Ethnicity and race are not the same thing. That's where the confusion comes in, I think. That and the apparent lack of focus on world geography in American schools. Lol!
Don't get me started on American schools!! The elementary school that my grandson attends has a beautiful copy of the Declaration of Independence enclosed in a fancy schmancy glass case in the entryway of the building. The problem is, it's in cursive, so none of the children can actually read it because reading and writing cursive isn't taught anymore. They must have more important things to teach---I'm just not sure what they are.