Personal Narrative: The Identity Of African Americans

In America today, there is a large and diverse African-American population. Within this population, there are several ethnic groups. The other ethnic group similar to Afro-Americans is Dominicans. Not only are they both minorities, but they also look similar as well. Both Dominicans and Afro-Americans are originally from Africa, but their slave masters separated them into two different cultures. African-Americans was African slaves of Americans, and Dominicans were African slaves of the Spanish. Hevesi of the New York Times says, "Dominican and Afro-Americans culture was formed from one ethnicity, Africans" (Hevesi 86). As a person of these two ethnic groups, I have two perceptions of my dual ethnicity. Among Afro-Americans’ and

Knowing where your ancestors come from can sometimes be a difficult thing to handle and understand. If you have a notion of yourself before you receive actual news as to where your bloodlines reside, It shatters your previous thoughts and causes you to feel like an outsider. You begin to question your cultured norms and habitual daily tasks. After reading the story “Color Lines” by author Ralph Eubanks, I was able to take away that in the 1950’s and 1960’s, “…The American South was a place where the idea of race and identity determined who you were and your place in the world – You were either black or white.” Ralph talks in his story about how dangerous it was to be related to white people: severe . Severe social consequences awaited any black

It is hard to find someone who doesn’t have a mixed heritage. In “Borders” Thomas King addresses this fact through the difficulties of having inherited mixed cultures. The mother describes herself as “Blackfoot,” but this description is too broad for the border police, and for the law. Similarly I have come across the same issue. I could describe myself as Mexican, which is my race, but I could also describe myself as an American, because that is what my passport says. In the eye of the law I am American, but with the culture I surround myself by I am Mexican. This conflict comes from within the mother, and also from her beliefs that she lives by. Blackfoot could easily refer to someone from Canada, but their land was taken, thus creating this separation. The Blackfoot people are “Indians without a country,” they are the indigenous people of an area, but

All throughout time people have been “the other.” Pratt refers to the other as being “Someone who is perceived by the dominant culture as not belonging, as they have been

As a biracial woman growing up in the South, I never knew my place in the world. My father is a dark-skinned African American and my mother is a fair-skinned Caucasian, leaving my sister and I to fall somewhere in the middle. In elementary, my unique background caused numerous personal problems. Friends would assume I was adopted. I would frantically defend myself by saying “I am not adopted! My mommy is white and my daddy is black, and there is nothing wrong with me.” My classmates often told me that I was not possible: “black goes with black, and white goes with white.” In time, both races rejected me. I was bullied by the black girls at my school for being “too white” regarding my clothes and my hair. I continued to struggle with this

My family immigration story involves a lot of typical topics and a few hardships which people may not expect. By my generation, we have become accepted as White. However, both of my grandmothers had mixed ancestry.

America’s views on biracial individuals can be dated back to slavery when slaves were forced to bear the children of their masters. These children were referred to as mulatto, meaning “the offspring of a "pure African Negro" and a "pure white”(Davis), and their treatment was often based on the complexion of their skin; if they had fairer skin, they were sent to work in the master’s house and were often times treated

Too black for the White kids, yet somehow too white for the Black kids, oh the perils of a cappuccino mixed race kid. But it’s true. My life since I was young, at least younger than my eighteen year old self, has been about which group do I most fit in with. Between the four school changes over the course of twelve years, all in white suburban towns I’ve molded myself into an array of characters.

Race was a primary factor used to shape the identity of African Americans which was seen through their culture. Race is portrayed through the narratives such as The life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglass and the Autobiography of an Ex-colored man by James Weldon Johnson.

It all began in the year 1955. This was the year that so many great things shook the foundation of America that will never be forgotten for years and years to come. My name is Joyce Norman I was a military brat that was born and raised in the small town of Fayetteville, North Carolina along with one brother and four sisters. To show a little humor, this is another place like Texas that has bipolar weather from sunny skies with a hint of rain to a giant blizzard that’ll give you a death of pneumonia. Throughout, the years of my life as an African American we heard songs of change, we were insured and inspired in church that change would come some way or another either in the community or in our nation. As the world continued to change I

Being born in Columbia, SC and moving to a small town called Lancaster, I identity as being African American, although many perceive me to me biracial. Many people would ask if I were mixed or adopted because I looked distinctly different than my mother. My mother is a very chocolate lady while my father looks almost Caucasian with his very sandy brown hair. As many African Americans are stereotyped as not having a father figure in their life, my father was indeed in my life but he did not play a key part. My mother on the other hand is not your typical “black” mother.

Should you be judge for being born as a multiracial and biracial individual? which background do you represent the most, if you’re White, Asian, Latino/Latina, African american. Which side would you choose? if you are a mix child, why can’t you be proud of both or even the other ethnicity background that you have? Those were the questions that I’ve had while reading through the article of Susan Saulny on the topic of being a mix child. I am Dominican and Puerto Rican with some Spaniard in as well, so I’m somewhat a mix child, but I am a proud Latino and that is the side that I chose even though I have different Latino in me, I am still considered a Latino man. I’m 22 years old and in the next 5 or 6 years, I do see myself having several children and I have a sure sense that they will be a mix of non-Latino/Latina. My current girlfriend is Chinese and the more that I get to know her well, I can see her in being the mother of my children and I will be the 2nd person in my family to infuse a different ethnicity into our family tree. My older brother married to woman who is half Dominican and Libyan and he loves her so much that they are now having a 2nd baby. I have nothing against the Latina women, but since I am free to choose who I want to love and have a family, I want to have different options. My mother at first wanted me to be with just a Dominican or someone who has light skin features. Now she has changed her mind and accepted that I am the one who choose the woman to

You can never really know what ethnicity someone is based on physical appearance or his or her name. The article “Why Race Isn’t As “Black” and “White” As We Think” by Brent Staples, does a good job explaining that physical appearance is not always what it seems. The majority of people do not even realize they are a certain race. They do not take the time to get to know their ancestors. All people ever believe is what family members tell them about their ethnicity. People get judged based on how their name sounds, for example if an African American has a name that is typically a “white” person name. African Americans also did not have any rights in the 1950’s and 60’s. But later, African Americans were granted equal rights and people start to overcome racism.

Yale has a legendary Afro-American Cultural Center as well as a renowned African American studies program and although I do not plan to major in that area of study it is great to know that I can take classes in that program. In addition, the Yale Day of Service seemed like something I would want to be apart of because I like to serve whenever I can. Almost every weekend since the school year has started I have been picking up trash in a park and I would love to continue to serve the community at Yale.

My mother is Caucasian, my father is African American. I am a mix between the two. As I got older and was able to fully comprehend the world around me, I started to realize I was being treated differently when I was with my mom. Trips to the grocery store made it more personal. White people were quick to smile at me and were always very pleasant. Blacks would simply ignore my gestures. Things were the opposite when I was with my dad, White people would avoid eye contact, wouldn’t smile at me when I smiled at them. Black people were quicker to return my gestures. Completely different than when I was with my mother. As a young child, this was very confusing and hurtful.