Race and Ethnicity Students can explain the differences between race and ethnicity, Students can discuss related articles, and Students can analyze how their lives have been impacted by race and/or ethnicity.

Ethnicity & Race: What are they? Ethnicity is a state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition. A race is a group of people with a common physical feature or features, most often skin color. Often, these terms are used interchangeably. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meVrEJ5v1vo

How are they different? You can have more than one ethnicities, but you are said to have one race, even if it's "mixed race". A person does not choose his/her race; it is assigned by society based upon his/her physical features. Ethnicity is self-identified. An individual can learn a language, social norms and customs, and assimilate into a culture to belong to an ethnic group.

Ethnocentrism The belief that one's culture is superior to all other cultures. While the source of the conflict may be political, social, or economic, the individuals in conflict must expressly fight for their ethnic group's position within society.

Native American Assimilation Tom Torlino before and after he attended a boarding school for Native Americans.

Social construction in action Prior to European colonization, one people group in Rwanda. Tutsi = upper-class Hutu = “peasant” masses “Hamitic” races Influenced by propaganda Belgians convinced Hutus and Tutsis that they were in fact members of separate ethnic/racial, not social groups Identification cards

“Differences” between the groups Tutsis – tall and thin; they have long noses, high pitch voices, and relatively clear skin. Hutu – short, strong, and have relatively broader features; they have big noses and low pitch voices.

Rwandan Genocide Hutus “flipped” who possessed racial supremacy. Viewed Tutsi as foreign and Hutus as rightfully supreme. From April to July, 1994, 800,000 people killed. 2.5 million refugees

Stereotypes A system of beliefs about typical characteristics of members of a given ethnic group. Allows us to simplify our world and reduce the amount of processing when meeting a new person. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWO1pkHg rBM

“African-Americans are good athletes.” Black athletes are usually given credit for their “natural athleticism,” while whites are credited for their “hard work,” “discipline,” and “knowledge of the game” (huffingtonpost.com). Biological factors do not compel people from certain races to excel in certain sports. Cultural factors do.

A look at Kenyan runners Differences in height, skin color, and hair texture are simply the result of climate-related variation. African fast twitch muscle fibers and development of motor skills are used to demonstrate irrevocable proof of embedded genetic differences between populations. Runners coming from Kenya do so well in running events due in large part to the combination of intense high altitude training, consumption of a low-fat, high protein diet, and a social and cultural expectation to succeed. "The Myth of Racial Superiority in Sports" by Ian Kerr

“Asians are smart.” Often in academia, success for an Asian is attributed to their ethnicity rather than their personal intelligence or the amount of work they devoted to learning and studying. For Asians that struggle in school, they may worry about having their identity questioned in addition to worrying about their grades.

Stereotype Memes

Reading Groups “Positive stereotypes are hurtful, too.” “The privilege and pain of passing as white.” “Me, Myself and My Hijab.” You will be given a worksheet related to the article to fill out in your group. After answering the questions in your group, you will share what you discussed with the rest of the class.

Thoughtbook Journal Entry “How has race and/or ethnicity affected your experience of society? Consider privileges, stereotypes, discrimination, and/or cultural experiences.”