Yes, your Identity.

Jackson Edwards

2/10/15

Professor Young

Discussion Question 1

English

Identity

“Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try to understand it, and use it as a foundation to grow" (Jay-Z). An identity can separate you from anyone on this planet. Meaning, with the opportunity of having a unique and different quality can mold you into own your man or woman which can make you stand out in society. Identity is important because it gives a characteristic that no one else can have.

Now some people will ask well "what makes up an identity Jackson? There are a lot different resources that make up an identity such as beliefs, race, culture, origin, language, heritage, and behavioral attitude. The best part about an identity is that you are able to create who you really want to be. You are your own brand, and it’s your job to make sure that you embrace your differences and stand out.

In my opinion I think language is the most important resource in creating an identity. Because language is able to revolve around other qualities like your culture, origin, race, and heritage. In the reading of author Gloria Anzaldulas How to Tame a Wild Tongue she says “Chicano Spanish sprang out of the Chicanos’ need to identify ourselves as distinct people. We needed a language with which we could communicate with ourselves, a secret language” (page 3, 4^th paragraph). This quote just proves how powerful a language is; not only are they using their races language for a conversation but they found a secret language that can be used to communicate in dire need for survival. If the Chicanos would have never embraced their differences, having a popular commutative language would be very hard.  You will never know how beneficial your identity is until you see what it can do for yourself.

. In How to Tame a Wild Tongue Gloria Anzaldula says “If you want to be American, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong” (page 2, 3^rd paragraph). This was Gloria’s TEACHER telling her this in school! A person who job is to teach from a higher education is telling a little a little girl something like this. This is my reason why you should never let anyone else change your culture, your origin, your IDENTITY. Being forced to live in a Dystopian will not help a human beings self-confidence, which will just make society worse. 

 “Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try to understand it, and use it as a foundation to grow" (Jay-Z). An identity can separate you from anyone on this planet. Meaning, with the opportunity of having a unique and different quality can mold you into own your man or woman which can make you stand out in society. Identity is important because it gives a characteristic that no one else can have.

     Now some people will ask well "what makes up an identity Jackson? " 

There are a lot different resources that make up an identity such as beliefs, race, culture, origin, language, heritage, and behavioral attitude. The best part about an identity is that you get to create who you really want to be. You are your own brand, and it’s your job to make sure that you embrace your differences and stand out. 

     In my opinion I think language is the most important resource in creating an identity. Because language is able to revolve around other qualities like your culture, origin, race, and heritage. In the reading of author James Baldwins  If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?  he says "It goes without saying, that language is also a political instrument, means, and proof of power. It is the most vivid and crucial key to identity: it reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public or communal identity". What James Baldwin is trying to say is that language is so powerful that you can use is to connect with someone or disconnect; such as spanish, japanese, german, french, and many more! This is your private quality that can separate you from an average person  in a different state, country, and city.  An Identity is a gift, but its up to you figure out what to do with that gift and use it.