Identity
Identity
The passage from IBé provides varying perceptions regarding the aspect of identity. The author affirms that like black and white, they cannot be referred to race but classifications. In the passage, ‘If Black, like White, is not a race, then it must be a classification. And as with all classifications, there must be a shared characteristic among al members of this group.’ The author perceives individuals as a classification and their characteristic is something that needs to be considered. The passage showcases that identity should not be static and instead should shift based on the individual perceptions and the experiences one encounters. For the second passage, Heid E. Erdrich writes, ‘The law used words like ‘colored’ or ‘octoroon,’ but Indigenous people are not exactly People of Color. We may be generally brown (we can be and are black), but we are not immigrants, forced pr otherwise, and we do not have a uniform racial identity.’ The passage is selected considering its analysis of the overall societal situation and how people might choose to identify with a specific group. Lastly, Maalouf asserts, ‘Identity is one of those false friends. We all think we know what the word means and go on trusting it, even when it’s slyly starting to stay the opposite.’ The passage was selected as it affirms the aspect of identity and how the issue is subjective in various situations.
From the assessment of the three passages, it is evident that identity is an element that is defined in various ways. It is important to have an understanding of the situation based on the context. IBé affirms that identity can be perceived as a form of classification that categorizes people based on their specific characteristics. Therefore, identity can be perceived as an entity that puts together groups of people that share the same systems of beliefs or have the same characteristics.
In contemporary society, identity is defined based on various entities and this is based on context. Social sophistication has brought about diverse subsets that can be used to define identity. In some cases, identity is decided by individual but mostly it is externally imposed by the society (Maalouf, 2001). The society focuses on primary aspects such as race and religion and ignores the specific multifaceted nature of an individual. From the assessment of this scenario, it is evident that external forces play an objective part in limiting personal beliefs and identity, and this, one is limited to the societal labels.
The aspect of deciding a person’s identity should be done in a holistic and fluid manner so that the individuals cannot feel as outsiders. According to Erdrich, self-determination is crucial as it ensures that a person can be in a position to connect with the inner self and not be influenced by external sources (Shin, 2016). Notably, each individual has ultimate authority to determine their identity and this is informed through their unique stories and experiences. It is also important to understand that there are no fixed identities as IBé affirms. The author reiterates that there should be an expansive pool for the creation of self-defined identity one that is not bound by external categorizations. The idea reiterates that identity needs to be fluid and self-determined.
In conclusion, it is important to understand that identity is a crucial entity when seeking to understand an individual or a society. Having an idea of the personal and societal conditions is crucial in developing an identity that define the entities. The authors provide thought-provoking ideas and positions associated with the definitions of identity.
References
Maalouf, A. (2001). In the name of identity: Violence and the need to belong. Arcade Publishing.
Shin, S. Y. (2016). Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society Press.