Racial identity - Term Paper Example

Racial identity Racial identity and ethni of individuals play a crucial role in the formation of their overall collective identity. Race and ethnicity have been used as a basis for defining populations across various nations around the globe. The association of individuals with a certain race, ethnicity or culture allows for their conscious assimilation into a neighborhood, and / or their wider social circles and educational communities. On the basis of the above discussions, it is apparent that racial identity is one of the most inherent aspects of one’s social life and it influences our lives in more ways than one.

This essay on Racial Identity aims to discuss the effect of racial identity on Native Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Native Americans / Alaska Indians constitute approximately 1.6 per cent of the total population of the country, which is estimated to be about 4.9 million (CDC, 2012). Statistics suggest that almost 60 per cent of the Native Americans live in rural areas and on reservations, indicating their alienation from the mainstream society (The Office of Minority Health, 2011), although most of them have shifted to urban areas in search of employment and education in recent times.

The community is representative of people in transition, who are now taking active steps in breaking away from their stereotypical representation in the mass media. The Native Americans have been traditionally and consistently been represented as strange, perverted, associated with dangerous backgrounds, and devoid of human emotions (Jolivétte, 2006).Such misrepresentations of their race in the popular media has a long term and damaging effect on their identities, and has a negative influence on their social acceptance, which in turn deprives them of the opportunity to assimilate in the mainstream society (Blum, 2002).

The adolescent Native Americans face even greater setbacks due to their racial identities with regard to their identity development. The behavior and lifestyles of Native Americans are starkly different as compared to the mainstream American culture. The assimilation and migration of the natives, to the urban areas hence, tends to pressurize them to adapt to the cultures and values endorsed by the mainstream culture. This creates stress due to the lack of a support system (Swanson, Edwards, Spencer, 2010).

Furthermore, the Native Americans have resisted and opposed the assimilation with the mainstream society for the longest period of time. It is also because of this reason that they are largely misrepresented and misunderstood by the American society (Johansen, Pritzker, 2008). This may form a basis of social and racial discrimination against the people belonging to their race. Also, the past experiences of the Native Americans i.e. their history and the present social inequalities faced by the tribe, coupled with the constant pressure to assimilate and adapt to the mainstream American society, poses significant challenges in terms of development and growth.

On the basis of the above discussions it can be firmly established that racial identity has a strong influence on the lifestyle and choices of communities. The racial identity of Native Americans represent their strong socio-cultural heritage and their recent migration in the urban areas, now poses a strong cultural dilemma – whether to relinquish their conventional beliefs and identities or accept and adapt to the wider American ideologies. References:Blum, L., (2002). Im not a racist, but - : the moral quandry of race, Cornell University Press, Pp.

63Johansen, B. E., Pritzker, B., (2008). Encyclopedia of American Indian history, ABC-CLIO Publication, Pp. 65-67Jolivétte, A., (2006). Cultural representation in Native America, Rowman Altamira Publication, Pp. 3Swanson, D. P., Edwards, M. C., Spencer, M. B., (2010). Adolescence: development during a global era, Academic Press, 255-260Primary Sources:CDC (2012). American Indian & Alaska Native Populations [Online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/populations/aian/aian.htm [Accessed: January 9, 2012]The Office of Minority Health (2012).

American Indian / Alaska Native Profile [Online] Available at: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=52 [Accessed: January 9, 2012]