Identity - Josiah E. Forbes Hart, 2nd Year BSW
Josiah E. Forbes Hart
(jo-sai-uh)
He/Him/His
School of Social Welfare
Stony Brook University | BSW, Class of 2022
ITA Mentor | Undergraduate Student Government
Identity
I’m not this because of that, and you're not that cause of this.
I’m not extra cause I’m gay, and you’re not normal because you’re heterosexual. You’re not racist because you're White, and I’m not loud because I’m Black.
In fact, my skin is not even the reason why I’m labeled black. I’m black because of the scars on someone’s back. Scars placed by a whip, held by a hand with a tight grip, that wouldn’t let loose, because doing so would let the ego admit, that one hand is no greater than, a color of skin, that cannot be stripped.
The nonconformist in me believes my skin is made from a pallet of colors that changes depending on where I am or who I’m with. While the scientist within, says the color of my skin is made up of pigments known as melanin.
The truth is, I’m black because someone's ego got involved and created a structure known as race to satisfy their need for order. Separating you from me, creating a hierarchy of skin color to ensure they were number one and everyone else 2 or 3. They made skin the common denominator of who was better than who.
So forgive me for not choosing to conform to the societal construct of race upheld in America that determines my skin and diminishes culture and identity to a singular word...black.
BE MINDFUL OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU CHOOSE TO BE!
Be mindful of the words you speak, and how they’re defined.
Be mindful of the socially constructed roles you assume...and identities you conform to, that are partnered with privileges you didn’t know existed, but are nonetheless used.
Be mindful...because your identity can be used to identify others around you.
And once the ego gets involved...utopia can only be attained if measured and maintained by equity...because the ideology of equality dissolves in a society where individuality is our defining quality.
Once the ego gets involved, structure is created to satisfy those who seek order, and hierarchy is made because some seek to order.
Once the ego gets involved...one identity will be better than another and one role more important than the next. Creating a continuous cycle of competition in communities that should not contain contests.
Be mindful of your identity and what you associate with it. Because how you see yourself will determine how you see others and associate with them.
Be mindful not to define others by how we see ourselves. Or define all by defining one. Instead, define some-one by their actions and the energy they produce.
