It would not be an exaggeration to state that individuals classified within a specific range of identity encounter incidences which deprives or reduces their senses of dignity and pride. Identity politics consists of composite situations that builds upon its comprehension. In our current community, there are people who perfectly fit the norm, whereas others must somehow denounce or change who they are to be accepted in such category. What it is to be black and/ or a person of color, a woman, a member of the LGBTQ community and so on. For instance, miss blonde lady at the bar who was not in agreement of “diverse group”, and very much did not appreciate the fact that an actor was identified as nonwhite. In many circumstances, there have been people with characteristics like our said female who have more or less failed to acknowledge that different groups continue to experience varying influences. we subsequently reside in a society so many enforced and or implemented laws have been segregated and only benefits certain individuals whilst others indeed suffer from them, protects some and directly or indirectly puts the rest in danger. Garza Alicia simultaneously concurs identity politics to power and authority as she furtherly explains that in as much as society degrades people of color, they regardless possess “power” to make certain decisions although larger forces and/ or people with higher positions in society create those options from which we choose from.
“Too black to be Latina” has similarities with assuming an Arab cannot be Christian, or a Muslim cannot be black. Countless people on a daily basis experience such blatant ignorance in accordance with the race or inclusively the identity of a person. Nevertheless, when it came to matters like this, people were always faced with the hard on decision to pick an identity over the other. For instance, “you cannot be Latin and black”, “you are either black or Latin”. People are expected to deny a part of their identity and fully embrace the other. According to the article, the author states of an incidence where two different groups were going head-to-head with one another, she stated that during the she was very perplexed as to which group to side on. There are moments where people receive unnecessary complements for not being “normal”. In a posted YouTube video, a black girl shared her experience of how different she is treated whenever she tells people she is Hispanic.
I think your examples in the 2nd part are a different comparison than “Too Latina to Be Black, Too Black to Be Latina”, as your examples encompass an intersection of race and religion, as opposed to just race. But i see where you are coming from and I have heard similar things like “You can’t be LGBT and Muslim.”
You’re right, religion does add a different additional aspect of oppression.
I think it all comes down to stereotypes and how “correctly” we fit into that box.
Hello,
I liked the connection you made in saying, “Too Black to be Latina,” is similar to people making assumptions about Arabs not being Christian or Blacks not being able to be Muslim. People often try to make us pick and choose one or another just because they’ve never witnessed someone picking both choices. I’m glad that slowly but surely, people are becoming more comfortable with their identities.
Hi Salima,
I think it’s intresting how you talked about how your percived race impacts how others treat and think about you as a person. It goes along with the idea of stereotypes and people making assumptions about you solely based on your appearance. Race and identity is such a vast spectrum, in the future I hope people will be more understanding of this and being denied of your identity because the way others perceive you will be a thing of the past!