Lecture Notes on Race and Ethnicity

Definition of Race

• Race: A socially constructed category used to categorize people based on biological traits considered important by society.
• Physical Criteria for Race: Typically includes skin color, hair type, and facial structure, but these can vary culturally.
  • Example: Skin Color
    • "White" and "Black" don't always align with actual skin tones.
    • Tanning doesn't change a person's race.

Race as a Social Construct

• Race is influenced by societal perceptions rather than strict biological distinctions.
• Inconsistencies:
  • One-drop rule in the U.S.: Any African American ancestry classifies someone as Black.
  • Historical context: "White" used to exclude non-Anglo-Saxons like Italians or Irish.
• Current Context:
  • Racial definitions can be fluid over time and across cultures.

Ethnicity vs. Race

• Ethnicity: Based on cultural traits (language, traditions, religion) rather than biological traits.
• People of different races can share an ethnicity, and vice versa.
• Examples:
  • Japanese and Vietnamese: Both Asian but different ethnicities.
  • Hispanic as an ethnicity, not a race.

Hispanic, Latino, and Latin American

• Hispanic: Origin from a Spanish-speaking country.
• Latino/Latinx: Origin from Latin American countries.
  • Example: Brazilians (speak Portuguese) are Latino but not Hispanic.

Impact of Race and Ethnicity

• Race and ethnicity influence social outcomes like education, income, and justice system experiences.
• Minority Definition:
  • Sociological minority is about societal power, not numerical size.
  • Example: Apartheid in South Africa.

U.S. Census Racial Categories

• White: European, Middle Eastern, or North African origins.
• Black/African American: African heritage or Afro-Caribbean.
• American Indian/Alaska Native: Indigenous origins to the contiguous U.S. and Alaska.
• Asian: Origins in Eastern Asia, Southeast Asia, or Indian subcontinent.
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: Origins from Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
• Some Other Race: Catch-all for unclassified origins.

Changing Notions of Race

• Racial categories are not fixed and evolve with societal changes.
• Government definitions can change over time to better reflect societal understanding.

Conclusion

• Races and ethnicities are not immutable and are defined by societal constructs.

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Additional Information

• Crash Course Sociology is filmed in Missoula, MT.
• The series is supported by Patreon, allowing content to remain free.