Ethnicity and Racism (Essay Sample)

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RACISM AND ETHNICITY
Different groups of people are classified based on their race and ethnicity. Ethnicity refers to cultural identification, whereas race refers to physical characteristics. Ethnicity, on the other hand, is a learned trait, whereas race is a genetic trait. Because most people don't fit neatly into checkboxes categories on forms, race, and ethnicity are frequently misunderstood. To distinguish people, we don't always need tests or scientific evidence; people can self-identify.
The term "race" is usually associated with biology and physical characteristics such as hair texture or skin color, and it refers to a narrow range of possibilities. Race definitions in the United States have evolved, and people with similar skin tones and hair textures can be classified as different races. People of assortment, for example, may connect with their way of life instead of their race. (Walker, Samuel, Cassia Spohn, and Miriam DeLone, 1996). When filling out race-related paperwork, you may be asked to identify yourself as belonging to one or more of the following categories:
* Native Alaskans, whether black, white, or African-American, Asian American Indians Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
Ethnicity is a broad term that refers to more than just race. People are categorized into groups based on their cultural expression and identification. Commonalities that can be used to describe someone's ethnicity include racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origins. While someone's race maybe "Black," their ethnicity may be Italian; similarly, someone's race may be "White," but their ethnicity may be Irish.
Prejudice is a negative opinion or judgment about someone based solely on their membership in a certain group. For example, people may be prejudiced against people of different ethnicity, gender, or religion. Another example is when someone has many prejudices about someone who is Christian, Muslim, or Jewish and allows those prejudices to influence how they view and treat that person. The same can be said for people who are Black, White, or Asian. ( Healey, Joseph F., et al. Race, 2018)
Individuals or social groups are treated differently, whether intentionally or unintentionally, based on certain generalized characteristics. Minorities are frequently affected by discrimination, but it can also affect majorities, as it did in South Africa during apartheid. The majority of the time, discrimination causes harm or disadvantage to the individuals or groups targeted. Racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia, cissexism (discrimination against transgender people), classism (discrimination based on social class), lookism (discrimination based on physical appearance), and ableism are just some of the terms used to describe different types of discrimination (discrimination based on disability). In social psychology, a stereotype is a fixed, overgeneralized belief about a specific group or class of people.
We infer that a person has a set of characteristics and abilities that we assume are shared by all members of that group when we stereotype them. Leather is worn by "hells angel" bikers, for example. Judges (the phrase "sober as a judge" implies that this is a stereotype with a very respectable set of characteristics), overweight people (often referred to as "jolly"), and television newsreaders are all positive stereotypes (usually seen as highly dependable, respectable and impartial). Negative stereotypes, on the other hand, appear to be far more prevalent.
Many experts believe that racist beliefs are motivated by self-interest. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Africans were kidnapped and sold into slavery. European investors made this decision after realizing that indentured servants couldn't handle the work required to grow tobacco, sugar, and cotton in the Americas. Rather than trying to find willing workers, Europeans turned to slavery. They needed a reason to justify their heinous actions, so they claimed that slavery was acceptable because slaves were not human. While some may argue that racism is the result of ignorance, racist beliefs have been supported by some of history's most brilliant minds. Around the end of the 18th century, science supplanted religion and superstition as the intellectual authority. Keeping a racist status quo is frequently justified as "law and order" or "maintaining the peace." According to Ibram X. Kendi's book Stamped from the Beginning, racist ideas have long been used in America to suppress resistance to racial inequalities. Because racists believe Black people are inherently more violent and dangerous, they are unconcerned about police brutality or mass incarceration. Racist institutions require racist ideas to keep discrimination alive; otherwise, society would revolt. "Keeping the peace" takes a back seat to justice and equality. Racist beliefs are reinforced by policies that discriminate based on race and keep people in poverty. The case of housing laws is an excellent example to use. Several laws were still in force.
Racism has far-reaching consequences, including; Headaches, sweating, trembling, and muscle tension; constant fear of being verbally or physically assaulted; and little or no trust in anyone except family. People's ability to work