Race and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity are necessary concepts for understanding dynamics of identity, social organization, and political preference, as well as representation and national unity. Identity-based groups serve as an important source of community, and such communities are generated through shared characteristics and experiences. Sometimes used interchangeably, race and ethnicity refer to social categories that have meaning in certain circumstances. Historically, race has been seen as having a biological quality, while ethnicity is a cultural phenomenon. But there is no biological evidence of similarities at the DNA level, and no evidence of genetic markers of race. Indeed, both race and ethnicity refer to a social category of people who may share common characteristics including region, language, religion, and racial identity. Such differences are inherently contextual.

An emerging convention ...