Shane Fudge fired a pellet into Prince Sibusi Nkosi's back before Jack Reed-French punched him in the face.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard Mr Nkosi was walking home in Landport when Fudge started shouting abuse at him.
After shooting Mr Nkosi Fu
dge, Reed-French joined in the attack and started swearing at their victim, who is originally from South Africa.
He attacked Mr Nkosi, punching him repeatedly in the face.
The pair were arrested shortly after the attack, which happened in December last year.
Prosecutor Kate Fortescue said Mr Nkosi had recognised the two men because they had shouted abuse at him before.
Fudge, 20, of Foster Road, Landport, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault and possessing a firearm with intent.
He also admitted a charge of escaping from lawful custody having run away from the police when he was arrested.
He was caught after a few hundred metres.
Reed-French, 20, of Wimpole Street, Landport, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault.
Judge Peter Henry said: 'The events of that evening were in my view very serious.
'This young man, walking in the street at about 11pm, first of all racially abused by you Shane Fudge, you then shot him in the back with a .22 air rifle which obviously you were carrying round loaded.
'You may well have known it was only an air rifle but you were taking one large risk on the amount of damage that it would do.
'You struck him in the back but what would have happened if he had turned round and you hit him in the face or the eye? If you had struck him in the face he could have lost an eye.'
Fudge was sentenced to 12 months.
Reed-French, whose partner is expecting a baby, was given eight months.
Christopher Stimpson, defending Fudge, said: 'He recognised immediately that excess alcohol is at the root of this reckless and stupid behaviour.'
>> Vote in our latest web poll.