One way to distinguish a person from the billions of other people in the world is by looking into their ethnicity. Ethnicity may be simplified as just a person’s origin, but arguments have been made that there is more to the world. Joane Nagel, author of “Constructing Ethnicity”, writes about what makes up the word ethnicity along with its uses in social and political spectrums. Nicholosa Mohr also writes about the different perspective of ethnicity and the way people embrace them in her writing “The English Lesson”. From reading both texts, it is possible to make the argument that Mohr’s text supports Nagel’s ideas on the fluidity and situational nature of ethnic identity in the United States. Mohr finds themes from different scenarios in the classroom that can perhaps correspond to many of Nagel’s ideas and theories about ethnicity. Ethnicity is made up of many factors and can be seen through various viewpoints. To cut someone’s identity into specifics can be a difficult task depending on what is being looked at and by whom. Nagel sees this when she writes, “As audience change, the socially-defined array of ethnics choices open to the individual changes. This produces a ‘layering’ (Mcbeth 1989) of ethnic identities which combines with the ascriptive character of ethnicity to reveal the negotiated, problematic nature of ethnic identity. (240)” In this she says that one’s ethnicity can be changed or formatted to fit into a bigger field, varying by who is looking into it. Mohr also sees how different perspectives can play as a factor, when talking about immigrants in the United States. Mohr uses the character if Aldo Fabrizi to demonstrate this, Fabrizi calls out William and says, “What do you think of your paisano. He don’t wanna... ... middle of paper ... ...cities in some area. Mohr had many situations similar to Nagel’s ideas that were brought forward through the English lesson. Mohr insinuates how the immigrants are seen in different perspectives, socially and politically, by American Citizens. Through the “English Lesson” Mohr describes how the change in surroundings over time can influence the construction of ethnicity. She also points out specifics on how some ethnicities have advantages over others. While reading both texts, it was clear that Nicholasa Mohr could provide support to Joane Nagel’s theories and ideas on ethnicity. Works Cited Nagel, Joane. “Constructing Ethnicity: Creating and Recreating Ethnic Identity and Culture”. New York University Press. Washington Square, New York 1998. Mohr, Nicholasa. “The English Lesson”. From in Nueva York by Nicholasa Mohr. (Houston: Arte Publico Press). 1986
In the first Chapter of the book ‘A Different Mirror’ by (Takaki, 1993) the author embarks on a descriptive narrative that tries to elaborate the concept of a multiracial America. The chapter begins with the author taking a taxi ride in which he is subjected to racial discrimination. The taxi driver questions the author’s origin owing to the fact that his English is perfect and eloquent. This incident prompts a discussion that transpires throughout the chapter as the author tries to explain to his audience that America is a multiracial country with different ethnic groups that moved from their homelands to settle in the United States. The chapter discusses the settlement of various racial groups such as; English immigrants, African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanos and the Irish.
The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnics Literature of the United States. Spring 2000
In reading the first chapter of Ethnic Myth I was instantly lured in with the first sentence. That states this book is dangerous because it clarifies yet rejects all that is known on race, ethnicity, and immigration in the U.S. Race and ethnicity have always been taboo topics. Like discussed in lecture it is not appropriate for someone to come up and ask “What are you? In this reading Steinberg discusses how racial reparations should be demanded however not in the form of cash
As a European immigrant in the USA, I have encountered many new cultural phenomena in the last 4 _ years that have challenged me to perceive who I am differently. This experience has been even more polarized by the fact that I have lived most of that time in Los Angeles, a melting pot to be reckoned with. Coming to America, I expected these adaptations to my Irish self but the intensity of becoming cognizant of my label of 'whiteness' has mocked the limitations of my anticipations.
“Who am I?” (415). This is the question Leona Thomas asks in her essay entitled “Black and White.” Through the use of pathos, logos, and inductive reasoning Thomas is able to come to a consensus that “I am black and white, both races, both cultures, and both heritages” (418). For Thomas, there is some form of closure as to where she belongs racially and culturally, but many others still lie in ambivalence concerning their race and culture.
An early principle the film explores is that of ethnic attrition. Leon-Guerrero defined in her book, “Social Problems: Community, Policy, and Social Action” ethnic attrition as “individuals choosing not to self-identify
Daniels, Roger. Coming to America: A History of Immigration and Ethnicity in American Life. New York: Perennial, 2002. Print.
In ‘Cultural baggage’, Barbara Ehrenreich described her personal experience and opinion about ethnic and religious heritage. Barbara was born in an immigrant family, With all the information she got, Barbara was unable to find her own ethnic identity. While been frustrated and embarrassed for her incapability of locating her own root, she eventually come to realize that she belongs to the race of “none”, those who think for themselves and try new things, and the race of “none” marches on.
In Stuart Hall’s “Ethnicity: Identity and Difference,” he claims that identity is a volatile social process through which one comes to see the self. Hall argues that identity is not a thing rather a process “…that happens over time, that is never absolutely stable, that is subject to the play of history, and the play of difference.” These factors are constantly entering the individual in a never-ending cycle, re-establishing and affirming who one is.
Society is defined as people who live in a specific geographic territory, interact with one another, and share many elements of common culture. Within a society there are many components that make up that society. There is crime, culture, social class, gender, marriage and the family, religion, education, medicine and health care, the political order, etc. However, race and ethnicity has a great and powerful influence in society, and has for many years. On the reverse side, society also influences the different races and ethnicities of people. Race is defined as “a group of people who have been singled out on the basis of real or alleged physical characteristics” (Curry, Jiobu, Schwirian 209). Ethnicity is defined as “common cultural characteristics
American ethnic literature is known today because of the many authors like Cathy Song, Ralph Ellison and Audre Lorde. These authors have made what is today, from the education of children as well. Children are now able to have a political understand of things. We are now able to have the understanding of our world’s cultures and have a greater intelligence on it. Today we have presented an improved understanding to the American society, in the political and economic that today’s world has
This essay will explain the concepts of culture and ethnicity, and it will focus these concepts in ...
In the United States, “ethnics” came to be used at around Second World War as a polite way of referring to the Jews, Italian, Irish, and other people considered inferior to the dominant group of largely British descent. Since the 1960s, ethnic groups and ethnicity have become household words in English-speaking social anthropology[2]. In everyday language, the word ethnicity still has a ring of minority issues and race relations to it.
Holli, Melvin G. "Race, Ethnicity and Urbanization: Selected Essays." Journal of American Ethnic History 16 (1996): 110-125.
Who am I? Wrestling with identity— our history, our culture, our language— is central to being human, and there’s no better way to come to grips with questions of identity than through the crossing of borders. The transcendence of borders reveals the fluid nature of identity, it challenges absurd notions of rigid nationalities, and highlights our common humanity. It is no coincidence, then, that my experience as an immigrant has shaped my academic journey and pushed me to pursue graduate studies.