Defining the terms

Understanding "Race, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity" is fundamental to creating an equitable society. Yet what each term means, and how it manifests in the real world, is a source of confusion and contention, if not outright hostility. This month the Anti-Racist Bookseller will focus on race, ethnicity, and indigeneity and how they intersect and impact work in creating an inclusive space and community.

Here, to start, are a few working definitions:

Race: A social construct, rather than a biological fact, "race" is a word meant to designate groups of people based on physical traits and perceived shared ancestry. This usage dates from the late 17th century, and was invented by scientists of the era seeking to categorize groups of people as superior or inferior. Currently, the US Census recognizes five racial groups: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. It acknowledges that these categories are "socially defined" not biological or genetic. A good exploration into the concept and how it has impacted our perceptions is the documentary series Race: The Power of an Illusion.

Ethnicity: Ethnicity is also a social construct which looks at shared history, values, group membership, and ancestral descent. If race tends to refer to physical traits, ethnicity refers to a common culture, language, religion, or history. In this sense, ethnicity is a broader, yet more descriptive term than race, when it comes to understanding and defining identity. For example, the complex ethnicities of Latino voters  received a lot of attention in the 2020 Census and election. This documentary looks at the tensions between ethnicity and assimilation models in America: America: Mosaic or Melting Pot?

Indigeneity: This is a word that usually refers to people in relation to the territory they occupy (or once occupied) but which has been taken over by an invading group. The United Nations has adopted a definition of indigeneity that emphasizes a close attachment to ancestral land which has been invaded by by a colonizing group, and a commonality of language and culture which is despite the pressure of the colonizing group to conform. It also underscores that "any individual who identified himself or herself as indigenous and was accepted by the group or the community as one of its members was to be regarded as an indigenous person."Read the full definition.