Freewriting assignment (pt2)

Jack Wilmott

8 September 2016

Prof. Young

Writing Skills Workshop 1100

“Freewriting Assignment”

                 Identity is a word that almost everyone has their own meaning of. No matter who you are or where you live you have an identity that defines you as a person. When defining identity there are a lot of factors that go into it. People are identified by language, wealth, appearance, personality, race, and many other things. The largest factor on somebody’s identity in my eyes is their race.

          Ever since I was a child I have never cared about what race someone was. The way I thought of it was that if you treated me with respect than I would respect you back no matter what color your skin was. As I’ve grown older reality has shown me that not everyone thinks the way that I do. Whether it was in school or on the street there have been many times where I’ve heard people make racial statements or do something unkind to someone who was another color.  To this day there are still groups such as the KKK who discriminate against people for the color of their skin, African Americans in particular.
           People do not choose there skin color it is something they are born with due to the genetics of their parents. The reason I believe that race is a major factor in how you are identified is because there have been many moments in my life where being white has affected me. For example when I was in middle school I loved playing basketball. I would go to the park near my house and play with other kids from the neighborhood. One day when I went to play I was the only person there that was white which didn't bother me but, when I asked to play someone said "This sport ain't for white people" and they wouldn't let me join in on the game.
              Being racist is not something people are born with they are taught it either by their family or the people they interact with outside of home. In “How To Tame A Wild Tongue” Gloria Anzaldua states “when we know we are more than nothing we call ourselves Mexican, referring to race and ancestry.” The problem I have with this statement is the part when she says “when we know we are more than nothing.” No matter what race you are you are never considered worthless because, every race has a history some more harsh than others. You should be proud of what you come from and embrace your culture otherwise you’re pretending to be something you’re not.

          The reason identity is important to me is because no one else can have my identity but me and I am proud to be who I am. Everything I have done in life whether I’m proud of it or not has shaped me into what I am now. All the years of school, the people I’ve met, my teachers, my family, my race, the different places I’ve seen, and even the type of dog I have has had an impact in my life and affected my identity. Without an identity I am nothing but a lost person and it is the same thing for everyone else. As long as I have my identity than I will always have something to be proud of, it doesn’t matter what color I am.