Why Identity Politics Creates Barriers For Marginalized Groups Essay

Although having grounded your own identity in the United States, we are being confined from being a full member of the American family, Reifowitz claimed. Though most of our population is still mostly multiracial throughout its years, the national community was not. However, “the country’s basic institutions were forged primarily by those of Anglo-Saxon ethnicity”(11), was based upon the shared principles that this nation was built upon to be more civilized as I presumed. Reifowitz claims that these issues were fueled to the changes in connection to the Civil Rights movements in the 1960’s. Nevertheless gave rise to the academic and ethnicities debates that took place in the 1980’s and 90’s. I understand that Reifowitz has brought these issues

Racial Formation in the United States by Michael Omi and Howard Winant made me readjust my understanding of race by definition and consider it as a new phenomenon. Through, Omi and Winant fulfilled their purpose of providing an account of how concepts of race are created and transformed, how they become the focus of political conflict, and how they shape and permeate both identities and institutions. I always considered race to be physical characteristic by the complexion of ones’ skin tone and the physical attributes, such as bone structure, hair texture, and facial form. I knew race to be a segregating factor, however I never considered the meaning of race as concept or signification of identity that refers to different types of human bodies, to the perceived corporal and phenotypic makers of difference and the meanings and social practices that are ascribed to these differences, in which in turn create the oppressing dominations of racialization, racial profiling, and racism. (p.111). Again connecting themes from the previous readings, my westernized influences are in a direct correlation to how to the idea of how I see race and the template it has set for the rather automatic patterns of inequalities, marginalization, and difference. I never realized how ubiquitous and evolving race is within the United States.

There was a time when America was segregated; Caucasians and African Americans were forced to attend different restrooms, restaurants, and water fountains. However, the era of segregation has been terminated; now America embraces and appreciates the various cultures and ethnicities that create this melting pot several people call home. Likewise, it is this melting pot, or mosaic, of races that multitudes of individuals have identified themselves with. Thus, race and ethnicity does matter for it portrays vital and crucial roles in the contemporary American society. Furthermore, ethnicity and race brings communities together in unity, determines which traditions and ideals individuals may choose to value, and imposes an impediment for it categorizes humans unjustly.

In recent years, there has been increased discussion about the treatment of minorities in the U.S. While there have been numerous laws passed that protect their freedoms, many Americans maintain a negative mindset toward other ethnicities. Due to people’s reservations, our country has been unable to make substantial progress toward equality. In The Nation’s article, “The Truth About Race in America: It’s Getting Worse, Not Better,” by Gary Younge, the author utilizes factual information, historical allusions, and related quotes to effectively contend that race relations are worsening within the United States.

At the turning point of the century came the rise of the industrial age in America, and with that, came the rise of multiculturalism. The promise of the money and jobs brought people from all over the world. Free-market enterprise had people enamored with “The American Dream,” the idea that freedom enabled every hard-working individual with the opportunity for prosperity in success. Because of this, no other nation has such a rich blend of cultures. However, with this culture of diversity one could claim makes America great, comes a series of convoluted identity politics. In the novel Covering: The Hidden Assault On Our Civil Rights, Kenji Yoshino talks about the dichotomy between the True Self and False Self, and the concept of covering,

It’s evident that identity politics is nothing more than labeling as described in the case of Susie Guillory Phipps. She sued the Bureau of vital record for declaring her negro according to the state of Louisiana anyone with one-third-second would be labeled black. The government began to label the different ethnic groups and according to them it was all in the name of science. According to them the reason for the record keeping was for the prevention of genetic diseases. Before the nineteenth century there was no labeling for sexual preference. Since the beginning we follow the example of Adam and Eve assuming that is the normal and anything else unnatural and abnormal. The “normal” became so powerful that no one would question one could say

“The Danger of a Dominant Identity,” discusses what one columnist believes to be one of the largest problems facing America today. David Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times, argues that reducing people to nothing more than a label with a singular identity is one of the largest problems America faces. Through the appropriate use of rhetorical appeals, David Brooks writes an effective article by informing and firmly convincing the reader of the danger in viewing others as one-sided.

Shelby Steele supports his argument in his essay “The New Sovereignty” through the use of several effective rhetorical devices. He incorporates historical allusions, repetition, simile, personification and jargon to support his assertion that minorities end up separating themselves instead of integrating and should focus more on achieving integration.

Nowadays it is not uncommon that almost everyone has at least one profile on some sort of social networking site. The reason? To not feel left out. We post online to share what we are doing and how we are feeling. However, social media has influenced us in ways that were not initially planned. Our identities, the concept of what makes you, yourself. Identities are constantly evolving due to social media. We are posting online to make good impressions on the people who follow us. We snap photos and add filters to make ourselves look and feel better. Maybe someone will comment! What if nobody does? Do I delete it? These are constant questions and concerns that go through peoples’ minds during the time they post content. I know those questions run through my head each time I click the share button. It’s almost like we need validation from others for us to be ourselves. When I post, I wait to see the reaction of others, will they like it? When others post, I am constantly comparing myself to them. We are constantly comparing and evolving. Exactly like our identity. Our lives are increasingly more public now more than ever.

Actions that demonize and criminalize brown people because of their identities, their names, and their faiths; this requires a call to action for all of us; time for a new movement in America that is centered on the desire to reclaim our country. To marginalize one means we marginalize all. While “We Too Sing America” focuses on atrocities leveled on the South Asia, Arab, Muslim, and Sikh immigrants, there are many groups suffer the same mistreatment. Many groups suffer in silence. Many groups’ rights are trampled upon, and repeatedly overlooked and taken advantage of, and through the minimalizing actions of our government, be it law enforcement or the legislative branch.

Mark Lilla’s argument in The End of Identity Liberalism definitely recognizes the underlying problem in the “success story” (Lilla 1) of the American diversity: a lack of unifying force (Lilla 1). However, it seems to be too arbitrary to deduce from the defects of identity liberalism that the possible solution is only an either-or choice: the necessity of a unifying force should predicate the end of identity liberalism. The end of identity liberalism will come at some time, but today must not be the time. The end of identity liberalism should be based upon universally equal acceptance and representation of different individuals, a point that is ignored by Lilla in his argument.

The United States prides itself on being a racially and ethnically diverse country- nicknamed the “Land of Immigrants”. However, since the birth of this nation, race and ethnicity has been a topic of controversy. These issues have been brought to light through protests and violence.In more recent history, race and ethnicity has created a divide in the United States. Some political theorists put blame on the last two U.S Presidential elections - going from the United State’s first black President to a white, republican President with strict views on race and ethnicity in America. These political changes have sparked major racial and ethnic problems such as the increase in racial profiling, racism, and racial and ethnic inequality. It is hypothesized

The body politic is a social construction rooted in whiteness that has been historically defined as a privilege as opposed to a right. The presence of non-white, minority groups in the U.S. created social anxieties that perpetuated the idea of citizenship and social membership as a right only exclusive to whites. In making membership to the body politic exclusive to only whites, non-white minorities become the objects of discriminatory policies created by white, powerful institutions. Public health, housing, and urban planning policies are mediums through which people of color are racialized and confined to segregated spaces away from the white community. Aside from governmental and local laws, discourse and language serve a political purpose

The B&H article relates to the above paragraph as to why such issues have risen and how post 9/11 has created an US vs THEY environment with the majority now teaming up against the minorities in this country mainly due to differences that have never been whipped into the peaceful process of

However, today I will be arguing against this concept as a suitable method of dealing with issues as I believe that identity politics encourages segregation in society. I will let you know that I am not against the concept of identity politics as a whole because there are benefits from the idea. But I am against how it has been executed since it encourages division based on personal factors, dismisses individualism in situations and promotes the idea of only being able to contribute towards an issue if part of a specific group.