In "Origin of Everything: What is Ethnicity?", the exploration of ethnicity delves into its origins and differentiation from race. The video explains that while both terms are often conflated, ethnicity focuses on shared cultural origins rather than physical traits, which define race. Social scientists in the 1920s, particularly from the University of Chicago, began categorizing ethnic groups as distinct from racial classifications. The video highlights that ethnicity can include identifiers such as national or cultural origins, like Indian and Punjabi, or African American and Gullah. It discusses historical perspectives, including how European groups once viewed as distinct races became unified under a broader ethnic identity in the U.S. Ethnicity's fluidity allows for the development of new identities through cultural evolution and heritage. This content is significant as it educates on identity formation and cross-cultural understanding, crucial in a multicultural society.