• Understand the difference between race and ethnicity
• Understand how cultural differences related to race can affect communication
• Understand how cultural differences among people from different countries can affect communication
• Understand how cultural differences related to religion can affect communication
• Understand how to adjust your communication for an audience that includes people with different cultures

Race and Ethnicity

The concept of race has changed across cultures and eras ranging from being based on ancestral and familial ties to theorists assigning categories of race based on geographic region, ethnicity, skin color, and a wide range of other factors. These assumptions were reflected in their labels; for example, people would be categorized based on region (e.g., Chinese or German) or perceived skin tone (e.g., black or white).

race

Race is a classification system created by societies to categorize people based on visible physical differences such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture, along with ancestral background and cultural affiliations. 

The idea of a social construct means that race does not have a biological basis. Instead, it is an idea that has been developed and accepted by society over time. Understanding race as a social construct helps us recognize that the distinctions drawn between races are made by societal norms and beliefs, rather than inherent differences, and play a significant role in shaping individuals’ lives, their social interactions, and how they are perceived in various social contexts.

ethnicity

Ethnicity refers to the social group a person belongs to, and identifies with, based on shared characteristics such as culture, language, traditions, and sometimes religion or national origin.

Ethnicity is a term that describes the shared culture—the practices, values, and beliefs—of a group. Unlike race, which is often categorized by physical attributes, ethnicity is linked more to cultural expression and identification. People from the same ethnic group can share a common ancestry, history, homeland, language, or cultural heritage that gives them a sense of unity and distinct identity within a larger society.

Like race, ethnicity is a complex concept, and its meaning has changed over time. As with race, individuals may be identified or self-identify with ethnicities in complex, even contradictory, ways. For example, members of ethnic groups such as Irish, Italian-American, and Russian are generally included in the White racial category. Conversely, people who identify with American culture include people from a multiplicity of racial backgrounds: including Black, White, Asian, and a variety of racial combinations. These examples illustrate the complexity and overlap of these identifying terms. Ethnicity, like race, continues to be an identification method that individuals and institutions use today—whether through the census, affirmative action initiatives, non-discrimination laws, or simply in daily interactions.

Differences between Race and Ethnicity

While race and ethnicity are both based on the idea of a common ancestry, there are several differences between the two concepts. Sociologist Dalton Conley, one of the experts contributing to PBS’s RACE: The Power of Illusion project, explains the differences between race and ethnicity: “First of all, race is primarily unitary. You can only have one race, while you can claim multiple ethnic affiliations. You can identify ethnically as Irish and Polish, but you have to be essentially either black or white. The fundamental difference is that race is socially imposed and hierarchical. There is an inequality built into the system. Furthermore, you have no control over your race; it’s how you’re perceived by others.”^[1]

Fellow contributor and author John Cheng draws the distinctions further, noting that ethnicity represents a choice to be a member of a group; for example, one can adopt the language, customs, and culture of that ethnic group. Race is not a choice: “You either are or are not a member of [a given] race.” Echoing Conley’s point about the socialization of race, Cheng emphasizes that “race becomes institutionalized in a way that has profound social consequences on the members of different groups.”^[2]

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