Final answer:
Anthropologists define race as a social construct and ethnicity as shared culture, with race having no biological validity despite its social significance. Minority groups are defined by their comparative lack of power within society.
Step-by-step explanation:
In anthropology, race is understood as a social construct rather than a scientifically defined biological category. There are no clear-cut boundaries or categories biologically that define race; instead, it is a concept based on superficial physical differences that societies deem significant, such as skin color or facial features. Conversely, ethnicity refers to shared cultural practices, language, history, and sometimes a common ancestral background. Minority groups are not defined by race or ethnicity alone but rather by their lack of power within a society, which may be a result of discrimination or prejudice regardless of their physical characteristics.
Anthropological perspectives emphasize that while the concept of race is not biologically valid (given that genetic markers for physical characteristics like skin color only represent a tiny fraction of DNA variation), race still holds social significance and impacts experiences and identities. This recognition helps in understanding the complex reality of human diversity, which includes historical and ongoing inequalities and ways in which individuals and communities resist and combat marginalization.