Pablo lives in the United States,where most people assume that he is Arab until they learn his name and hear his accent.They are surprised when Pablo tells them that he is from Spain and identifies as white,not Hispanic.Some even tell Pablo that he isn't really white.What does this suggest about race?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that people assume Pablo is Arab based on his appearance and are surprised when he identifies as white and not Hispanic indicates that race is socially defined and the criteria used to determine a person's race varies. It also suggests that people may hold preconceived notions about what certain racial identities look like. This scenario does not suggest that the criteria used to determine race remains constant across cultures or time, nor does it imply that race is no longer important in the United States. The suggestion of taking a DNA test to determine Pablo's race is not relevant to understanding how race is socially constructed.

Pablo Lives in the United States,where Most People Assume That