The article explores how people understand and express their ethnic identity. Researchers used a mix of methods to create measures that show two main aspects of ethnic identity: group membership and role behavior. They found that people's knowledge of their ethnicity and how long their family has been in the U.S. can affect how easy it is for them to confirm their ethnic identity. The study suggests that identity theory can help us understand how people experience and express their ethnic identity, and why it can be challenging when others don't accept their identity.