ETHNICITY
An introduction
Ethnicity - Introduction

Ethnicity: group of people w/ a
common identity based on a
distinct but shared culture (i.e.
common homeland, language,
religion, or race).

Comes from Greek word “ethnos”
which refers to a unique and
cohesive group…i.e. us v. them
Ethnicity v. Race



Ethnicity and race not necessarily
same thing
Race = genetic traits, biologically
inherited physical characteristics
Ethnicity involves more than biological
characteristics. May include that, but
goes well beyond to include person’s
social and cultural identity….i.e.
people of same race can form many
different ethnicities
Ethnicity



Ethnocentrism: one’s conviction of
ethnic superiority (like racism for an
ethnic group)
Ethnic groups usually have ties to a
particular homeland – often leads to
ethnic cleansing or violence is to try to
control piece of land
Ethnicity is strongest tie for local
diversity against globalization. Even if
glob engulfs relig and lang, ethnicity
will likely remain
Ethnicity

Ethnic groups can be difficult to
identify….usually self-identified. Do
we see ourselves as a unique and
cohesive group…i.e. us versus
them?
Ethnic Distributions

In United States:
 13%
African American
 13%
Hispanic (surpassing AA)
 4%
Asian American
 1%
American Indian
 (white/Caucasian
not an
ethnicity)….why not?
Ethnic Clusters

Ethnic enclave: voluntary
residential segregation based on
ethnicity (i.e. ethnic
neighborhoods…Hispanic barrios,
China town, little Havana)
Segregation

De jure seg V. de facto seg
 De
jure = legalized (Plessey v.
Ferguson, apartheid in S. Africa)
Homer Plessey
De Jure Segregation

Overturned by Brown v. BOE

Nelson Mandella in S. Africa
De Facto Segregation

Not legal – just happens. Ethnic clustering
or ethnic enclaves
 i.e.
white side of town, black side of
town, etc.
Segregation by Scale

Segregation can happen on 2 scales –
within the region of a country or within
neighborhoods of a city

Regional Segregation in U.S.
 African
Am in SE and cities
 Hispanics
 Asian
 Am
in SW
Am in west (Hawaii, CA)
Indians in SW and plains
De Facto Seg by Scale

Segregation within cities…..east
side, west side, etc.
 African
Am highly clustered in cities (@
¼ of all Americans live in cities, but ½
of all African Am in cities)
 Ex:
Chicago = 1/3 AA, Ill 1/12 AA
 Ex:
Detroit = 4/5 AA, Michigan 1/14 AA
Resurgence of Ethnic
Identity

Last 20 yrs has seen resurgence of
ethnic identity. During Cold War,
Communism dominated E. Europe
and repressed ethnic and cultural
differences. After the fall of
Communism ethnicity rebounded- led
to breakup of several states and
ethnic violence
Ex: Yugoslavia – ethnic cleansing
 USSR – dismantled along ethnic lines
 Czechoslovakia (Velvet Divorce)

All divided along cultural/ethnic divides
Ethnic Cleansing

In worst cases ethnic violence can lead to ethnic
cleansing – process by which more powerful
ethnic group forcibly removes less powerful ethnic
group in order to create ethnic homogeneity.
Can be achieved by..

Forced migration - push out, burn homes, destroy
towns

Genocide: premeditated effort to kill all from
certain ethnic group (Holocaust)