27, 2013 The two literary works that I have chosen from this course to discuss are “Country Lovers” and the other is “What it’s like to be a Black Girl”. The themes these two share are race and ethnicity. Between these two, Country Lovers is the short story and the poem is What It’s like to be a Black Girl, and tells us the background of race and also describes the dilemma of ethnicity. In the short story and in the poem race or ethnicity was distinguished and represented by the black female. The main characters in both of the literary works mentioned are the black females. Both black females in the short story and poem are seen differently in society because of their racial backgrounds and their skin color, but their character play an important role in each. The main character both the short story and the poem was about the black female. There are still racial and ethical problems witnessed and experienced in today’s society in places such as the general public, the work place, and even schools. This was not a subject that was discussed enough because it was very sensitive and the outcomes of the discussions were normally filled with anger or depression. Country Lovers and What It’s Like TO be A Black Girl use the same theme like ethnicity or race. Nadine Goriner wrote the short story, Country Lovers, in 1975. It took place in South Africa. Country Lovers is about the love between a young white boy named Paulus...
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...Social Issues Race and Ethnicity Defining Race and Ethnicity Robert Cogg * Race is a very real topic in American society. Although race is a subject that is not easily and very scarcely talked about, the conversation is much needed and should be addressed at a much more frequency. Race and ethnicity come up in some way, shape, fashion or form in our everyday lives whether we like it or not. I will define what both race and ethnicity mean to me and how these terms are important in our society. Defining Race and Ethnicity Being that I am an African American male, race and ethnicity are very relevant in my everyday life. I have been discriminated against, and hired, both because of my race. I have been denied and accepted on the basis of my race. Ethnicity is defined as an ethnic group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage that is real or assumed- sharing cultural characteristics. Race is defined as the categorization of humans into populations or ancestral groups on the basis of various sets of heritable characteristics. This being understood, systematically and historically my race is that of a discriminated one. History has shown that African Americans suffered slavery, and still suffer the effects of slavery to this day. This is what makes race and ethnicity relevant to me. In my everyday life I may have to list my race at any moment. If I fill out a job application I am asked my race and ethnicity. If race doesn’t matter...
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...Race and Ethnicity ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Instructor: 08/11/14 In today’s society racism is still a problem just like it was in the past. It is not publicized as before but it is still alive and well in society. With America being a melting pot of race and ethnicity one would think this issue should not exist. I chose the two poems What it’s like to be a black girl by Patricia Smith and Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales. These two poems are written from a women’s perspective about how racial discrimination is perceived in America. Racism is no longer just a black and white my paper will show how these two pieces showed how cultures are subjected to discrimination. The title of these two poems catch my attention one being I am a black girl and two I am a child of America. I too have faced some challenges that are discussed in these poems. In a country that was founded and built on immigrants society makes a big deal about a person’s race and culture. Why does race matter? Does it make you a better person? Does it make you prettier? Sadly our society has placed into the heads of young women that pretty means lighter skin. That being pretty gives you an easier life. The authors of these two poems are African American and Puerto Rican and they have both faced forms of racial discrimination. In America girls were raised that Caucasian was the accepted race. “It’s dropping food coloring in your eyes to make them blue and...
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...Defining Race and Ethnicity Chad Moon Ethics / 125 Dr. Collins 8-22-2011 Race and Ethnicity in my terms are very similar in the way that people respond to each of them, but are actually quite different. Race is groups of minorities or majorities that are classified based solely on what physical differences are present. Some examples of race are; Hispanic or Latino, Caucasian, African American, or Asian. Each group is set apart from the rest by physical characteristics such as skin color, eye shape, or other not so noticeable cues. Different societies describe race using different characteristics than other countries, in America the black population is often characterized solely on their darker skin color or height. When comparing my definition of race to the definition of ethnicity there is clearly a big difference between the two. Ethnicity is not how we describe people, rather how we describe the culture from which they get their heritage. We generally describe the culture from the country in which the individual has moved from. A prime example of ethnicity in the United States is the Oriental ethnic group, which is very common in almost all cities throughout America. In larger cities, because of the way America works, you can see different segregations of the cultures such as china town or one that is becoming more and more popular is the temples and places of worship of Islamic ethnicity. The concepts of race and ethnicity are important in the United...
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...Richard Gooden Intro to Soc Professor Jackson Race and Ethnicity Arts America has been described as a nation founded for the people by the people. Critics argue that it was founded by and for white male Europeans. So which one is it? By viewing this exhibition, it shall become quite clear that this country was not founded by and for all the people. Indeed, African Americans did not found this nation nor was it founded for their benefit. Their white counterparts founded it on their backs. And unfortunately, they are still looked down upon today. By whites castigating them as black or even by stereotyping themselves, it does still matter today if you are black or white. The following exhibition will show American art's progressive portrayal of blacks as an inferior race. In 1710, Justus Engelhardt Kuhn painted Henry Darnall III as a Child. In this painting a young white boy along with his black child slave stands on a balcony overlooking his estate's elaborate gardens. The slave stands behind his master, holding a dead bird that the master has just killed after a hunt. The slave is not placed directly on the balcony with his master but behind the ledge so that he can not come too close to the white boy. This indicated a clear distinction between the two races. And to further subjugate the slave, he is given a facial expression tantamount to adoration of his master. He is not a person but rather like a puppy. One can treat a puppy however they want since animals have no...
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...In the English language when looking at the word race, in Anthropology, according to Dictionary.com, LLC (2001), defined as a noun, “an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, especially formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups” (race2 , para. 3 b). For my own definition of the word race it has little meaning. I was raised with no bias, hate or animosity for people of different color or nationality. For each person I come into contact with during my daily travels, I approach them as a friend and make adjustment to my perception of them on their interaction with me. I personally feel that judgment of others based on the color of their skin, their assumed nationality, hair type, facial features or dialect is, JUST NOT THE RIGHT WAY. This touches on another issue the people of the world have, racism. The term ethnicity, according to Dictionary.com, LLC (2001), defined as a noun, “ethnic traits, background, allegiance, or association” (ethnicity, para. 1). My own meaning of the word ethnicity is based on the area of origin for a particular person or people. The differences in people are a narrow view when based on their ethnicity. The importance of the concept of race and ethnicity to the society of the United States is mainly based on the census and personal views of the population. The two concepts are usually brought...
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...Defining Race and Ethnicity (Name) ETH/125 March 29, 2011 (Instructor’s Name) Defining Race and Ethnicity Race is a type of subordinate group made up of a population with physical characteristics that differentiate them noticeably from other racial groups. This is not the only distinction. The biological diversities are given emphasis to by social significance, for a race is a social establishment and not a physical actuality. The fact that biological characteristics categorizing a specific race are frequently discovered in others, as well, only emphasize that there are no obvious difference between races from the point of biological meaning. Cultural differences characterize an ethnic group. Occasionally, what sets a group apart is physical characteristics and national origin and makes them particularly dissimilar from each other. Schaefer (2006) stated “Despite these difficulties, belief in the inheritance of behavior patterns and in an association between physical and cultural traits is widespread. It is called racism when this belief is coupled with the feeling that certain groups or races are inherently superior to others” (pp. 12-13). The United States is such a multiracial and multiethnic country, people with clear social uniqueness are not acknowledged. These concepts are important to United States society because it can be of help evenly to balance the rights selected dominant groups have, that are refused to subordinate groups, therefore eliminate...
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...E“Inequalities on Race and Ethnicity” A. Minority, Racial and Ethnic Groups * Minority Group - refers to a category that is differentiated and defined by the social majority, that is, those who hold the majority of positions of social power in a society. - Members of minority groups are prone to different treatment in the countries and societies in which they live. * Racial Group - refers to dividing the human species according to physical characteristics that are inherited. - based on visual traits such as skin colour, facial features, hair texture, etc. * Ethnic Groups -a socially-defined category of people who identify with each other based on common ancestral, social, cultural, or national experience. - Larger ethnic groups may be subdivided into smaller sub-groups known variously as tribes or clans. B. Prejudice and Discrimination * Prejudice - Prejudice has to do with the inflexible and irrational attitudes and opinions held by members of one group about another. * Discrimination - Discrimination refers to behaviours directed against another group. C. Race and Ethnicity * Race - refers to groups of people who have differences and similarities in biological traits deemed by society to be socially significant. - Racism, then, is prejudice based on socially significant physical features. A racist believes that certain people are superior, or inferior, to others in light of racial differences. * Ethnicity - refers to shared...
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...The article, Race and Ethnicity in the Media, written by The Critical Media Project: USC Annenberg, addresses the role media plays in influencing our views and thoughts concerning race, the difference between privilege and the other, and the progress society made dealing with racial discrimination. The article begins with the media’s role in describing race and ethnicity, and using that definition to shape people’s understanding of their roles in their identity, history, and daily lives. Many individuals have a misapprehension of what race and ethnicity mean. Race is a classification system of individuals and/or groups based on physical appearance whereas ethnicity depicts the “place of origin or nationality, one’s cultural background or ancestry, one’s language and by extension, one’s belief system” (USC Annenberg). The roles of race and ethnicity are seen every day in everyone’s lives....
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...Race and ethnicity are issues that are plaguing the world today societies have became very proud of where they originate . To an extent we separate ourselves from others depending what side of the border you're from or what heritage you embrace. Which creates feud inside Latino countries like Mexico and El Salvador many connected to those homeland do not associate with each other due to pride. On the other hand calling yourself Hispanic,Latino, or Mexican-American gives you a sense of belonging in a group of people who you call your family. In the article, Are Chicana/os the Same as Mexicans “This term is often used to refer collectively to all Spanish-speakers. However, it specifically connotes a lineage or cultural heritage related to Spain. As many millions of people who speak Spanish are not of Spanish descent, and millions more live in Latin America yet do not speak Spanish or claim Spanish heritage this term is incorrect as a collective name for all Spanish-speakers, and may actually be cause for offense(Coronado 1). Sometimes I and others classify ourselves In the wrong group, calling myself Hispanic even though I Guatemalan- American. Before we start calling each other Chicano or The Raza it would be smart to check out the definition of those terms....
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...On this week, we discussed the topic of race and ethnicity. In the United States, the multi-cultural society forms many different variations in defining the race and ethnicity. Based on the video, ethnicity, as defined by the Professor Lee, is about the national origin, the certain boundary of the individual cultures. Ethnicity can be expressed in an alternate way to become a symbolic ethnicity when cultural values and customs are displayed in public. Examples in this chapter are T-shirt with Italy logo and artistic or religious necklaces that symbolize one's cultural values toward their religion believes. People are welcome to celebrate their ethnicity nationwide such as their special holidays and festivals. On the other hand, race, according...
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...I follow American traditions, beliefs, and customs. 2. How has your sense of race/ethnicity or culture changed over time? I have learned so much about other cultures in some of my classes at M.T.S.U. Also, while working for my company, I have befriended co-workers of different cultures and they have taught me so much about their customs and beliefs. I went from a young child who did not understand cultural differences to an adult who embraces cultural differences. 8. How would you describe the extent of your contact with people who are racially/ethnically different from you? I have weekly contact with people who are racially/ethnically different than myself. The company I work for hires people of different races and cultural backgrounds. I have befriended some of these people and have learned so much about their culture. My classes are online, but sometimes I visit the M.T.S.U campus to use the library or take proctored exams. During these times, I am in contact with students from different cultural backgrounds. 1. How has this changed over time? It has changed drastically during my lifetime, from no interaction when I was younger...
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