RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE:Similarity in Human Adaptations

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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology SOC401

Lesson 34

RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE

Ethnicity

Ethnicity refers to selected cultural and sometimes physical characteristics used to classify people into

(ethnic) groups or categories considered to be significantly different from others. Commonly recognized

American ethnic groups include American Indians, Latinos, Chinese, African Americans, European

Americans, etc.

In some cases, ethnicity involves merely a loose group identity with little or no cultural traditions in

common. This is the case with many Irish and German Americans. In contrast, some ethnic groups are

coherent subcultures with a shared language and body of tradition. Newly arrived immigrant groups often

fit this pattern.

Minority versus Ethnic Group

It is important not to confuse the term minority with ethnic group. Ethnic groups may be either a minority

or a majority in a population.

Whether a group is a minority or a majority also is not an absolute fact but depends on the perspective. For

instance, in some towns along the southern border of the U.S., people of Mexican ancestry are the

overwhelming majority population and control most of the important social and political institutions but are

still defined by state and national governments as a minority. In small homogenous societies, such as those

of hunters and gatherers and pastoralists, there is essentially only one ethnic group and no minorities.

Ethnic Categorizations

For many people, ethnic categorization implies a connection between biological inheritance and

culture. They believe that biological inheritance determines much of cultural identity. If this were true, for

instance, African American cultural traits, such as "black English", would stem from genetic inheritance.

This is not true. The pioneering 19th century English anthropologist E. B. Taylor was able to demonstrate

conclusively that biological race and culture is not the same thing.

It is clear that any one can be placed into another culture shortly after birth and can be thoroughly

encultured to that culture, regardless of their skin color, body shape, and other presumed racial features.

Race

A race is a biological subspecies, or variety of a species, consisting of a more or less distinct population with

anatomical traits that distinguish it clearly from other races.

This biologist's definition does not fit the reality of human genetic variation today. We are biologically an

extremely homogenous species. All humans today are 99.9% genetically identical, and most of the variation

that does occur is in the difference between males and females and our unique personal traits. This

homogeneity is very unusual in the animal kingdom. Even our closest relatives, the chimpanzees have 2-3

times more genetic variation than people. Orangutans have 8-10 times more variation.

It is now clear that our human "races" are cultural creations, not biological realities. The concept of human

biological races is based on the false assumption that anatomical traits, such as skin color and specific facial

characteristics, cluster together in single distinct groups of people. They do not. There are no clearly

distinct "black", "white", or other races.

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology SOC401

Similarity in Human Adaptations

The popularly held view of human races ignores the fact that anatomical traits supposedly identifying a

particular race are often found extensively in other populations as well. This is due to the fact that similar

natural selection factors in different parts of the world often result in the evolution of similar adaptations.

For instance, intense sunlight in tropical latitudes has selected for darker skin color as a protection from

intense ultraviolet radiation. As a result, the dark brown skin color characteristic of sub-Saharan Africa is

also found among unrelated populations in the Indian subcontinent, Australia, New Guinea, and elsewhere

in the Southwest Pacific.

Safeguarding Against Cultural Biases

We must not let our own cultural biases get in the way of understanding the lives of other people.

Avoiding cultural biases is a very difficult task given the emotionally charged feelings and deep beliefs that

we have concerning race and ethnicity. However, suspending these attitudinal barriers in order to gain a

better understanding of the phenomena is well worth the effort.

Suggested Readings

Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various

principals highlighted in this hand-out:

Chapter 13 in `Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective' by Ferrarro

Internet Resources

In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following web-site for this lecture, which provide

useful and interesting information:

Ethnicity and Race: An Introduction to the Nature of Social Group Differentiation and Inequality

http://anthro.palomar.edu/ethnicity/default.htm

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