Racial Identity Early American History - 1440 Words

Austin Dubble Professor Carol Jenkins Politics of Identity 7 September 2014 Racial Identity in Early American History The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines identity as â€Å"the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others† (MWD). In other words, the characteristics which makes a person unique is the identity that they associate with. Black, white, Indian or Latino; gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight; man, woman or transgender; young, middle aged or old; Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Hindu; poor, middle class, or rich; these are just a sampling of the identities that an individual might use to describe themselves in a way to set themselves apart from others. However, what should happen if these identities and their respective connotations are thrown onto a person? What if these differences that many claim should be celebrated are now used to persecute and ostracize? No longer does the individual have a choice as to what identities they will use and how those identities will be represented in the world. Ame rica was founded as a result of a religious identity crisis in England yet at the same time the Founding Fathers used the identity of race as a way to persecute a large body of individuals. There are a myriad of texts that help explain the idea of race and the implications of it in America. The legal documents, the historical writings, and the modern analysis of America’s history all paint a picture of the separation between theShow MoreRelatedRace and the Census: Effect on the Social Context of Cultural and Social Identity1383 Words   |  6 PagesThe focus of this research study is to explore the construct of race in the census survey and the effect that it has on the social context of both cultural and social identity. These changes are based on the evolving landscape of the population as it pertains to the characteristics of its people. The Census was first administered in the 1790 and would take place every ten years . Its main purpose was to better respond to the nee ds of its citizens and how the government would represent the growingRead MoreSilencing Race : Disentangling Blackness, Colonialism, And National Identities962 Words   |  4 PagesSilencing Race: Disentangling Blackness, Colonialism, and National Identities in Puerto Rico, she reconstructs defining historical moments between the 1870s and 1910s when over-racialized boundaries became politically expedient in the building of a cohesive Puerto Rican national identity. Ileana M. Rodrà ­guez-Silva is an associate professor of Latin American and Caribbean history at the University of Washington, Department of History. She earned her B.A. at the Universidad de Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasRead MoreEthnic And Racial Identity During Adolescence Into Young Adulthood855 Words   |  4 PagesThe peer reviewed article â€Å"Ethnic and Racial Identity During Adolescence into Young Adulthood: An Integrated Conceptualization† is a well written article on the struggle that people of color face when coming face to face with their identity in social situations. Umana-Taylor, Quintana, Lee, Cross, Rivas-Drake, Schwartz and Seaton (2014) analyzed ethnic and racial identity or ERI and how it relates to important developments and issues from early childhood well on into young adulthood. They workedRead MoreRace, By John Davidson892 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"race exists as a socially constructed reality.† Race however is no longer an easy way to categorize especially with newer concepts such as â€Å"identities† and â€Å"ethnicities†. This makes it increasingly difficult to use race as an organizing concept. This can be said of Latin America; due to conflicts with racial ideologies and identities many Latin American countries try to distance themselves from the black/white dichotomy. One example can come from Dominican Republic, Black Dominicans due not useRead MoreRacial Prejudice And Racial Discrimination During The 1920 S1585 Words   |  7 Pages States has a long history of segregation and discrimination that has long affected present policy. It is clear that racial minorities have been targets of this racial bias for years, and even after slavery was abolished, African-Americans continued to face the most racism due to the color of their skin. Thus, by looking at how John Franklin’s life experience as a boy scout during the 1920’s illustrates a small peek into the history of race and ethnicity in America, we can see how racial hostility, andRead MoreWhiteness and Citizenship971 Words   |  4 PagesCaptain Ahab’s eulogy of whiteness shows that the word â€Å"white† implies more than a chromatic description. â€Å"White† is an untenable perfection that has haunted the American psyche since colonial times. The idea of â€Å"white spiritual superiority† can only be enforce by a terrorist politico-legal system, based on brutalizing the non-whites and creating a national fantasy. A nat ional fantasy defined by Lauren Berlant as the means â€Å"to designate how national culture becomes local through the images, narrativesRead MoreSociological Theories Of Prejudice And Racism1645 Words   |  7 PagesSociological Theories of Prejudice and Racism Functionalist theory argues for race and ethnic relations to be functional and thus supply to the melodic conduct and strength of society, racial and ethnic minorities must assimilate into that society. Assimilation is a process by which a minority becomes socially, economically, and culturally absorbed within the dominant society. The assimilation perspective assumes that to become fully fledged members of society, alternative groups must adopt as muchRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes And His Views On Early 20th Century African American Society Essay1717 Words   |  7 PagesDecember 2016 Langston Hughes and His Views on Early 20th-Century African American Society When African American slaves were released from slavery following the American Civil War, the ethnic group was now able to control their own lives, and the U.S had to acknowledge their freedoms and rights as American citizens. However, despite bold beliefs from the war, many white Americans still continued to deny equality to those of color. In addition, African Americans had not expressed their true potential asRead MoreRace And Ethnicity : Cape Verdean American Immigrants Essay1631 Words   |  7 PagesEthnicity: Cape Verdean American Immigrants 1860-1965, I was able to develop a clear perspective of the Cape Verdean’s American voyage as well as their social and economic triumph. Prior to reading this book, I had no knowledge of the Cape Verdean people, unless they are very similar to the â€Å"Brazilians†. Marilyn intentions for her book was to address the social construction of Cape Verdean racial and ethnic identity and how the trials they experience while margin ing into American society. Cape VerdeansRead MoreThe Life and Legacy of Dr. Kenneth B. Clark: The History of an African-American Psychologist904 Words   |  4 Pagesto inspire because, even today, in the 21st century, there are many ideas and problems that Clark addresses in the realm of prejudice and racism that are still relevant in social identity, education and the work place in America. Clark was a social psychologist who was a firm believer in equality, though he knew that racial division would be a difficult task to overcome, he still thought it was a concept that was necessary for America to progress. One of the many researchers that have continued Clark’s