What is the impact of searching your true identity when society labels you based on stereotypes?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/28/american-nightmare-ralph-ellison-s-invisible-man-at-60.html

Finding one’s true identity can be difficult when exposed to stereotypes that define their ethnicity and being a mixed child. This has to do with society focusing on the criticism on an individual’s appearance. He or she is forced to act differently based on stereotypes and someone’s perception of that person.

In the Invisible Man, the narrator describes the meaning behind his invisibility. “The invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiar disposition of the eyes of those with whom I come in contact. A matter of the construction of their inner eyes with which they look through their physical eyes upon reality.” (Invisible Man, 3) In other words he is saying that people are classifying him as someone who is not important because he’s black and looking at him as if he was in a dream where he didn’t exist. In connection to invisibility, the narrator discusses a time where he bumped into a tall blond man who insulted him. This resulted in the narrator wanting to slit his throat with a knife only to find out he’s blind.  “Poor fool, poor blind fool, I thought with sincere compassion, mugged by an invisible man!” (Invisible Man, 4)

In the article, American Nightmare: Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ at 60, Ellison provides some background on the imagery of invisibility. “I am invisible; understand, simply because people refuse to see me. Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows, it is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass…you often doubt if you really exist. You wonder whether you aren’t simply a phantom in other people’s minds. Say, a figure in a nightmare …”

In an attempt to find his true identity, in the Invisible Man the narrator ultimately struggles with stereotypes such as social prejudice. “It was the cabin of Jim Trueblood, a sharecropper who had brought disgrace upon the black community” (Invisible Man, 46) Black people who were in a higher social standing decided to disown Jim Trueblood in order to conform to the example of a model black citizen that was expected by the white board of trustees. The narrator was forced to see that even among black people there was tension between those in the upper class and those in the lower class. This symbolizes an instance where the Invisible Man had difficulty finding his identity because he knows that he’s black, but where does he belong in terms of social standing? Most importantly, he wonders why there’s so much tension between black social classes when they are fighting oppression.

Stereotypes go beyond social prejudice and The Invisible Man also experiences racism when he arrives at Liberty Paints to work. “Our white is so white you can paint a chunka coal and you’d have to crack it open with a sledge hammer to prove that it wasn’t white clear enough” (Invisible Man, 217) This quote exemplifies Ellison’s use of the Liberty Paints plant as a metaphor.. The main property of Optic White, Brockway notes, is its ability to cover up blackness. This dynamic evokes the larger notion that the white power structure in America, like the white paint, tries to subvert and smother black identity. Prejudice forces black men like the Invisible Man and women to assimilate to white culture, to mask their true thoughts and feelings in an effort to gain acceptance and tolerance. It forces the narrator to remain invisible and adapt an identity that society creates.

According to American Nightmare: Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ at 60 the synopsis that summarized the main idea of Invisible Man came from Ellison in a letter sent to his literary agent in 1946 as he was beginning to write the novel. “The invisible man will move upward through Negro life, coming into contact with its various forms and personality types; will operate in the Negro middle class, in the leftwing movement and descend again into the disorganized atmosphere of the Harlem underworld. He will move upward in society through opportunism and submissiveness. Psychologically he is a traitor, to himself, to his people, and to democracy … He is also to be a depiction of a certain type of Negro humanity that operates in the vacuum created by white America in its failure to see Negroes as human.

In order to combat the labels of racism that society placed on the narrator, his identity was completely transformed into a clean slate. “But what of his psychology”? “Absolutely no importance!” the voice said. “The patient will live as he has to live, and with absolute integrity. Who could ask for more? He’ll experience no major conflict of motives, and what is even better, society will suffer no traumata on his account.” (Invisible Man, 236)  Ellison uses imagery that compares the narrator with a newborn child. He wakes with no memory, an inability to understand speech, and a wholly unformed identity.  This rebirth, doesn’t include any recollection of his parents. The lack of mother or father recalls the veteran’s advice that the narrator should be his own father that is, create his own identity rather than accept an identity imposed on him from the outside.

In the following YouTube video The Invisible Man and its Impact on the American Lexicon it explains how Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man provided the foundation for the beginning of black identity. This was expressed through the progress of World War II and how African American’s were returning to a society infested in Jim Crow laws. Something Ralph Ellison capitalized on was the fact that in Europe many famous African American artists such as Louis Armstrong and Josephine Baker saw for the first time equal treatment among them. This was Ellison’s inspiration for writing the novel as he was on leave from the Coast Guard in 1946. Most importantly, Ellison saw that writers during the Harlem Renaissance such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neal Hurston laid the mental seeds for change in the minds of the Negro.

Ellison’s novel influence gave rise to many political and social organizations in Harlem for the attention and vibe of the black community. Among these groups were the Nation of Islam, Communist Party affiliate groups, the NAACP, and militant Civil Rights organizations which brought a change in the Lexicon of America and provided a voice for all African Americans who felt that they had no identity. In addition, the nomenclature of black changed thanks to the influence of the novel. Ellison addressed how he transitioned from Nigga to Negro to Black Man as a representation of the changing times. During the 1930’s it was not accepted for an African American to be called black it was considered a “slap in the mouth.” civil rights groups such as the NAACP used the word Negro while more radical civil rights groups like the Black Panthers used the term Black to promote “Black Power”

A search for someone’s true identity can be seen in a person who was born a mixed child. For example someone who is of mixed decent often times struggle with knowing where they would be accepted in society. In other words, its understanding whether or not to embrace both races equally or have a stronger connection with one race over the other. For many individuals who are mixed it all depends upon how they are raised by their parents and the any customs or the culture that was influenced on them the most. Beyond the scope of learning whether or not to embrace both races or have a stronger connection there’s a difficulty with people questioning mixed race people about how they should identify themselves. Overall, it’s those challenges that mixed race people face that makes it a lot more complicated to search for their true identity.

http://www.temple.edu/temple_times/8-26-04/caucasia-bw.jpg

In the novel, Caucasia Birdie has no name, her identity is shaped and formed by how others see her. The confusion Birdie feels with her identity is not only due to the shame she feels between her body image and her physical body which most adolescent girls deal with, but she also feels confusion regarding the mixed messages she receives from the “white” and “black” communities because of her white skin. The characters of Birdie and Cole are both bi-racial, however others including their own parents see Birdie as “white” and Cole as “black”. It was because of her childhood being raised in the strong black identity that she felt out of place and not fitting the black image because of the color of her skin. To make me feel that the differences were deeper than skin” (Senna,91). Birdie begins her identity quest by attempting to disappear, to become invisible.

In order for her to try to find an identity, Birdie goes through a series of events that involved many stereotypes that forced her to become someone she’s not.  The hostility of the other children toward Birdie in particular, at the all “black” school forces Birdie to “wear the mask” and put on a racial performance for her schoolmates in Nkrumah and she even begins to learn to speak in slang to better fit in. The character of Birdie resembles that of a chameleon, constantly taking on the color of those around her in an attempt to become invisible. This racial performance shifts through Birdie’s journey as she attempts to fit in with the “white” teenagers in New Hampshire. Birdie begins to act, talk, and dress like the New Hampshire teens and as a consequence begins to disappear into “Caucasia” the white nation and her falsified identity of Jesse Goldman.

In conjunction with the book Caucasia, the YouTube video above  called Racial Documentary “Other” Mixed Identity goes into detail on a few individuals who were born mixed and the challenges that they have to go through on a daily basis with identity. In many cases these individuals understand the misconceptions that many people including their friends have made as a result of being mixed. For example when it comes to the question of what race do these individuals most identify with they automatically assume that based on the color of the individual’s skin that defines what race they associate with the most. While parts of this argument may be true, most of the individuals in the video do acknowledge that it made them feel very uncomfortable and felt as if they were forced to be defined based on appearance. Phrases such as, “you’re not black enough” are a great example.

Furthermore, the individuals in the video do appreciate many aspects of their mixed cultures. For example, there was one individual whose mother is a full German and his father is half Brazilian and half Italian. He mentions that he has a strong appreciation for his father’s Brazilian heritage, but not as much as his mother’s heritage only because he spends more time with his mother rather than his father. In terms of referencing themselves, some identify themselves as just black or just white. The individuals in the video stressed the fact that at one point, they wanted to fit into a specific race when they were younger, but as they got older they learned to embrace bi-raciality and the great things that each heritage has to offer. Although the individuals in the video did say that they felt forced when checking off being a minority for scholarships and other opportunities.

Not only did the individuals discuss the challenges of being mixed, but they also shed some light on the positive aspects. All of the individuals said that they didn’t allow their friends to make their identity for them, instead they expressed their optimism for being mixed. Expressing that there is nothing wrong with being mixed and that does not make anyone different from the rest. The individuals in the video attributed their parents as the main sources of inspiration and guidance when it came to identity. From their parents’ guidance, they learned very quickly that being mixed should not define them as souls wandering their lives for acceptance or their identity. It is based upon being proud of where you come from, as well as the appreciation for diversity.

In conclusion, finding one’s true identity can be difficult when exposed to stereotypes that define their ethnicity and being a mixed child. It forces individuals to hide behind a mask and assimilate to a formulated culture. Through proper guidance, culture, and appreciation of heritage is the formula for identity.

Works Cited

Invisible Man. (n.d.). Retrieved May 13, 2013, from Spark Notes: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/invisibleman/section7.rhtml

kash, T. (2012, February 3). Hub Pages. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from “Lost in Caucasia”: an essay on the novel Caucasia by Danzy Senna: http://thriftykash.hubpages.com/hub/Lost-in-Caucasia-an-essay-on-the-novel-Caucasia-by-Danzy-Senna-1998

Rich, N. (2012, June 28). The Daily Beast . Retrieved May 13, 2013, from American Nightmare: Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ at 60: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/28/american-nightmare-ralph-ellison-s-invisible-man-at-60.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_nZnPor4dg The Invisible Man and its Impact on the American Lexicon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j4LkOz9C8U Racial Documentary “Other” Mixed Identity

 

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Elvis Presley’s Black influence in Music

http://www.nairaland.com/129091/elvis-presely-racist

Elvis Presley was an iconic musician who revolutionized the world of music. He was able to influence many audiences including black and white because he incorporated rock and roll and gospel music. Because of his upbringing he related well to the black community.

In the YouTube video Elvis Presley: Black Music Influence it was said that Elvis grew up for most of his life in the black part of Tupelo, Mississippi called Shake Rag. It was in Shake Rag where he learned to love the song called That’s All Right Little Mama by Arthur Crudup. Also he performed many songs by many famous soul, and rhythm and blues artists such as, Big Mama Thornton, Little Richard, Ray Charles and B.B. King. For the most part the rest of the video showed quotes from many black artists in his time praising him for his contributions in breaking the color barrier in music. When no one gave black music the opportunity to be heard, Elvis was the one to open the doors for black music. “Elvis’ music represents not just an amalgam of America’s folk traditions but a bold restatement of an egalitarian ideal.”

Please copy and paste these URL’s to your browser because the video image is not showing up and it seems that the links are broken.

I believe that this video was made in order to highlight how much Elvis was as influence not just as a musician, but as a person overall. The message that I got across from the video was that many of the black artists who knew Elvis were among those who were influenced by his style of music and many were appreciative of his courage to expand his music despite the many barriers that he had to overcome in order to achieve integration. It gave artists like Little Richard and B.B. King the assurance that they themselves would be able to have their music impact people of all races, not just blacks. Most importantly, the video made me see that in reality Elvis had a deep appreciation for all black music. He decided to include those elements of music in order to represent his experience with black culture as a child growing up.

Elvis Presley represented a movement within the integration of music. Not only did he represent the definition of what it meant to be a Caucasian artist who used the power of his black cultural upbringing to impact those who were against conformity, but he made it known that he was proud to expose that side of his being. Especially during a time where there was segregation between blacks and whites, Elvis went to an avenue of musical influence that no one of his ethnicity even dared to touch. Many people who have judge Elvis over the years for being racist against black people or for allegedly “stealing black dance moves” was proved wrong. This video clip demonstrated that all of those sayings were wrong and were discredited through quotes from black artists who knew Elvis from the artist to the human being.

In conclusion, Elvis was able to be a major influence within the black community because he was able to relate to the culture and the struggles that black people had. He used those experiences not only to break racial barriers in the music business, but to inspire a generation that was ready to connect with each other.

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Does the image of a hefty black woman affect how people perceive them in terms of appearance?

http://dcmoviegirl.blogspot.com/2008/03/most-tired-worn-out-stereotypical-black.html

In today’s society many black women especially hefty black women are criticized for being too “fat” and not accepted as individuals who can be beautiful. This has to do with the fact that men only desire women who have the amazing body, good looks and how attractive they are.

In the show Comics Unleashed, the comedian Monique was invited to talk about something that was on her mind. Because the concept on the show had no restrictions she could speak on anything she wanted to. Monique decided to talk about big women and how they are not considered as beautiful people or individuals who could be models. In many of her stand up comedies, Monique expresses many of the stereotypes that heavy women are put through and how they must put up with so much negativity from men who prefer the “skinny” and very attractive women like the ones on swimsuit covers of magazines. At the same time she encourages those women who are hefty to be proud of their image, be optimistic about life, and demonstrate that a hefty woman is just as beautiful and sexy as a skinny woman.

In Comics Unleashed, Monique decides to talk about the fact that hefty black women are not gracing their presence on magazines such as Playboy. She addresses all fat women in the audience made a reference to the seasons. From Fall to Spring fat black can keep their men protected. Monique really stressed the importance of appreciating the beauty of the black women who is fat. She said that fat women are just as capable of being in covers of Playboy magazines as women who are skinny and people will still buy the magazines. Monique decided to give an example of the potential pose that she would use if she were to be asked to pose for Playboy magazine. She concluded by saying that if a fat black women was to grace the cover of Playboy, then Hugh Hefner would sell more magazines than he ever did in his life.

My interpretation of the clip with the comedian Monique was that she was right to address the issue on black women not being praised for their appearance. It is important that people know that appearance goes beyond having the best body or being skinny. No matter what size a woman is beautiful in every way. What really intrigued me about Monique’s talk was sending a message to Hugh Hefner about inviting her to do a photo shoot for Playboy. She used her courage to let him know that plus size models are needed in the industry and that without them, his magazine will not sell as well. In my opinion I truly admired and appreciated Monique for standing up for the hefty women and taking into account that they are just as beautiful and attractive as skinny girls.

In conclusion, today’s society puts a heavy burden on hefty black women’s appearance because they don’t necessary fit the mold of what a woman should look like, skinny and attractive. Monique took that burden and made people realize that these women are also beautiful and attractive.

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Even as a joke, are racist comments affecting the identity of a black person?

Guess Who: Racist Black Jokes

When we say racist black comments it can be funny or very insulting. From one point of view racist comments depicts many perceptions that people have about a black person that are true. On the other hand these racist comments can represent the negative aspects of black identity.

In the movie Guess Who there was a scene that depicted many black racist jokes that were insulting yet funny. Teresa who is black was dating a white man named Simon Green. Simon was invited to dinner so he could meet Teresa’s family. He was received warmly by the family and was very happy to finally meet him in person.  When Teresa’s grandfather meet Simon he asked her why she went that way and did the black men run out in New York. Teresa replied by saying that black men ran out about 10 days ago.

Simon preceded by telling the family how his grandmother felt about Teresa. He said that she thought Teresa was the sweetest person and loved her nappy hair. Instantly, Teresa’s grandfather jumped and told Simon where his grandmother lived so he could beat the living daylights out of her. After the conflict had settled, Simon told the family that he knew about many black jokes that he had heard throughout his life. He told a joke that referenced black men buried under the ground which he referred to as  Afro turf. Another joke referenced Tiger Woods that addressed white men chasing one black man the PGA Tour. Overall, the family approved of the jokes and they laughed very much until Simon referenced a joke that involved three things that a black man can’t get and one of those things is a job. Teresa’s grandfather was extremely offended and wanted to fight Simon.

What I interpreted from the Guess Who clip on racist jokes was that Teresa’s family seemed to not be offended by certain jokes that seemed racist, such as the Tiger Woods joke and the joke about the afro turf. One of the reasons might that these jokes are truthful and in a sense they bring a positive connotation because Teresa’s family can relate to these jokes. It’s safe to say that any racist joke that any ethnicity can relate to, find truth behind it and make it humorous can be accepting if it’s not directly insulting someone’s identity.

Simon referenced the joke about three things that a black man cannot get and one of them being a job that was very insulting to Teresa’s family. From a perspective I can understand that Simon never meant to offend the family, he was simply telling the joke without holding back. In this situation, the family may identify with black people not being able to get a job because it’s something that is seen in real life and it’s a common misconception that leads to reasons of skin color, education level and economic level.

In conclusion, racist comments turned into jokes can be funny, but at the same time they can be insulting. When someone uses racism as a way to create humor it all depends on how someone will interpret them. Teresa’s family handled the jokes well, but their identity was heavily affected.

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