Race And Ethnicity

Amongst the many ways a person can be defined, race and ethnicity tend to play a major role. Society has become more aware that these two things are not the same. Race and ethnicity are two concepts often merged together in a contemporary time. However, looking at the two concepts separately proves the two to be different. When studied the two theoretical perspectives are seen through integration - in other words the main things noted about them are American ideals such as acculturation. It is extremely important to study race and ethnicity from a world perspective, to truly understand the separate ideas. The difference between the two lies between science and history. In order to begin to understand the difference between race and ethnicity, …show more content…
During periods prior, for example the Renaissance, it was a “time when Europeans were coming into increasing contact with people of darker pigmentation (Frederickson). This was a prime time of increasing specifications for race. Right from the start the Europeans took it upon themselves to judge and dehumanize the group. They initially appointed this group as servants by justifying this with the fact that they were Heathens. But fast forward to 1667, slaves were still kept, “not because they were actual heathens but because they had heathen ancestry, the justification for black servitude was thus changed from religious status to something approaching race” (Frederickson). This was then generalized to all groups of people with darker pigmentation, not those from certain countries or with specifically cultural practices - simply those with a darker complexion. This instance in the Renaissance and Rebirth period shapes future generations more than anyone at the time could have …show more content…
For example, when many Italian people moved to America, they did not feel as though they were any different from Americans. “However, the process of immigration and the experiences they faced as a group in their new homeland, including discrimination, created a new ethnic identity” (Crossman). In other words, they defaulted and moved into communities surrounded by other Italians, to share customs and cultural doings, but they were still just as American as the next one. Finally, a major difference between ethnicity and race is that there can be different ethnic groups within a race. For example, someone who is racially white is not specifically one ethnicity. They can be from any part of the world and follow any country’s customs - from being Irish and traditionally dancing to being Greek and practicing the Orthodox religion. Referring back to the prior statement: race is scientific and ethnicity is historic and sociological. Of course, ethnicity is still evident in culture, and dates back very far. But it is less of a direct issue than racism ever was in

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