"Color blindness" is an approach to end racist thoughts by assuming that color makes no difference modern society. Sociologists have critiqued this approach because it refuses to recognize that racism still exists in society as observed in unequal access to wealth and education. Also, sociologists contend that whites possess inherent individuality and identity that is granted by their social class. On the other hand, persons of color often have to fight for these same rights. "Affirmative action" and "egalitarianism" attempt to equal the playing field by permitting representative numbers of ethnic groups into particular positions and basing social promotions on merit rather than other factors, respectively. Last, educated individuals tend to be less racist; therefore, it is an effective approach to reduce racist thoughts and expand unequal access to education.

The answer is symbolic ethnicity because the Bat Mitzvah is a part of the girl's Jewish ethnic heritage. Despite not being a practicing Jew, the Bat Mitzvah is a way for her and her family to symbolically celebrate being Jewish. It is not situational ethnicity because the girl is not exactly showing or hiding her ethnicity throughout different social situations, but instead celebrating it symbolically.

According to T.H. Marshall, citizenship is fully realized once groups and individuals are granted social rights (or welfare rights), because social rights are granted only to citizens. In order to get access to social rights, individuals must first be recognized as bearers of civil and political rights.

Race and ethnicity are different because for one thing, people can be of the same ethnicity but of a different race. Race is based on physical traits that society has deemed as important differentiators. For instance, skin color, but not eye or hair color, are socially important in distinguishing race. Ethnicity on the other hand is not necessarily tied to race, though physical factors may be involved. Ethnicity is more of an identity based on one's culture and upbringing. Examples of ethnicities would be Mexicans, Jews, or Italian-Americans. People of these ethnicities could in theory be of the same race within a society (say, if they are all white or European-descended) however their different ethnicities are based in culture and practices.

Asian Americans have been called "model" or "ideal" minorities because they have done relatively well without creating racial conflicts with majority whites.

Linked fate is the notion that an individual's chances in life are inextricably linked to the chances of the race as a whole. The concept has been used to describe and try to explain African American political participation in the United States.