Race and Ethnicity - Psychology

376 Words2 Pages
Defining Race and Ethnicity University of Phoenix The term race to me has always been ways to try to define a select group of people with distinct traits and/ or physical features. The word race has always categorized groups of people through physical characteristics or language. African people, English People, American Indian, and Indian People are a few of the groups categorized racially. It is my understanding that facial features, structural builds, hair and skin color all play crucial roles in the racial differentiations. Ethnicity is something that I have always viewed as a positive association with cultural and historical ties. Ethnic groups usually distinguish themselves apart from the majority and race is usually defined and separated by the ruling majority in my understanding. An ethnic group usually is defined by a group of people who share allegiances, ties, backgrounds, or traits. There can be several ethnic groups in a race of people. I also believe that one individual can be in several ethnic groups. I have no understanding for a need in race division apart from the obvious curiosity of a child, ethnic and cultural ties, and discrimination. We are all human. In my opinion race is only important in American History for the United States of America. United States society has no room for any guidelines that could be used to discriminate against another human being. Race is an outdated term that has no future in United States society. I can understand the assumed importance of ethnicity in United States society, where individual's who choose their own ethnic groups can feel unified with others of like mind, background, or traits; I however do not feel like it is in America's best interest to promote these concepts. American's should stand together as one people, we are the American
Open Document