Race And Ethnic Identity Racial Identity - 1000 Words

1.0 RACE AND ETHNIC IDENTITY In many perspectives, racial identities mean the differences in appearances of individuals especially with regards to the color of skin. Racial identities are mostly determined genetically or biologically. This includes traits like hair, bone structure color of the eyes etc. In recent times the biological determination of race has been disputed by social scientists who also propounds that races have more fluid social contexts. On the other hand, ethnicity encompasses everything from a common language to a common heritage. Sometimes other things such as common food or diet may come into play. Travelling to the USA has been a good example of racial identity perception change because this has placed me in an†¦show more content†¦This quote has been a motivation to me every time I am faced with a new challenge in this environment. I soon came to realize that the USA embraces so many religions and has no national religion at all. Initially, I was in shock when I realized very few Americans attended church on Sundays, or better still, believed and practiced Christianity, especially when I had read in history books of how the USA was founded on Christian principles and even their dollar bills have a Christian quote on it. Now, I have become more open and indifferent to accepting the different religious opinions from those I hold. As a principle, I do not like to talk about religion in an academic and professional setting and mostly would ask for permission from my listeners before sharing my opinion on a seemingly controversial issue. 3.0 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL IDENTITIES Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that â€Å"Everyone has the right to a nationality,† and â€Å"No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.† Accordingly, national identity has been related to the characteristic of a specific country which may include its traditions, language, and politics, whereas a regional identity refers to features of a specific geographical region. Coming from Africa, I relate to these several unique features as an African and a Ghanaian. I have held that I am aShow MoreRelatedImportance Of Race Ethnicity : An Exploration Of Asian, Black, Latino, And Multiracial Adolescent Identity Essay1047 Words   |  5 PagesImportance of race-ethnicity: An exploration of Asian, Black, Latino, and Multiracial adolescent identity Article source- Charmaraman, L., Grossman, J. M. (2010, April). Importance of race-ethnicity: An exploration of Asian, Black, Latino, and Multiracial adolescent identity. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 144-151. doi: 10.1037/a0018668 (a) Contextual information about the purpose/intention of this study: Throughout the history of United States, race has been one ofRead MoreRace Construction Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesEthnology Draft Racial constructions in the United States beyond white and black Race construction in the United States has been socially constructed since the founding of the republic. 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