The Importance Of Identity And Identity

Even if slavery is not the presiding rule of the land on this planet any longer, segregation based on appearance still exists, just as the "social construction of ‘whiteness’ historically has implied the racial superiority of whites", and prompted the "separate but equal" doctrines of the late nineteenth century (Rundblad & Kivisto xxxi).

In the world of sociology, the theory of racialization is a widely known and occasionally frustrating topic. However, two sociologists have successfully been able to define and break down the essential information behind this theory. Within their own writing, Michael Omi and Howard Winant (1986) define racial formation as,” the process by which social, economic, and political forces determine the content and importance of racial categories” (Omi and Winant 16). In essence, this theory frames the very meaning of “race” itself. The stereotypes of race are rooted deep within the contexts of history, allowing these concepts to be subject to gradual change over time. In addition to the original standards of racial formations, there have been other writings that parallel very closely to the ideas set forth by Omi and Winant. Richard Wright, Pem D. Buck, and Karen Brodkin are three notable authors that have excellently highlighted the concepts set forth by Omi and Winant.

In her essay, "Are We Worried About Storm's Identity or Our own?" Patricia J. Williams asks the philosophical question, "Are we worried about Storm's identity or our own?" Her argument implies that we worry about our own identity as she describes her analytical process, a personal narration from which she derives her analytical thoughts, as well as an analogy. Williams' writing thoughts are effectively expressed in her essay and consequently, the philosophical question, "are we worried about Storm's identity or our own?"

This tolerant attitude led to a wide range of “race classification.” According to how much “white” a slave had, their value in the eyes of society increased. Slaves could be black, octaroon or mulatto to name a few. Thus this led to a classification based on one’s degree of white blood. In the United States no such classes existed. If a slave was born to a black mother, that slave was black. In essence, Latin America judged based upon the degree of “blackness” while the South saw only two races, black or white. Outward appearance, the color of the father or anything else deviated the classification in the United States. It has been said, half-facetiously, that Southerners are color blind, in the sense that individuals, despite their racial composition, are considered to be either white or black, while Latin Americans recognized degrees of blackness and whiteness.

The funny thing is that the people who were of mixed breed didn’t see themselves as white; rather they saw themselves as a lighter shade of brown. This idea still presents itself today and I think that if it hadn’t been an issue in the past, then no one who think to even make it one. People look back and see evidence of this kind of discrimination back during this time period and see that it relevant and can still be used today to try and oust the lighter skinned blacks into a different category.

Imagine a world where prestige is evaluated by neither one’s character nor success. A society which deems it right to believe one’s honor is predetermined by skin color. Visualize a world in which nuances of skin color are used to divide people amongst two factions: White or Black. Envision a society segregated. Whites and Blacks tossed into two different worlds, as if mankind is a pile of dirty laundry which needs to be organized by color. The reality is this hypothetical world did in fact exist in the United States prior to the 1970s.

Identity is a state of mind in which someone recognizes/identifies their character traits that leads to finding out who they are and what they do and not that of someone else. In other words it's basically who you are and what you define yourself as being. The theme of identity is often expressed in books/novels or basically any other piece of literature so that the reader can intrigue themselves and relate to the characters and their emotions. It's useful in helping readers understand that a person's state of mind is full of arduous thoughts about who they are and what they want to be. People can try to modify their identity as much as they want but that can never change. The theme of identity is a very strenuous topic to understand

Many are unaware of the effects that race has played in their lives over the years. Some may not understand its implications, but are very oblivious to it. Race can influence such things like attitude and behavior. Nowadays being white or black means something more than just a Crayola color. No longer are they just colors, they are races with their own rules and regulations. People of color have been inferior to the white race for centuries. In their own way Zora Neale Hurston shows this concept in her story “How it feels to be Colored Me” as does Richard Wright in his autobiographical sketch “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow”.

Race — as a social construct, a pseudo-biological concept, and an identifying demographic — has undeniably been ubiquitous in the history of human otherness. In particular, the ascribing of racial identities to a group, or “racialization”, has played a vital role in the conception and development of minority groups. This phenomenon continues to shape ideas about race and ethnicity, albeit in less dramatic ways than in the antebellum South. Nevertheless, people blinded by privilege claim that they are “colorblind” or that society has moved into a “post-racial” paradigm. It is, therefore, especially relevant to examine processes of racialization that have defined and maintained the social concept of race throughout history. A prominent historical instance of racialization that influenced modern-day race identity is the objectification and commoditization of black people in Southern slave markets of the antebellum era. As a consequence of the chattel principle, which defined a slave’s existence as property of a slaveholder, Black Americans’ identities were permanently altered by those who used their positions of power to subjugate and dehumanize them, either deliberately or tacitly. Specifically through association between race and physical or mental ability, and false medicalization of issues in slave populations, slave traders, slaveholders, and others who endorsed chattel slavery perpetuated the racialization of black slaves.

Personal identity is essential in the human experience. Identity is complex and can be broken down into two main groups: introspective identity, and bodily identity. Introspective identity is based off of the groups, mentalities, or beliefs that you align yourself with, and bodily identity is based off of the physical side of yourself. Whether physical or introspective, your identity impacts every action you take. Whether choices ranging from what colors you prefer to which college you want to attend are primarily based off of your introspective identity, which is a combination of both memory and consciousness, physical identity impacts how others perceive you. Consciousness is mainly the awareness of bodily identity as well as continuous introspective identify, while memory is awareness of introspective identity. These two different facets of identity are imperative in the distinction between bodily identity and introspective identity. In means of personal identity introspective identity (which is evident in memory), is essential, while bodily identity (based partially in consciousness) has less credit.

beliefs. Sober uses the example of lightning. He points out that according to the Greeks,

Identity refers to structured sense of self, which manipulates itself in threads of life (Burr, 2015). Figure 1 of Tūrangawaewae shows individuals identity can be classified under our age, our gender (male or female), the values and beliefs we share (religious or non- religious), the experiences ( good or bad), the people we surround ourselves with (friends and family), also not limited to, from our genetic inheritance (ancestors or parents). However, identity threads are not pre inherited but are pre-constructed idea influenced by social experiences (Kahu, 2015). I am a woman, 21 years of age, Christian by faith, Fijian Indian by ethnicity. I use mind set of goals to convey through my identity. For example, excelling

A variety of literature revolves around identity. In fact, most stories include the dilemma with self-identity no matter what format or media they are told in. The thought process of Esther Greenwood from Sylvia Plath’s novel “The Bell Jar” reveals a complex array of desires and ideals based on high expectations, all of which are never met and aid in her depression. Sylvia Plath parallels her struggle with depression and illustrates the pressures that illicit this psychosis in The Bell Jar. It is plainly woven through 1950s society how women often spiraled into depression from both the restrictions and the high expectancy that conforms them.

Identity is part of the fabric of society and shapes how people respond to conflict. It is part of the human experience to desire belonging and be differentiated. While identity is not a cause of conflict, it can be affected by other driving factors and eventually shapes the conflict. Sri Lanka was ravaged for 30 years in a brutal civil war. Conflict between Tamils and Sinhala stemmed from anti-colonial cultural revivals into post-colonial politics, which is a common result from cultural movements. Indian Tamils who were brought to the island during colonialism to work on plantations were left disenfranchised and denied citizenship as their identity was tied to the colonial powers that the Sinhala had opposed. In 1956, language became political, when the Sinhala Only Act was passed, prohibiting the use of the Tamil language, which limited Tamil access to schools, government forms, and other services. The Tamil people were denied basic human needs, which drove a political movement, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), as well as a violent rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were classified as a terrorist group.

Educational environments play an important role to close the gap and the reversal of negative attitudes and effects of the Stolen Generation. Therefore, the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, perspectives and culture are important the address the complex challenges related to identity. Schools and educators, like Chris Sarra nurture students’ pride of being an Aboriginal person and reverse negative attitudes, building on ideas of being “black and deadly” and “strong and smart” (Message Stick, 2002). East Kalgoorlie Primary School display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, showing respect for, and recognition of the First Australians (Department of Education WA, 2013). Whole school practices promoting cultural pride, practice and celebration are evident in the display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language maps, art and murals adopted by Yule Brook College (Department of Education, WA, 2013). Also, involving Elders and Traditional Owners in whole school celebrations of culture and history and the promotion of reconciliation, such as NAIDOC Week, with activities like designing a reconciliation garden to foster understanding of bush foods and native plants. In addition, a dedicated cultural space in schools occupied by Elders and community members, as role models, create opportunities to build relationships, establish generational respect, preventing racism, rejection and bullying amongst Indigenous and non-Indigenous