Your Identity Has Been Confirmed Essay Research

Your Identity Has Been Confirmed Essay, Research Paper

Furney 1

Russell Furney

Dr. Clayton

English 111, Section 2

November 12, 1998

Your Identity Has Been Confirmed

Nell Bernstein is the writer of & # 8220 ; Goin & # 8217 ; Gangsta, Choosin & # 8217 ; Cholita: Claiming Identity, & # 8221 ; an

essay depicting how the young person in certain parts of the state are taking their preferable

individuality instead than accepting their ain. For illustration, in Bernstein & # 8217 ; s essay a miss named April,

life in California, wants to be Mexican ; hence, she dresses like and efforts to speak in the

same speech pattern as a true Mexican, even though she is Anglo. The essay besides specifically negotiations about

the province of California, where all this individuality changing is go oning due to the great diverseness of

race at that place. Bernstein claims that this is a positive state of affairs when a young persons choose an individuality

other than their ain, & # 8220 ; existent & # 8221 ; one. Whatever makes them experience better or boosts their self-pride is

O.K. , I guess? But they still have to confront the facts ; they can non alter their individuality. I do non

cognize what dictionary Bernstein is reading, but the definition of individuality does non include the

word & # 8220 ; appearance. & # 8221 ; Identity is who a individual is, non who they appear to be. April can look to be

Mexican if that is what she likes, but the fact is that she is still and ever will be Anglo. The

thought of people seeking to alter their individuality merely work stoppages me with stupidity. It is God & # 8217 ; s determination as

to what colour, nationality or such a individual will be, and I believe He has a intent for everything ;

hence, each individual should esteem His determination with credence and serve Him good under the

individuality chosen for them.

The biggest error of this essay is the abuse of the word & # 8220 ; identity. & # 8221 ; Bernstein claims

that, & # 8220 ; Identity is non a affair of where you come from, what you were born into, what color your

tegument is, & # 8221 ; but instead, & # 8220 ; It & # 8217 ; s what you wear, the music you listen to, the words you use & # 8230 ; & # 8221 ; ( 45 ) . This

is all incorrect! Ident

ity is precisely what she thinks it is non. The colour of one’s tegument describes their

race. That is one piece of their individuality. Where they come from is their nationality. That is

another piece. What they were born into, such as household, beliefs, faith etc & # 8230 ; . , is their civilization,

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which is yet another piece. All these pieces together describes who a individual is. Clothes, music,

and speech pattern merely describe who a individual appears to be.

April, who is in fact Anglo and should be proud of it, dresses like a Mexican because she

thinks this will do her Mexican, but it will non. Frankly, if I were Mexican and April came to

me in her imitation Mexican costume seeking to talk Spanish to me even though the lone thing

she likely knows in Spanish is, & # 8220 ; Yo Queiro Taco Bell, & # 8221 ; it would rag the snake pit out of me. If

person wants to dress, talk, act or do whatever it takes to look to be another race or

nationality other than their ain, that is their pick, but the thought of it is beyond pathetic. I

despise it and can non stand to watch people who are trying to be person they are non. It is

so easy to state the imitations from the true name trade name. This is what is so bothersome.

& # 8220 ; Goin & # 8217 ; Gangsta, Choosin & # 8217 ; Cholita: Claiming Identity & # 8221 ; is a awfully deceptive essay. Nell

Bernstien provides true facts about California and its cross-identifying state of affairs, but she has hapless

judgement in stating that there are positive results when the young persons choose their ain individuality.

The negative consequence is a individual seeking to conceal their original individuality because they are non happy

with who they truly are, but in contrast cause themselves embarrassment when seeking to move out

their ideal personality when it is so easy for foreigners to observe the cover-up. Making affairs

worse, people seeking to cover up make non cognize that what they are making is pathetic because

people like Bernstien encourage the thought, but the whole thought is merely crackbrained because they can non

alter their individuality. It has already been chosen for them.