...Claiming Identity

February 1, 2012 ~K W~

Summary #1

“Goin’ Gangsta, Choosin’ Cholita: Claiming Identity”

~Neil Bernstein~

Neil Bernstein introduces his essay describing a 15 year old who has left the traditional “white” racial identity to become someone different, accepted in a society of change. He is trying to illustrate through various examples of young people who aren’t satisfied with their own ethnic background.

Unfortunately, this identity problem is stemmed from peer pressure that teenagers face every day in their living environment. Examples given by Bernstein are that “white skaters and Mexican would- be gang bangers listen to gansta rap and call each other “nigga” as a term of endearment; white girls sometimes affect Spanish accents; and blonde cheerleaders claim Cherokee ancestors.”

According to Bernstein, “Claiming” is the general idea behind the growing identity problem in teens. Adolescents also claim racial identity to the most populous ethnic group of the area in which they live, “as if identity were territory”, “a kind of turf” Bernstein says.

Earlier in the essay, Bernstein states, “With minorities moving in to suburbs in growing numbers and cities becoming ever more diverse, the boundary between city and suburb is dissolving, and suburban teenagers are changing with the times.” Thus, with borders merging together from Oakland to Hayward there is now more violence, graffiti and crime.

Adolescents want to blend in with everyone else. To be different is to not be accepted. It is a shame that there seems to be no pride “in your roots”, your family heritage, or ethnic background.

Bernstein concludes his essay illustrating Mr. Miller’s inability to effectively communicate with his daughter and have his daughter accept who she is.

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