Identity

Yes, I should introduce myself first.

I should backtrack for a moment.

Before I do, I want to say that what you’re about to read is not a fully fleshed-out exposé on identity. The goal here is to provide you with some context on where I’m coming from because apparently, it’s unique. There is a lot I will have to leave for later, so I’ll hit the main points.

Typically, I’d be more inclined to go straight into political dissent, but I genuinely enjoy this medium.

I can be patient with the words on the page. There is room to express me. I don’t have to account for any interruptions. I can focus on pressing the keys of my MacBook.

On to identity.

Here is the quick and dirty to ease us in. We’ll come back to this on many occasions and peel apart many layers of identity because it is impossible to avoid when discussing politics.

My mother is ‘white’ - born in the mid-west - a baby boomer (look at how effectively I deployed stereotypes.)

My father - ‘black’ - born in 1939, also in the mid-west - but his birth predates baby boomers. They called his generation the silent generation.

They met in the Bay Area in the mid-1980s.

Now, my dad passed when I was young. He didn’t leave me with any notion of black identity. Apparently, it was not much of a discussion between him and my mom - even though interracial relationships were still looked down upon in many ways in the ’80s when I was born.

Black Politic.

So I spent most of my 20’s trying to figure out what was missing. I dug deep into early abolitionist thinking, black nationalism, Pan-Africanism, black socialism, and many more. I talked to my friends about how they relate to the culture and how their parents talked about blackness at home. I explained how I relate to the culture and questions I was still pondering. My quest for information went on for at least 5 years or so. I was making an intentional effort to understand one part of my racial identity.

Now for me, there was always this asymmetrical relationship with my identity. Usually, no one assumes or acknowledges my European ancestral roots.

And if we take it a step further - it becomes more nuanced because society at large doesn’t perceive me as ‘black.’ I struggle to reconcile peoples general perceptions of understanding of what constitutes ‘black.’ I have one identity that isn’t visible in my walking life - ‘white’ -. Then another identity that show’s in some way through my skin tone leads people to believe I am anything but ‘black.’ Try middle-eastern, East Asian, Indian, North African… It’s always something other than my close ties to the American Negro.

Who, in my opinion, contributed to sophisticated advancements in politics, government, relations between the state and its citizens, so much more (something else we’ll need to dig deeper into) even though the cost was dear.

I’m very proud of my heritage, be it ‘white’ or ‘black’ (these terms are insufficient - we need better ones.)

But since very few acknowledge my true racial identity, I have what I would consider a unique vantage point into American politics.

Unique or understated?

So what is unique about my vantage point on identity?

(there are more but let’s start with a shortlist)

• Groups talk about other groups like I’m in the group they are in. Some of this would alarm you, but most of it is a gift that I am thankful for. It’s helped me to be exposed to so many beautiful perspectives.

• I feel inclined to appreciate, respect, and protect a broader group than just ‘my own.’

• I believe it gives me more extensive access to study, dissect, and interrogate politics.

• Identity will, in many ways, be the backbone of living up to my stated objective for this writing.

Which is;

To lay the groundwork for an extensive, rigorous critique of American Politics, Government, and Liberalism.

What am I trying to say?

If you’re still wondering where identity fits into all of this, so am I - … No, I’m actually joking.

My view is that politics have a definite orientation around group interests, and it appears group interests can be associated with markers of identity. I wanted to describe a basic example of tension in my identity (there are others). As my investigation advances, I’ll start to push the dialogue out to the systems level instead of identity at the individual level. I figure the individual level is more relatable for now.

At the same time, I don’t think it’s possible to talk politics without somehow linking ideas of race, class, education, ethnicity, nationality, language, behavior, culture, religious conviction, all of the stuff parents told us not to discuss at the dinner table growing up.

Whether you believe identity is socially constructed or genetic (or both), it plays an important role in perceptions and interpretations of one’s surroundings - much of which is explored in the vein of thinking called ‘sensemaking.’

But we aren’t going to go there today.

I’ll leave you with a question.

How do you think identity operates in group interactions with democracy, perceptions of self-determination, and ideas of equality?

Alright, I said a lot, and my delivery wasn’t perfect, but leave a comment if you feel some kind of way.

Tomorrow, I will write again.