Ethnicity
"Today many people live by two or more cultural codes
of conduct, depending on the society that hosts them at different
times in their lives." Kottak On Being Different, page
64
Ethnic group
- share certain beliefs, customs, ceremonies, values,
a sense of common origin (creation, background, genesis, epiphany) and
a SENSE of belonging to one another.
Ethnicity
- an identification with a particular group and an exclusion
from all or nearly all other such groups.
Note sociological use of concept of STATUS - position
within an association of people, can be permanent or changing, can be
an achieved position, or a position that is ascribed to you by others.
Ethnicity, as a personal claim, is distinct in consequences
from ethnicity as a status that is ascribed by others - "I'm Black
and I'm proud." is different than "You, the black woman, would
you come over here."
Ethnics groups are usually people without their own
nation, or people displaced from their own nation. If an ethnic group
has sovereignty over the place in which it dwells, we would call it
a nationality.
Nationality and Ethnic groups are imagined communities,
that can and do have real consequences.
Ethnic diversity, tolerance, accommodation
Melting Pots and Salad Bowls, Ethnic Cleansings, Assimilation,
Diffusion.
Plural Society - Maasai/Kikuyu, Singapore - separate,
segregated, and equitable and accepted - commensal, symbiotic.
Ethnic Conflict
Conflicting interests that are contiquous with tribal/ethnic
differences.
Prejudice and Discrimination - The Stranger, Aliens,
Outlander, Foreigner, - shadow selves.
Genocides -contra Nazi/Jews, Turks/Armenians, Hutu/Tutsi;
Forced expulsions- European/American Indian Tribes, Muslim/Hindu of
1948; Aparthieds - American blacks, South African blacks, colored; Incarcerations
- JapaneseAmericans 1942.