why is the term "ethnic" used to describe minorities?

Question

Non white people (in the USA) often refer to their clothing, music, and everything that encompasses their style as "ethnic."
Ethnic is such an incredibly broad term that using it in this manner is completely ridiculous.
If it is being used to separate the culture of non-Anglos from those of Anglo descent, the use is still wrought with inconsistencies as Anglo itself is an ethnicity.

Anglo, Irish, Jewish, Polish, Norweigan, German, Slavic, Italian, Greek, etc. are ALL ethnic groups- how did this practice become so popular and who are the fools behind it?

Answer 1

You're right that the term "ethnic" these days is used to separate non-Anglos and Anglos. Basically I think the words "minority" and "ethnic" are being used interchangeably

From the encyclopedia:
ethnic - a social group or category of the population that, in a larger society, is set apart and bound together by common ties of race, language, nationality, or culture

I think that is the definition that the word falls under these days - Anglo is the majority of the population and non-Anglos represent minority (aka ethnic) segments of the population. So that is where the word originated.

(and yes, the term does fail to differentiate between different Anglo groups - it is usually used to define racial minorities rather than ethnic nationalities/cultures/etc. )

Answer 2

What word would you suggest to describe something foreign that has a place in American culture but is not yet fully integrated into mainstream American culture? People need adjectives, what word would you use to replace "ethnic", especially if it refers to a number of different nationalities simultaneously?

There's a neighborhood I know where on one block there's Thai, Ethiopian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Pakistani, Indian and Greek restaurants. I could say "That neighborhood has great Thai, Ethiopian, Japanese ect.ect.ect" or I could describe it more succinctly by saying "That neighborhood has some great ethnic restaurants."

I've never heard of domestic traditionally non-white music (such as rap) referred to as ethnic, but maybe you read more xenophobic literature than I do.

On the other hand I would classify "Little Italy" as an ethnic neighborhood.

"Ethnic" is the halfway point between foreign and domestic. That's all really.

Answer 3

I only say ethnic when I am refering to one of my black or brown friends as a joke. I do have to say however that I can understand how white people would use this term even though I don't agree with it. I think because white people have been so demonized (not saying we didn't do it to ourselves) that it's almost like anyone that isn't "white" are in their own groups. Ethnic also can just refer to something that is ethnically different from what you are so it doesnt have to even mean just white people takling about brown or yellow people in some other country, it could be a mexican guy talking about a typical white american guy.

Answer 4

There are a number of achievable motives for touching on Hindu Mythology, some are valid, some no longer. stupid Evangelicals (and often even clever ones) assume that considering the fact that Hinduism is doubtless polytheistic, and their faith is monotheistic, then Hinduism ought to be incorrect. this is quite no extra advantageous than prejudice speaking, and may be disregarded. yet sometimes even people who understand and know Hinduism can talk approximately Hindu mythology. They try this because of the fact they understand that Hindus additionally worship a quite transcendent and in particular monotheistic god (Brahma), and that many of the classic Hindu memories are in fact to no longer be taken actually, yet are paths that carry approximately the deeper information. applying this deeper information, you are able to truly additionally talk approximately Christian mythology. Saint Christopher and Saint Ursula at the instant are no longer called historic characters, yet their memories nevertheless comprise truths which may lead a intense believer directly to the Christian God. a lot of human beings evaluate the Turin Shroud to be a factor of Christian mythology (in fact, it somewhat is at present the Roman Catholic expert place on it); regardless of if or no longer the shroud is actual is beside the point, this is a valid merchandise for contemplation the two way. yet those are particularly progressed techniques of finding at non secular concept, and not accessible to those with closed and shrunken minds. so which you ought to no longer assume to come lower back into touch with such clean questioning from followers of Bible church homes.

Answer 5

Well, when I'm curious as to where someone's family originated from, I ask "what is your ethnicity?" regardless if they are white or not. White people came from some country too just like everyone else (Greece, Sweden, Russia, Ireland...).