Race and Ethnicity – B.Barbarini

Race can often be defined as a socially constructed category composed of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important. However, this definition can be tossed aside as myth because being labeled as Homo sapiens, there is not multiple categories for humans to be placed in. Together, we are one race. Now assuming we do conform to the popular definition of race, a person’s race is not always determined by the color of their skin. Take for instance, Marshall Mathers. The color of his skin is white, or as we might call it, Caucasian. This is what we would consider his “race” to be. Nevertheless, by his standards, he is black, and he believes that statement with every ounce of being he has. Why? His perspective. His perspective on his “race” takes this myth about the universal definition of race and turns it into his reality. What he is really defining is his ethnicity. He grew up in a culture of African American people where gangs and rapping is nothing but normal, and became who he is today. There are many other confusing concepts to learn and understand about prejudice, racism, and discrimination, but until we can all accept and understand the true meaning of race and ethnicity, most people will never understand the differences.

1 Comment(s)

  1. I dont really agree with the what type pf environment you grow up in effects how you see yourself and so forth because I have lived in basicly the same environment as eminem except in philadelphia instead of detroit and I most likely cling tighter to the “white/caucasian” sterotype for that reason, but i do completely agree with we are all the human theres nothing that sets us apart from each other it all comes down to how you where raised not the environment


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