Below are some common names of ethnic groups and the criteria on which the name is based:

Some names may imply more than one of the criteria. It is important to note that different criteria are used to identify groups. There is no standard criteria used uniformly in naming and identifying groups and the names used by outsiders may not match the name used by the group itself and that individuals may fall into more than one group depending on how they identify themselves. Therefore, these group names have little use in correctly identifying members or characteristics of the groups. They are the result of political decisions and of policial concerns. Group manes will change over time and in the US different groups will be identified in different places and at different times. Attention to group identity varies with the interaction between groups at certain periods of time.

Return to Soc 315 or Soc 315 schedule or Soc 316 or Soc 316 schedule