Final answer:
The characteristic related to race among the options provided is having brown skin. Race is associated with physical traits like skin color, while ethnicity refers to shared culture, language, and beliefs. The U.S. uses categories such as White, Black, and Asian to classify race.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the characteristics listed, which are related to race or ethnicity, the one related to race is having brown skin. Race is primarily associated with physical characteristics such as skin pigmentation, hair texture and color, and eye shape and color, which are visible and superficial traits that societies deem significant. Characteristics like having rules about how to address others, speaking French, and having prohibitions against consuming meat are typically associated with ethnicity, which involves shared cultural practices, values, language, and beliefs.
In the context of the United States, racial categories often include White, Black, and Asian, based on a three-factor test of skin color, hair texture and color, and eye shape and color. Ethnicity, by contrast, can cross racial lines, as seen in the example of different ethnic groups such as Irish, Italian American, or Jewish, which may all be categorized under the "White" racial label. The distinction between race and ethnicity is crucial to understand as it shapes identity and can influence social experiences and relations.