We Should NOT Be Judged For Our Identity

Society is often faced with a dilemma in its persistent attempt to properly classify people: mixed-race identities. This structure of identity is the focus in Drew Hayden Taylor's "Pretty Like A White Boy," where he effectively portrays mixed-race experiences of having Ojibway and European heritage and the impact of societal pressure to fit into preconceived ideas. In “Pretty Like A White Boy” Drew Hayden Taylor discusses how society forces people into a single race, background and identity, even if a person comes from mixed races and cultures. Drew Hayden Taylor discusses the widely accepted belief in society that one needs to "look" for a specific way to classify as a member of a racial or cultural group. Taylor explains throughout the article

King Tutankhamen better known as King Tut lived around 1341-1323 B.C. in Ancient Egypt. King Tut became the youngest Egyptian pharaoh at the age of 9 years old. Tut ruled in the period known as the New Kingdom. The New Kingdom was during the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties. After the Twentieth Dynasty Ancient Egypt came to an end when the last Ramasess died. There is no for sure answer on how Ancient Egypt ended but many believe there was a drought.

Chapters 27-31 1) The children take advantage of the Misses Barber’s lack of hearing abilities to play a cruel, practical prank on them. They sneak into their house during the night and move all of their furniture into their cellar. During the aftermath of the prank, Miss tutti says she is convinced that the “traveling fur sellers who came through town two days ago had purloined their furniture.” As she notes, “Da-rk they were, Syrians.”

When I entered the Dynamic of Racism and Oppression class I was the individual who had blinders on. I did not have a full understanding of what racism was, which in itself is shocking to me as I thought I had. What made me really stop and think was this class opened my eyes to the fact that I did not know my own identity. I have heard individual say “I’m black”, “I am of African decent”, “I’m Latino”, “I’m Canadian”, and “I’m white”. These are common statements of how individuals view their race and identity. I have even placed my identity in one of those categories, I’m white. I was unaware and unsure of what it meant to have a culture, which many individuals claim everyday. Some individuals know their identity, others do not, I was one

Defining someone by their skin color is an everyday phenomenon. Many people see a specific shade of skin and believe they know exactly how that person is going to speak, carry, and illustrate themselves. It seems to be embedded in one’s head at a young age to have specific views given by family, friends, and coworkers such as, believing interracial relationships are immoral, or it being acceptable to judge others according to their skin color. In the articles “Race is a Four Letter Word” by Teja Arboleda and “Mr. Z” by M. Carl Holman, the color of the authors skin plays a substantial role on how they are treated and perceived. Living in a society that doesn’t understand one’s culture can make their life extremely difficult.

She articulates this idea that we want to have an identity and feel safe around those of the ‘same’. Lastly, Tatum makes a point that racial identity can persist into Adulthood, it is not only in schools but also in the corporate world. Part III Understanding Whiteness in a White Context: This section discusses the development of white identity and how many white people neglect to really think about their identity. Thinking about race may make many people uncomfortable but having those difficult conversations and acknowledging privilege and oppression is the action that needs to be taken. Tatum suggests affirmative action. Part IV: Beyond Black and White: Disuses important issues of other racial minorities including, Latino, American Indian, and Asian Pacific American. Tatum also discusses identity development in multiracial families, this can be a complex identity development with many factors coming into play, however, parental encouragement of biracial identity has been seen as highly beneficial. Part V Breaking the Silence: This final section offers suggestion on embracing a cross-racial dialogue. We can no longer can be silent and must work toward social change and a more equitable world for all.

Identity is the characteristics that determine who a person is, not all factors in a person’s identity are chosen for example race or gender, whereas being a New York Yankee fan is a chosen aspect in someone’s identity. Following that statement there are certain pre-determined assumptions about particular pieces that make up one’s identity, those assumptions, however are not chosen by the person with said identity. If you are a woman in today’s society you are under constant criticism, whether it is in your work ethic, the way you look, and even the way you conduct yourself. Sadly, being a woman is not the only aspect of someone 's identity that is constantly under scrutiny. Race is a major part a person’s identity, whether they themselves think so or not. This is a white man’s world that we live in so consequently if you are anything other than that you will most definitely encounter hardships in life.

What is the obsession with people’s need of identification? People need to understand that we all are different, not everybody can fit into a group. In her article, “Being an Other,” Melissa Algranati gives a personal narrative of her life and her parent 's life and how they faced discrimination and her struggles about being identified as an “other” even though she was an American born jewish and Puerto Rican. Michael Omi’s article “In Living Color: Race and American Culture” reinforces Algranati’s article since in his article he discusses about people ideas about race the stereotypes that they face. They have the same thought that Americans is obsessed with labelling people, they both discuss people’s assumptions of others based on how

Understanding this will help one realize how they are. In the article, ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ Obama mentions a girl name Joyce from college who was part Italian, part French and part Native American and states her struggle with people trying to label her. “I’m not Black… I’m multiracial… Why should I have to choose between them? …They’re the ones who are telling me I can’t be who I am.” (Smith, 2008) In this quote, Joyce tells that she is multiracial, meaning she is accepting all roots. When she says that people are trying to tell her she can’t be who she is, she is not agreeing to make others comfortable. However there are also people that do not want to accept their roots, specifically their genetics. In the previous article, ‘DNA rewrites history for African-Americans,’ Henry Louis Gates Jr. did not want to embrace the fact that he was 50% white and 50% black. ““I’ll never see my family tree in quite the same way,” Gates says on the PBS show program, “I have the blues. Can I still have the blues?”” (Willing, 2006) After discovering his true heritage, Gates did not want to accept his ‘new’ identity, but instead rejects it, unlike Joyce. When he denies his identity it only hurts him because he does not recognize his entire

For this reason, I feel you shouldn’t have to say, “I’m Black” or “I’m White”. It makes mixed people feel like they are not accepted or fit in anywhere, yet you forget that’s how you’ve been treated like that for many years. You never let us be mixed or biracial, making us feel that we can’t be different.Today, in society, they say different is good; but then turn around and talk about it like it’s weird. This why I feel you shouldn’t have to live by your

Our identities are identified by our culture, religion and race, shaping our beliefs, values and sense of belonging in society. To begin, Culture, Religion and Race play a vital role in our lives as they create boundaries, inspirations, and restrictions in our lives that shape who we are and what we become. The inspirations from culture, religion and race are made in a young age, the restrictions are what come with the belief of a religion as do the boundaries, all these characteristics and key parts are what define our identity. First, the culture of the world.

The following paper will discuss two of the major dimensions of my cultural identity, and analyze the way in which my identity holds privileges, or has exposed me to oppression. Being that I am white, I have lived a life of privilege simply because of the color of my skin. I have been afforded opportunities, and lived a life free from persecution due to my skin color. I have also lived a life that has been impacted by oppression because of my female identity. This unique position between privilege and oppression is where I live my life.

The issue of whether identity is socially constructed or an innate characteristic remains a contested one. For some, identity is a product of the society, interactions, influence, and practices while for others, it is biological or rather primordial. At the very basic, identity is an essential personal characteristics as it encompasses the membership to different groups, including religion, gender, and ethnicity, the traits people show and what others ascribe to them (Newman 126). Identity locates people in the social world and influences all their actions, thoughts, and feelings. Several renowned thinkers and philosophers offer their

Shakespeare’s Macbeth and George Orwell’s Animal Farm are two different stories with one common element: the main characters become leaders of their land. Animal farm is a literary creation which draws parallels with Communism and the USSR's Communist leader Joseph Stalin. Stalin is represented by a pig character by the name of Napoleon. In Macbeth, the main character is portrayed as a mighty warrior and then becomes the King of Scotland. It is unmistakable that Shakespeare’s Macbeth has a similar character to George Orwell’s Napoleon from Animal Farm, as evident through both characters’ hunger for power, ruthless characteristic, and secretive nature.

The way in which others perceive us can occasionally play a part in the shaping our identity. Our teenage years and our desire to belong both significantly impact who we are today. However, in saying that, it’s evident that as we mature the opinions and views of other become less relevant and are less likely to affect our sense of identity. Your identity defines who you are and is something influenced by various contributing factors.