What Is the Difference Between Race and Ethnicity?

Ethnicity and race both refer to unchangeable components of who a person is. A person's race is based on physical characteristics while their ethnicity is based on their nationality.

Specifically race is defined as:

• any of the different varieties or populations of human beings distinguished by physical traits such as hair, eyes, skin color, body shape, etc. Traditionally, the three primary divisions are Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid, although many subdivisions of these are also called races.
• blood types
• genetic code patterns
• all their inherited characteristics which are unique to their isolated breeding population

A person's ethnicity is defined as: ethnic classification or affiliation.

The defining of an individual’s race is based on physical similarities to a group of people. These physical attributes can be anything from hair or eye color to the color tone of skin. The attributes can even be only imagined and not actual fact. The grouping of races often occurs in order to allow others to identify the group as a whole and treat them all the same.

Ethnicity is similar but different from race. Ethnicity is based on cultural or social similarities. These types of characteristics include nationality, tribal membership, shared language, religious faith, shared traditions and shared culture.

Race, Ethnicity and Prejudice

Prejudice has existed throughout human history. People classify an individual based on their race or ethnicity and then justify unfair treatment based on those classifications. The practice of prejudging an individual based on physical differences or social associations is rooted in the need to think higher of oneself than another human being because of inherited or genetic differences. 

Those who exhibit race or ethnic prejudice believe that all people of a given race or ethnic background will exhibit characteristic behavior which may, in reality, apply only to a small segment of the population. 

Profiling

This type of singling out occurs often in the form racial profiling. Police organizations have come under fire, especially over the past few decades, for arresting, questioning or hassling people because of their race. This practice is a direct example of assumed guilt by association, where the association isn't on an interpersonal level, but on a racial level.

Ethnic profiling is also problematic. The prejudice in ethnic profiling is based on style of dress, language spoken and religious faith. Ethnic profiling occurred in the United States following the attacks of September 11, 2001 on the Twin Towers in New York City. Following the attacks, hatred arose toward those that were of Arabian descent or appeared Middle Eastern.

History of Prejudice

Hatred based on racism or ethnic background has been prevalent in Africa for hundreds of years based on tribal membership. Acts of hatred have, and still are, given rise to genocide of a group of people based not on actions but on association with those that are truly guilty of a crime.

Problems historically exist within the US as well. The US fought the Civil War in 1860 over the issue of slavery. While other groups of people were enslaved in addition to those of the African American Race, the race issue was the focal point of the war. In the end, though the North won and slavery was abolished, racism was still an issue in the South. Up until the 1960’s when segregation was fought, racism was still openly practiced.

The Nazis committed the greatest atrocities of all time during World War II. There crimes were based on racism and ethnic cleansing.  Prejudice was both ethnically and racially based, and committed against select groups of people. Those of Jewish descent, blacks, gypsies and homosexuals were among the groups that suffered under their hands.

Racists still exist in society today. The Aryan Race activists still protest and commit acts of hate on those not of the pure Caucasian race. Their activities are based on a an extreme type of racism in which they believe all races except theirs should be eradicated.  

Today, ethnic cleansing is continuing in the regions of Albania, Serbia and Croatia. This cleansing is based on both nationality and religion. Even within one nationality, there is a cleansing based strictly on religion that continues. In Bosnia, Christians and Muslims battle for control of the region.

There is no justification for unfair treatment based on any characteristic, whether it is race, ethnicity or otherwise. People should be judged based on themselves as individuals. The character and actions of individuals should be the basis for determining their treatment. While racial and ethnic identity are important cultural markers for many people, they should not be the sole defining characteristic of any person.