Video: 'Ambassadors' field questions about race, ethnicity
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Annie O'Neill and Melissa Tkach
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Post-Gazette asked readers to share stories of times they've been ethnic or racial "ambassadors" -- been asked to represent, explain or field questions about their ethnicity or race.
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And share readers did, often citing well-intended, though sometimes annoying and insensitive comments, questions and prejudicial assumptions others have made about them because of their ethnicity or race.
The assumptions begin as soon as someone believes they can place another person into a particular box. American culture defines and categorizes people by biology -- white, black, Asian or Latino, says Laurence Glasco, Ph.D., an associate professor who teaches about race and ethnicity in the University of Pittsburgh's history department.
"Society and culture tell us we're supposed to think of ourselves and other people and other races in a certain way, and the way that society defines it isn't the way that reality is," he says.
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'Ambassadors' field questions about race, ethnicity
Questions or comments on this presentation may be sent here. This video was produced by Annie O'Neill.
First Published November 7, 2007 12:00 am
