6 Chapter 6: Racial and Ethnic Identity

Grounding & Groundwork

• Race: the idea that the human species is divided into distinct groups on the basis of inherited physical and behavioral differences. Genetic studies in the late 20th century refuted the existence of biogenetically distinct races, and scholars now argue that “races” are cultural interventions reflecting specific attitudes and beliefs that were imposed on different populations in the wake of western European conquests beginning in the 15th century (Brittanica, 2022)
• Ethnicity: a sense of identity and membership in a group that shares common language, cultural traits (values, beliefs, religion, food habits, customs, etc.), and a sense of a common history (Brittanica, 2022)
• The Difference Between Race and Ethnicity (Merriam-Webster, 2022)
• Whiteness: “a dominant cultural space with enormous political significance, with the purpose to keep others on the margin. … [W]hite people are not required to explain to others how ‘white’ culture works, because ‘white’ culture is the dominant culture that sets the norms. Everybody else is then compared to that norm. … In times of perceived threat, the normative group may well attempt to reassert its normativity by asserting elements of its cultural practice more explicitly and exclusively” (Frankenberg, 1997)

Tema Okun and Layla Saad have developed tools that help self-advocates and aspiring allies explore the potential and actual supremacy associated with whiteness in the resources below.

• • Tenets of White Supremacy(Okun, 2020)
  • Me and White Supremacy Workbook (Saad, 2020)
• Person of Color: a person whose skin pigmentation is other than and especially darker than what is considered characteristic of people typically defined as white.  a person who is of a race other than white or who is of mixed race (Merriam Webster, 2022)
• BIPOC- This acronym stands for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, however, some prefer not to use the term as it seems to place a hierarchy and preference regarding which non-dominant groups are most important to highlight by name. (BIPOC Project, 2022)
• Appropriation
  • Appropriation or Appreciation (NIH, 2021)

• Immigration Status (USA): Immigration status refers to the way in which a person is present in the United States. Everyone has an immigration status. Some examples of immigration status include: Us Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident, Conditional Permanent Resident, Asylee or Refugee, Non-Immigrant, and Undocumented Person (Esperanza United, 2022)

Language Matters

• APA Bias-Free Language (Race/Ethnicity)
• Diversity Style Guide for Media Professionals (Race Ethnicity)

Intersections & Institutions

• Race & Socioeconomic Status: State Poverty Rates by Race
• Race and RSPW:  Religion, Race, and Racism (Bahler, 2021)
• Race & Education: Disparities in School Discipline (NIH, 2022)
• Race & Employment/Economics: Racial Bias in Hiring Practice (National Fund for Workforce Solutions, 2022)
• Race & Healthcare : Black Maternal Health (Healthcare Triage, 2018)
• Race & Media/Sport: Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark (Buzzfeed, 2023)
• Race & Government/Carceral Systems: Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (Native Women’s Wilderness, 2023)

Stories & Celebrations

• What is a Karen, Really?  Find Out on The Real Question Podcast below or at Deconstructing the Karens Meme (Harvard Law, 2021)

• “Washington Team” Name Change Offers Closure for Some Native Americans (NPR, 2022)
• Change the Narrative, Change the Future (Illuminative, 2022)
• Still Processing, “The N Word” (Morris & Wortham, 2021) 53 minutes
• Asian Women’s Experience of White Tears (Cathy Park-Hong, 2020)
• Poderistas (2022)
• Asian Americans AdvanceJustice: Bystander Intervention Training Announcement & the  5D Short Animated Videos

Reflection and Next Steps

• Questions
• Connections: Self, School, News, Arts
• Social Work Scenario