race - a socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important
All of Anberlin's members are of Caucasian decent.
An example of society's scapegoat is Jews.
scapegoat - a person or category of people, typically with little power, whom other people unfairly blame for their own troubles
Anberlin's Stephen Christian wrote an angry reply to the newly formed band Knight's of the New Crusade, who formed to represent "pure Christian Ideals". He writes, "i cannot believe that you would pay homage to this massacre by naming your band after them and insinuate "taking out the trash," by throwing people of other religions into a trash can. Have you no decency? have you no kuth? Do you know that it is people like you that give Christians a bad name by reliving an autrocity that took the lives of 1.5 million people?" He is referring to the Muslims, Jews, etc that have died because of the Crusades.
discrimination - unequal treatment of various categories of people
In Haiti, many women are discriminated against. Women have typically less power than their male counterparts, which Anberlin's lead vocalist Stephen Christian believes is unfair. Through Faceless International, he is trying to stop the discrimination in underprivileged countries towards women.
Ethnicity - a shared cultural heitage. People define themselves as members of an ethnic category based on common ancestors, language, and religion that give them a distinctive social identity.
The members of Anberlin are all Christians. They share a common religion that is important to them and gives them identity as a group. They can be considered as sharing a common ethnic background.
Though they do not classify themselves as Christian Rock, their songs are heavily influenced by the band's faith.
Stereotype - a simplified description applied to every person in some category.
Interview with Stephen Christian: "Being a Christian like you are, do you find it difficult working in the mainstream when so many people are hesitant to like anything “Christian” related?"
People hear that Anberlin is a band composed of Christians, and they are immediately reluctant to listen to their music, because the common stereotype in today's society is that Christians are dull and boring, and aren't allowed to have fun or sing songs about "unholy" things, and that they will push their beliefs on you.
Scapegoat - a person or category of people, typically with little power, whom other people unfairly blame for their own troubles.
Lyrics from Blame Me! Blame Me!: "Blame Me! Blame Me! Blame Me! For mistakes you've made but you can't own."
This song describes life with a mean girlfriend who was not very nice to her boyfriend. She had her own issues, but didn't want to take the blame for those issues or her bahavior as a result of those issues. In the end, it was always "his fault."
discrimination - unequal treatment of various categories of people
Ethnicity - a shared cultural heitage. People define themselves as members of an ethnic category based on common ancestors, language, and religion that give them a distinctive social identity.
Stereotype - a simplified description applied to every person in some category.
Scapegoat - a person or category of people, typically with little power, whom other people unfairly blame for their own troubles.