Ethnicity Can Be Somewhat Apparent, but it

Ethnicity can be somewhat apparent, but it is not always apparent. To understand this, it is important to keep in mind that ethnicity is different from race. "Ethnicity refers to selected cultural and sometimes physical characteristics used to classify people into groups or categories considered to be significantly different from others" (O'Neill, 2006). In America, there are several different commonly recognized ethnic identities including American Indians, Latinos, Chinese, African-Americans, and European-Americans, some of which are identifiable by physical characteristics, and others of which are not as readily identifiable by appearance. For example, the combination of dark skin, kinky hair, and prominent facial features may identify a person as African-American, but it is oftentimes more difficult for non-Asians to determine an Asian-American person's specific ethnicity because Asian-Americans share similar skin tone, hair color, and some facial characteristics. Many European-Americans cannot distinguish European ethnic groups based on physical characteristics

Ethnic identity can be both positive and counterproductive. Ethnic identity provides many people with a link to their cultural heritage. For new immigrant groups, ethnicity may mean shared language and cultural traditions and a link to "home." Whether one views this as positive or negative may depend upon whether one views America as a melting pot, where immigrants are expected to assimilate to a single American identity, or a salad bowl where the distinct elements are part of the mix.

One of the reasons that ethnic identity can be counterproductive is that some members of ethnic groups use "ethnic" behavior to limit themselves. For example, cultural identity for many African-Americans in urban American is associated with a certain use of language and certain choices in clothing which may render them unemployable outside of that ethnic group (and even by other members of that ethnic group who do not agree with that particular interpretation of cultural identity).

One of the biggest dilemmas that indigenous people faced regarding assimilation is attaining the formal education necessary to function in "American" society without compromising native cultural traditions or beliefs. At this time, education on reservations is widely recognized to be, on average, significantly inferior to the public education that many other American children receive. Critics of the education offered to Native Americans suggest that this poor quality of education helps further the cycle of poverty that has plagued Native Americans since the institution of the reservation system. Given that Native Americans are significantly overrepresented among the impoverished in the United States; this seems like a critical goal. However, in the past, the U.S. government has made some significant errors in its attempts to educate Native Americans.