Identifying with a specific racial identity has been difficult for as long as anyone can remember. In this week’s readings and podcast, readers get a glimpse of the struggles of trying to fit in spaces while others make them feel as though they do not belong. American society is built on the foundation of a black and white binary. Racial identities in between of these identities go unrecognized and/or experience negative misrepresentation.
In the podcast “Being Blaxican in L.A.” scholar Walter Thompson-Hernández discusses his experience of living with his Mexican and Black racial identities. Although it was a struggle trying explain his background to others, he eventually learned that as long as he is comfortable with his identification, then the ideologies of others do not matter. He started to use social media as an avenue to address issues regarding biracial struggles and successes within communities around American society. Other biracial folk are given the opportunity to talk about their stories in a safe space free of judgment.
Assimilation is another topic that is constantly talked about within the area of social justice. Assimilation is the act of adapting to other cultures and traditions for reasons including the desire for privilege and acceptance. As discussed in the paragraphs above, the black and white binary is an ideology in which we only see two racial groups among society with blacks being the oppressed population and white folk being ‘superior.’ Within the Latina/o community, there is discrimination and a racial hierarchy with people admiring Eurocentric features and denying other such as dark and indigenous complexions. In the article “Why Latinos Won’t Become White,” author Gabriel Arana explains how the Latina/o community sometimes look up to the White community because they feel as though it would grant them privilege and keep them safe from discrimination. This is damaging because it only influences and encourages racial discrimination more. Regardless of how much they want to belong to the ‘superior’ population, they are only lying to themselves and others.
My questions for you are: do you think assimilation is an excuse for surviving in racist American society? Have you always been comfortable with the identity you are claiming today? Do you feel sorry or anger towards folk who have chosen to assimilate?
I think assimilation is something people do either consciously or unaware that they are doing it. Some people do assimilate because they know they will be rejected from the dominant culture. Other individuals do it with no consciousness of it. I believe it can be a method people use to survive here in America. Also, I can admit that I have assimilated to the American culture more than my grandparents but I also practice Mexican traditions and I am loud and proud of my ancestry. I identify greatly with my Mexican culture and hope to teach my children the same value in doing so. I do feel sad when I see people lose touch with their cultures because it’s one of the things I find most interesting about a person and I believe it is what defines you. You can learn so much about someone by knowing where they or their family came from. I believe we should fight to identify with our cultures because otherwise we are all going to be mixed breeds who can only identify with American culture and that can get a little boring (in my opinion). People should be proud and knowledgeable of where they are from.