Goin Gangsta, Choosin Cholist Claiming Identity

Each and every person on this Earth today has an identity. Over the years, each individual creates their identity through past experiences, family, race, and many other factors. Race, which continues to cause problems in today’s world, places individuals into certain categories. Based on their race, people are designated to be part of a larger, or group identity instead of being viewed as a person with a unique identity. Throughout Richard Wright’s Black Boy, Richard is on a search for his true identity. Throughout Black Boy, one can see that Richard’s racial background assigns him with a certain identity or a certain way in which some

Identity is defined as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is” (Oxford University Press). Personal identity deals with questions that arise about ourselves by virtue of our being people. Some of these questions are familiar that happen to all of us every once in a while: What am I? When did I begin? What will happen to me when I die? There are many different categories that define us as people (Olson). Our Race, Class, and Culture define who we are so much that it affects how we should live our life.

     Identity is one of the main questions throughout all of our readings, because it is hard for people to accept who they are in society. Accepting their identity as a minority with little if any freedoms

In America, our identity often comes from the culture we live in and develop for ourselves. The identity of many Americans is also developed by their actions. Some groups develop an identity by speaking their native language, like some members of “Chinatown” in various American cities. Others develop their identities by the way they dress, music they listen to, and their sexual identity. We can clearly see some of the largest factors used to develop one’s identity is the area in which they live in and their actions throughout their day to day life. In Kenny Chesney’s song American Kids we see the development of identity from the hometowns and actions of these so called “kids.”

People live day to day struggling with identifying who or what they want to be. People allow parents, peers, friends, and even the media dictate what makes them unique. Identity is something that makes one person different from the next. Though it may take longer for certain people to understand that, it is a conclusion that one has to come to in time. People allow norms to stop them from being exactly who they are. We were all given a different identity so we could fully embrace the world head on. The time has come for people to stop letting outside forces like names, race, social identity, handicap, and gender determine who they are. One should identify who they are and never let any opposing forces get into the way of what they have to offer the

Establishing an identity has been called one of the most important milestones of adolescent development (Ruffin, 2009). Additionally, a central part of identity development includes ethnic identity (ACT for Youth, 2002). While some teens search

Throughout history, identity is often viewed as a something inherently stable. However, I argue that identity should be viewed as something far more complicated than this – particularly if one articulates the modern notion of a fluid conception of identity. Identity is something that is constantly in flux. Then, identity is constructed of the vastly diverse geographies, histories, and the spaces and places that one inhabits throughout their life. To put it simply, identity defines who we are. Therefore, it is inextricably bound to notions of difference , where representations of people can change depending on the

Since the pursuit of authentic identity relates heavily with society itself, one can argue that identity exists to the extent of

Ethnic identity is described as one’s sense of belonging to an ethnic group that is composed of ethnic awareness, self-identification, attitudes, and behaviors as a part of their membership. In America, there are many minorities, such as Latinos, Asians, and Blacks, who have a unique culture integrated within their ethnic group. However, society has been guilty of assimilating people into becoming more “American” rather than allowing them to express their culture. Through their own personal experiences, authors Amy Tan, Gloria Anzaldua, and Zora Neale Hurston advocate that the ability to find one’s ethnic identity is by seeking the importance and impact their past experiences mademakes in their lives.

First, we must understand what is ethnic identity. The author Laurence Steinberg of “Adolescence” explains ethnic identity as the aspect of the individuals’ sense of identity concerning ancestry or racial group membership. In relation to this statement to the four teens, psychologist Erik Erikson was known for “Identity Crisis” states, “establishing a sense of identity is something that is conscious.” In which, this is clearly present in the video “Somewhere Between” with these four teens and are aware of this consciousness through their sense of “well-being that relates to their feelings of being at home in one’s body” and each of them are trying to figure out their true ethnic identity (Steinberg, p.

Throughout my life, certain identities have remained consist. And these identities have come to shape my perspectives and my needs and wants within American culture. Typically, my social

Identity is defined as the condition of being oneself or itself and not another. (2). During Jose’s time in elementary school, Jose did not see himself any different from the other students he associated with and who was predominately white with the exception of one or two friends. However, during this time, Jose encountered his first realization that he was not like everyone else. One day during school, he was scolded by his substitute teacher for being disrespectful by playing around during The Pledge of Allegiance.

Identity in a sociological sense is more than individual genetics or individuality. Self identity is made up by many characteristics including; our personal experiences, beliefs, socio-economic status and other factors. Society plays a huge role in determining identity, although true identity generally isn’t a true reflection of an individual’s self identity. Over the generations there have been

“Who am I” or “who are we?” are both questions that require in-depth knowledge of identity. A complex sociological and psychological phenomenon, identity has been classified into many types. Self-identity is defined as an individual’s awareness and expression of their distinctive characteristics. Weinreich (1986) highlighted that it is influenced by both the individual’s past experiences and future aspirations and contributes to the formation of one’s self-esteem, and individuality. It also indicates the individual’s capacity for self-reflection (Leary & Tangney 2003).

Whenever people encounter the word “identity crisis,” it never fails to arouse feelings of mixed curiosity, mirth and discomfort. Some feel curious, because it is either they have not gone through this stage yet, or because they just have an undeniably excessive level of inquisitiveness and interest. Others feel mirth, for they know that have already