A New Ethnicity

What ethnicity do you identify with? What cultural traditions and values influence your specific ethnicity? According to Oxford Languages, the definition of “ethnicity” is “the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.” The same source defines “ethnic group” as “a community or population made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.” Should being American be classified as an ethnicity? Would the members of the American population who identify with this label formulate an ethnic group? These are hard concepts to grasp, as the ethnicity one associates themselves with is subjective and one nation can consist of a large variety of ethnic groups.

Previously, “American” has not been listed on the U.S. Census as an ethnicity. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget only requires the categories titled “Hispanic or Latino” and “Not Hispanic or Latino” to collect data on ethnicity (this is separate from the data collected on race). Due to the history of our country, an overlap between race and ethnicity has been created. Racial distinctions have had, and continue to have, significant impacts in society resulting in the grouping of individuals based on physical appearance. According to an article titled, “Ethnic Groups” by Lumen Learning, “various ethnic, ‘national,’ or linguistic groups from Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands, Latin America and Indigenous America have long been combined together as racial minority groups….” The physical traits of these groups are noticed before the cultural and traditional traits they embody. Values and beliefs should be noticed and appreciated, instead of overtaken by different skin colors. Labeling “American” as an ethnicity could reduce some of these inequalities by highlighting the ways in which we can all relate to one another, while still appreciating the differences that are present. Maybe if the priority of focus was shifted from physical appearance to shared norms and traditions, more unity would be experienced within our country? Or maybe this new classification would even help us increase our acknowledgement of the differences present in our country outside of the idea of “race?”

I would like to emphasize that choosing “American” as an ethnic group should not turn into a blanket statement blinding society to the differences present within our population. It would be imperative to make a clear distinction between Americans with family origins overseas and those whose families and customs are rooted in this land prior to colonization.

The definition for “ethnic group” presented above provides an interesting perspective to this idea. Yes, all Americans who are here due to migration have ancestors from foreign countries who previously participated in very distinct and tangible cultural practices. I would say that there is a large percentage of the U.S. population who relate their experiences with the traditions of their families today as opposed to those of their ancestors. People within this country share the holiday of Thanksgiving, which is not practiced the same way in any other nation. Americans have stereotypes surrounding us when we visit other countries (i.e. being loud, thinking we are entitled, eating too many French fries and hamburgers, etc.). There are “common cultural backgrounds” influencing the lives of individuals today that may stem from other countries, but have become severely “Americanized.”

This is not to say that everyone living in America would identify with the “American” ethnic group. There are still individuals and families who live their lives based off of the norms from their original country of origin. Those who classify as “American” would theoretically be the ones who know that their great, great grandparents were from Germany, but have a stronger relationship with the customs and expectations that have developed since the colonization of our country.

I, personally, do not yet have a set-in-stone opinion regarding this topic. One of the aspects that makes our country so unique is that “melting pot” idea and the diversity one can experience in a single city. I would not want this to be diminished in any way if “American” were to be added to the census. The diversity should still exist and those who do not strongly identify with the customs which have been “Americanized” should not feel pressured to change in any way. Also, I do not think just the word “American” could be used. There would have to be multiple new boxes to create that distinction between American Indians and the portion of the population who have ancestors rooted in foreign nations.

This is an interesting topic that may or may not arise in conversation in the future. What do you think? What do you identify with the most? What traditions have most significantly impacted your life thus far?