My Understanding Of Ethnicity And Race example essay topic

Upon entering the class I was anxious, curious, and also oblivious to the ideas I would be encountering. Like other students who had not previously spent time discussing topics of race and ethnicity, I myself had nervous tendencies in assuming that such a class may not strengthen my understanding of ethnic and race relations. I realized I knew little about race or ethnicity, and even the possible similarities or differences. However, I welcomed the opportunity to further discover the possibilities of the class. My understanding of race was concentrated in a definition that could be understood as different skin colors. My limited conception of ethnicity applied to people's origin or where they lived.

It seemed as though my lack of knowledge was contributed by my lack of concern for such topics. Ethnic and racial topics seemed to be of little importance and focus in my life before our class. Explanations as to why such areas seemed trivial in my life may possibly be found in the life I have lived. My pre-adolescent years were spent in a community thick with diversity. My friendships were as diverse as the environment in which I lived. It never struck me that racial and ethnic ideals separated people in society.

However, upon moving to a predominately white upper-class community I began to question such racial and ethnic ideas. From my adolescent years through today I began noticing that certain people are viewed differently for reasons relating to race and ethnicity. As a result, the most recent community I grew up in has kept me sheltered from aspects of society. As a product of a community where majorities existed, I found myself unexposed to the full understanding of race and ethnicity. Prior to the class I had never fully dealt with issues of race or ethnicity, as a result I wondered why they would be of any importance in my life.

Nonetheless, these feeling changed. Even though my understanding of ethnicity and race was limited my interest for understanding grew. For example, one weekend among peers at Connecticut College my last name was referred to in conversation about the Jewish population on campus. Without any hesitation the people around me highlighted a distinction that I was not Jewish due to my German name and looks, and therefore not included with the concern of the discussion. I came to wonder why such a distinction was made. I knew that like myself many Jewish students were white and from the Northeast.

Furthermore, I saw no reasons for any distinction to be made, however there was and I was provided with an insight to understanding the sociological considerations of race and ethnicity. From this personal experience I began to further develop interest in understanding race and ethnicity. I was also aware that I had been stereotyped by some of my peers, many of which had no idea whether or not I was Jewish. The important thing I realized.