Defining Race and Ethnicity

CheckPoint: Defining Race and Ethnicity

• Due Date: Day 2 [post to the Individual forum]

• Post a 200- to 300-word summary that answers both of the following questions:

o What do the terms race and ethnicity mean to you?

o Why are these concepts important to United States society?

            To me, race is defined by your physical characteristics such as hair color, skin color or other physical features that may be different from other races.  Ethnicity is defined as your background, or culture.  This is most definable by the country your ancestors came from.  The United States society has put great importance on race and ethnicity.  The United States society has tried to make race and ethnicity both important and not important at the same time.  It is said that everyone is equal and it should not matter where you were from or what you look like when things like jobs or homes or loans.  But you still have those little boxes asking on any formal paperwork you fill out.  Also, there are so many benefits such as scholarships available for specific racial or ethnic groups.  This says race and ethnicity is important, but we are all told that it isn’t.  For me, race and ethnicity is not important except the individual itself.  But pride in ourselves and our homeland should not be used against us when we celebrate our ethnicity or be used to help serve oppression.