Verb
(transitive) To reduce (something) to its essence.
(transitive) To misrepresent (something) by oversimplifying a summary of its essence.
(transitive) To misrepresent (a characteristic of something) by falsely portraying it as essential to the whole (that is, implying that it defines the whole's essence).
to essentialize race by stereotyping "what Whites do" or "how Blacks think"