Exploring Racial Identity
We All Have One
What is “identity”?
Identity is…
“the collective aspect of the set of characteristics
by which a thing or person is definitively
recognized or known”
“the set of behavioral or personal characteristics
by which an individual is recognizable as a
member of a group”
What shapes our identities?
Social characteristics like race or gender
Where we live
Conditions in which we live
Religious beliefs
Political or social leanings
We construct our own identities
Society also can impose them onto us
Our Racial Identities
Our Racial Identities
Write a biography of your racial identity.
When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic
identity(ies?)
Our Racial Identities
Write a biography of your racial identity.
When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic
identity(ies?)
Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to,
or took on particular meaning, for you.
Our Racial Identities
Write a biography of your racial identity.
When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic
identity(ies?)
Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to,
or took on particular meaning, for you.
Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to,
or took on particular meaning, for others.
Our Racial Identities
Write a biography of your racial identity.
When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic
identity(ies?)
Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to,
or took on particular meaning, for you.
Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to,
or took on particular meaning, for others.
How do you benefit from your racial identity(ies)?
Our Racial Identities
Write a biography of your racial identity.
When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic
identity(ies?)
Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to,
or took on particular meaning, for you.
Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to,
or took on particular meaning, for others.
How do you benefit from your racial identity(ies)?
How do you suffer from or “miss out” because of your racial
identity(ies)?
Our Racial Identities
Group Discussion Prompts
Were some of the questions easier, or more difficult, for you to
answer than others? Why might this be?
Our Racial Identities
Group Discussion Prompts
Were some of the questions easier, or more difficult, for you to
answer than others? Why might this be?
Did members of the group have similar or different experiences
with the questions? Why might this be?
Our Racial Identities
Group Discussion Prompts
Were some of the questions easier, or more difficult, for you to
answer than others? Why might this be?
Did members of the group have similar or different experiences
with the questions? Why might this be?
Has racial identity affected your lives to the same degree? Why?
In Summary
Although we construct our racial identities to some extent,
society does, too.
In the U.S., we all have a racial identity.
Our racial identities affect the way we interact with the world.
Our racial identities affect the way the world interacts with us.