MY IDENTITY

I had a brief conversation some time ago where I made the comment that from what reading I have done, I do not see much comradery between the hispanic population and the black population of this country both pretty much having the same issues.  The response was in the form of a question.  "You mean, to gang up on us white people?"

I have been thinking about this comment since the conversation.  I realized that I have never identified myself as a "white" person; it simply has never occurred to me to do so.  I had never given any consideration to the idea that an identification as "white" would give a different view of the world from the one I have always possessed which is and always has been color neutral; but apparently it does.

I can only conjecture that if your identity as a person is that of a "white" person as opposed to an "American" or an "Iowan" or a "Catholic" or a "Baptist", then you do have a sense that a "non-white" person is different from yourself in a significant way.  This would be the same as it is for a "Baptist" who views a member of the Assembly of God church as someone "different", or an "American" viewing a "Mexican" as someone "different".

Now we have been able, as Americans, to overcome this identity issue in some things but not in others.  Thanks to the framers of the Constitution, we do not shoot or lynch or otherwise significantly punish people for having different religious beliefs or having different professions (burglary being an exception).   This traditionally has caused real problems; but,  somehow, some way, we have not been able to apply this to the race thing.  Being a different color remains a problem.  Part of it is simply historical, but otherwise it seemingly will not depart from our psyche.   As they say, it has been slow to dissolve.

When I look back on my own life, I don't see where I have ever had a self-identity of any sort.  Apparently one is suppose to have a self-identity and are not normal without one, but I don't see it.  I will now attempt to locate one although I'm not sure that I actually want one if I have never had one.  It doesn't seem necessary at this stage of my life to suddenly be able to identify myself as one thing or another.  What would be the benefit?

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo