1/29 lecture Race and Ethnicity as Identity, Perception, and Classification

# Race and Ethnicity as Identity, Perception, and Classification

Professor Rucks-Ahidiana

  • Course: ASOC 282

Learning Objectives

  • Define race and ethnicity

  • Identify three ways the term race and ethnicity are used

Defining Race and Ethnicity

  • Key References:

    • Du Bois (1897)

    • Hattam (2007, optional)

    • Weber (1978, optional)

Race ≠ Ethnicity

  • The terms race and ethnicity are often used interchangeably; however, they are NOT the same.

  • They are described as “proximate terms, with a family resemblance one to the other” (Hattam 2007, p. 9).

Race and Ethnicity Distinction

  • The formal codification of the race-ethnicity distinction occurred on May 12, 1977.

    • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Statistical Policy Directive 15, mandating the inclusion of racial and ethnic categories for data collection by federal agencies.

    • Directive 15 classified Hispanics/Latinos as an ethnic group rather than a race, thus institutionalizing the race-ethnicity distinction prevalent in the U.S. classification system (Hattam 2007, p. 3).

Defining Race

  • Definitions by scholars:

    • Waters: “‘Racial’ groups are identified based on physical attributes. For instance, whites and blacks are distinctive racial groups defined by skin color, hair texture, and facial features” (Waters, p. 45).

    • Roth: “Race is a cognitive structure categorizing people hierarchically based on physical or biological traits inherent in appearance” (Roth, p. 12).

    • Weber: “‘Race identity’ comprises common traits that stem from shared descent” (Weber, p. 385).

  • Race is a system organizing people based on visible physical differences such as skin color, facial characteristics, and hair texture.

American Race Categories

  • Racial categories differ across countries.

  • In the United States, there are officially 5 racial categories:

    1. Black

    2. White

    3. Asian

    4. Native American/Pacific Islander

    5. Other

Defining Ethnicity

  • Waters: Ethnic groups are often defined through cultural attributes, inclusive of practices, languages, and ancestral origins (Waters, p. 45).

  • Weber (1978): “Ethnic groups are those who share a belief in their common descent, often based on physical type, customs, or historical experiences of colonization or migration” (Weber 1978, p. 389).

Ethnic Group Characteristics

  • Ethnicity involves shared cultural elements leading to a collective identification, which could stem from nationality or religion, among other factors.

  • Weber (1978) suggested that shared language and religious practices strengthen ethnic ties and emotional connections (Weber 1978, p. 390).

American Ethnicity Categories

  • Officially, there is one dominant category: Latino.

  • Other ethnicities exist based on national origins (e.g., Irish, German, Chinese, South African).

Difference between Race and Ethnicity

  • Race: Defined by physical similarities/differences.

  • Ethnicity: Defined by cultural similarities/differences.

  • Du Bois (1897) argued that deeper differences among groups are spiritual, psychical, and not solely physical: “The forces binding Teuton nations are their racial identity, blood, shared history, and common aspirations” (Du Bois 1897, p. 8).

Synonymous Usage in Literature

  • Despite differing definitions, race and ethnicity are often discussed synonymously.

  • For example, Latinx may be compared with racial groupings like black or white in discussions, despite the reality that individuals within the Latinx identity can belong to any race.

Race and Ethnicity as Identity

  • Suggested readings:

    • Greer (2013)

    • Roth (2012)

    • Koch (2018, optional)

    • Waters (2009, optional)

Background on Identity

  • Identities are named, defined, and stereotyped by societal views (Dominguez).

  • Awareness of identity influences how individuals relate to groups (Greer 2013; Roth 2012; Waters 2009).

  • Identification phrasing (e.g., Chinese vs. Chinese American) determines societal grouping.

  • Group identities are relational; for instance, comparing Americans to Canadians, men to women, and blacks to Latinos highlights differences through relativity.

Multidimensional and Context-Specific Identities

  • Identities are intersectional, encompassing multiple dimensions like race, class, gender, sexuality, citizenship, and religion (Greer 2013; Roth 2012; Waters 2009).

  • Identity description is contextually dependent, varying with situation (Roth 2012; Waters 2009).

    • Multiple examples of this situational nature include introductions within same or different identifications.

Identity Exercise

  • Task: Write down five groups you identify with and rank them from 1 (most important) to 5 (least important).

Race as Self-Identification

  • Defined as how individuals see themselves, influenced by:

    • Recognition and acceptance of racial groups.

    • Interactions with groups both similar and different (personal experiences).

    • Contexts and locales in which they live.

Implications of Studying Race as Self-Identification

  • Offers insights into community dynamics and group politics.

  • Individual outcomes can be influenced by identification.

    • Associations matter for how individuals and communities perceive themselves.

Ideological Constructs of Race

  • Race is described as an ideological construct related to beliefs of superiority/inferiority (Miles, 1989).

    • Identification as part of a racial group carries stigma, historical context, and impacts political engagement.

  • Membership may foster solidarity and a collective outlook on societal issues (Noguera, p. 51).

Influence of Race and Ethnicity on Attitudes

  • Race and ethnicity play roles in attitudes, actions, and abilities to form coalitions (Greer 2013, p. 5).

Case Studies: Latino Immigrants

  • Roth's study focuses on Puerto Rican and Dominican self-identification in NYC reflecting local racial contexts and heritage.

    • Dark-skinned Dominican male: “I understand that I’m a mix of blanco and negro, of Spanish and African origin…not totally negro but instead a mix.”

    • Medium-brown Puerto Rican male: “To me, I’m Latino…People say Latino isn’t a race, but I understand that I’m Latino because I’m…neither White nor Yellow.”

Case Studies: Black Immigrants

  • Greer (2013) analyzed ethnic identity within the black community during her college experience, observing African and West Indian students.

    • Formation of niche groups (e.g., Caribbean Club) while still engaging with the broader community issues through Pan-African organizations.

Race and Ethnicity as Perceptions

  • Suggested readings: Roth (2012), Sims (2019).

Race as Social Perception

  • External perceptions dictate how individuals are identified.

  • Influenced by:

    • Accepted racial and ethnic classifications.

    • Observers’ perspectives.

    • Localized contexts.

Implications of Social Perception of Race

  • Affects treatment and response from others, contributing to assumptions and stereotypes that influence individual outcomes (Sims et al. 2019).

  • Example: The hypersegregation of black communities results in discrimination through law enforcement practices, specifically targeting black and brown youth (Alexander, p. 124).

Latino Immigrants and Racial Perceptions

  • Roth's research involved respondents assessing the race of individuals from photos and their social network friends.

  • Respondents utilized “racial schemas,” described as frameworks for categorizing races and interpreting social treatment, shaped by relational dynamics (p. 12).

Racial Schema Portfolio

  • Individuals may hold various racial schemas and apply different schemas depending on context (p. 13-4).

  • Racial schemas vary culturally, differing by regions and communities.

Types of Racial Schemas Identified

  1. Continuum racial schema: Black, white, mixed-race categorizations (e.g., mulato, indio).

  2. Nationality racial schema: Based on national identity.

  3. Basic racial schema: Involves separate nationalities and ethnic groups.

  4. Panethnic racial schema: Incorporates nationality and broader ethnic terms.

  5. U.S. racial schema: Based on U.S. classifications, including binary distinctions and Hispanicized perspectives.

Influences on Racial Perception

  • Recent studies by Sims et al. (2019) note that perceptions are influenced by racial background and specific attributes like hairstyle.

  • Various observations indicate a disparity in how individuals are perceived based on attributes such as hairstyle, with significant context-related variations.

Contextual Influences on Racial Perception

  • Contextual elements, such as environment and demographics, alter interpretations of racial identity.

  • Example provided: Variability of perception with curly hair (perceived as black, Latina, or mixed-race), particularly noted at predominantly white institutions.

Race and Ethnicity as Classification

  • Roth (2012) discusses the official classifications of race.

Race Classification Context

  • Implicit understanding of race classification (e.g., U.S. Census forms influences by recognized racial groups).

Census Questionnaire Notes

  • Census example:

    • Question about Hispanic origin separate from race (e.g., categories include Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban).

    • Race categories assuredly align with a specific listing (White, Black, American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander).

Importance of Race Classification Study

  • Recognizing race carries implications for rights, data sources, and societal recognition (e.g., legal rights for recognized Native American tribes).

  • Understanding racial classifications enables businesses to target demographics effectively (e.g., recognition of Latinos as a consumer group).

Historical Context of Racial Classification

  • In 1969, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans were classified as white in U.S. Census, obscuring their distinct experiences and social positions.

    • A shift in 1980s led to establishing a separate Hispanic category, critical for distinguishing demographics.

Latino Immigrants and Race Classification

  • OMB classifications position Latino/Hispanic as ethnicity not race.

  • Latinos can belong to any race listed among those acknowledged by OMB (Roth 2012, p. 6).

Sociocultural Implications of Classification

  • Light-skinned Dominican woman example: “I have no other option than choosing Black because I’m not White or Asian.”

  • Medium-brown Puerto Rican man articulating his connection and identification with Latinos, stating he’d categorize as Black if Latino classification was excluded.

Race Contextualization in Daily Life

  • Reference to current events and societal dynamics, such as Rachel Dolezal’s story, inviting reflection on racial identity controversies.

  • Recommended exploration of several resources related to Rachel Dolezal, including interviews for deeper understanding of race complexities.

Next Learning Unit

  • Introduction to The Social Construction of Race and Ethnicity

    • Future assignments include watching educational videos for enhanced comprehension.