The Importance of Identity
Introduction
Identity is a very important aspect in the life of an individual as it provides one with the sense of direction. However, in some cases one may choose to assume a different identity in order to be accepted socially. This is usually evident when it comes to racial issues between the Black and the White people. As it is well known the Black people were discriminated a lot and they had to struggle for the value of equality. But before, this fight was begun or even achieved; getting recognition as a prominent person in the white society when one was Black was very difficult. This paper aims to look at the importance of maintaining an identity as a white person and to that effect, disdaining the identity of being a black person.
History dictated that Black person did not have any value in the midst of the White people no matter his standard of education or position in the society. A Black person was referred as a Negro an insulting term used to ridicule them and this branding made life very difficult for the Black people to adjust in the society. Looking at the work of Alice Dunbar- Nelson, The Stones of the Village, it narrates a good story that reflects on the case of assuming White identity due to how the society perceived Black individuals. Victor Gabert lives his life daunted by the shadows of his childhood, which he has decided to erase from his current life. He had a difficult childhood growing up because he was of a mixed race, which was white and Black. This had made him suffer as a young person as he could not be accepted by either side of the race and the children even threw stones at him calling him names such as “White Nigger” (Dunbar- Nelson 2). At his young age he could not understand the difference between him and his age mates but with time it all became clear to him.
As he grows up his luck changes and he gets a better life than the one he led in his childhood. He however, assumes white identity and conceals his past from any of his friends or the society in general. He had gotten a very high standard position in the society that he was proud of. However, he knew that if the public found out about his race, his position would mean nothing and his efforts would all be in vain. This shows that the society made him choose the race that was acceptable to them. Therefore, sometimes it is not the wish of a person to assume the White identity but it was what society dictates. Gabert bore the scars of his childhood and he was afraid of having to experience the same discrimination as well (Dunbar- Nelson 11). Throughout his adult life he did not acknowledge his actual race and lived in fear of someone discovering his secret hence, he destroyed any form of attachment that he may have had with his past.
However, as much as one may assume another identity he is still attached to his Black race no matter how hard they may try to disguise it. As much as Gabert had adopted a new lifestyle and race, he was still very conscious of his other race. He tried to disguise it by painting a bad picture of his opponent in court who was Black and very competitive at the same time but in actual sense he admired him a lot. His opponent seemed to lose all cases against him since judged ruled in favor of color rather than that of argument. Gabert admired what he saw in Pavageau but he could not let it be seen by anybody. Assuming a new identity was afresh start for Gabert and he finally found acceptance in the society but it did not satisfy him as he was always being disturbed by his past and he died with his secret (Dunbar- Nelson 18).
People of mixed race are accepted in the society and community nowadays since equality was established. However, one can not conclude of the same in the olden days where being of the mixed race was not acceptable. The same scenario unfolds in the work of Kate Chopin. Her story Desiree’s Baby tells of another story of intercultural differences that destroyed the lives of a strong family. Arman Aubigny was from a family of royalty and that which was highly recognized and respected. It was quite normal that he fell in love with the young girl Desiree and was willing to marry her despite the fact that she had no substantial name recognizable in the society (Chopin 1). His will to be with her was so strong that nobody could convince him otherwise. The factor of Blacks occupying a low standard in the society is viewed by the fact they are seen to be slaves in the story. Desiree even mentions how her husband has stopped punishing them.
However, things change once the child is born, when Desiree’s mother goes to visit her daughter and grandchild. She is unable to hide her shock once she discovers that the child is colored. This was unexpected as both Desiree and Arman were of the White race. Madame Valmonde could not accept the reality and went to observe the child in the light of the day as the reality was quite shocking. As the child grew his color was more evident and this changed Arman’s attitude towards his wife and workers. He despised the very sight of the color and this led him to make bad mistakes.
Despite the fact that Desiree appeared to be White in every physical appearance, Arman claimed that she was Black and her baby was as well. Arman refused to see the fact that Desiree was even whiter than he was because he had grown up under the White identity. He even chased his wife and child away as he could not stand the fact that they had a child who was colored (Chopin 5).
Later on Arman discovers a letter that his mother had written to his father admitting that she was colored and that their son bore the blood that he despised so much. His parents understood the value that the Black people had in the community and were willing to protect him from discrimination by making him get accustomed to the White culture only. Considering the fact that his family had consistently troubled him about the race of his new child made him change his attitude and despise the race more (Chopin 7). Finding that letter and discovering that he was Black as well disturbed him quite a lot as everything he knew was shaped according to the White standards.
Conclusion
Belonging to the White race and culture was very important in the past and most people who were of a mixed race preferred to belong to the White community. This choice was mainly influenced by the society and the history that the Black people had while they suffered under the White rule. Some parents even thought that it would make life easier for their children if they adopted the White culture as their own. However, times have changed and the Black people as well as those of mixed race are accepted in the society and they do not have to choose which identity to assume.
Work Cited
Chopin, Kate. Desiree’s Baby. Web. 9 October 2010. <http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/DesiBaby.shtml#3 >
Dunbar- Nelson, Alice. The Stones of the Village. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
