Race Means More Than Just Ethnicity Essay
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What is race? The Webster's dictionary defines race as any of the different varieties of human beings distinguished by physical traits, blood types, and so on. Nonetheless, I see this definition more fit for the word ethnicity than the race. In my opinion, ethnicity is a part of one's race. One's race embodies much more than just the ethnicity, which is just physical traits or blood types. It represents one's identity, culture, origin, moral values, and so on. One could belong to any particular ethnicity; yet have completely different values than his or her ethnical group. Hence, I would consider this person's race to be different from his or her ethnicity. For example, I am Korean; however I consider myself having more of American values in me than the Korean values. Consequently, I consider my ethnicity to be Korean; nonetheless, I see my race as being more American than Korean. In the book, The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man by James Weldon Johnson, the narrator goes on a great journey through his life to learn about his racial background. He grew up thinking that he was a White, and he was taken by the society as a White because of his unusually White-like appearance. One day, he finds out that he is a Black. Through the journey of life, he observes and experiences the horrible side of being a Black. In the end, he ultimately decides to throw away his race as a Black, and desires to be accepted only as a White. Although it is somewhat understandable that he chooses to be a White after having seen so many horrible sides of being a Black, especially having seen a Black burned alive; nonetheless he should have never given up his own race because by giving up his own race, not only is he throwing away just his ethnicity, but also, and more importantly, he is throwing away his identity, culture, and ultimately self-pride.
One's identity is a big aspect in the society in which we are living. It is what makes one different from the other. It is who you truly are, and it is what marks your territory in the society and in the minds of other people. It is definitely not something to be ashamed of or hidden. In fact, one should be very much proud of one's own identity and should be willing to go any length in order to protect one's own identity. Without identity, one is nothing in the society. Race plays a major role in determining one's identity. Not only does a race give someone different physical traits, which determine half of one's identity, but, more importantly, it also gives someone different values and views, which make up the other half of one's identity. Accordingly, one should never forsake one's race because one is eventually forsaking one's own identity by doing so. Unfortunately, in the book, the narrator tries to hide his own race in fear of having his true identity exposed thus not being accepted to the society or being looked down upon. This is very evident in the narrator's first encounter with "Shiny" after years of not having seen or spoken to him. The narrator says, "As quick as a flash I considered all the risks I might run in speaking to him, and most especially the delicate question of introducing him to her." (Johnson 202) At the time, the narrator was with a White girl whom he was considering marrying. He was afraid that speaking to "Shiny" and introducing him to her might expose his true identity. I do not believe any of his behavior was commendable. In fact, he should be ashamed of himself for not being able to talk to his dearest friend. The narrator should realize how sad it is that a woman whom he is trying to marry does not know his true identity. Through his attempt of trying to cover up his own race thus identity, the narrator loses his own culture.
Different culture is what causes different outlooks among people. A culture leads one into viewing matters in a certain way. If two human beings were raised in different cultures, they would have different ways of viewing the world. A culture is mostly derived from a race. One's race plays a huge role in determining one's culture. Each race has certain values and morals that are different from other races. And for this reason, one should never give up one's race. By throwing away one's race, one is throwing away his culture and, ultimately, one's way of looking at the world. ...
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