Reading Reflection #1: Ethnic and Racial Identity

By Tracy Montgomery
Response to Bailey Jackson IIIs Black Identity Development: Influences of Culture and Social
Oppression(2001)
Putting theories behind the definitions of ethnic identity versus racial identity cleared up
some fog, so-to-speak, regarding both the understanding of my own identity, and that of others.
In regards to how it spoke to my own racial identity, it made me realize that I have a healthy
awareness of my race, and how I have accepted that I am a part of the privileged and dominant
race in society, but it also made me more aware of why the vast majority of white people I know
are resistant to accept that they are a part of that dominant race as well. It frustrates me to no end,
because I feel like there is a great opportunity for people to acknowledge the deep-rooted racism
that still exists, and make a change. Instead, Im finding that whites are even more defensive of
their race, and instead of fighting to create more equality and seek social justice, many white
people are exposing their true racist roots, which they may not have even known was there.
I feel as though many white people, of all ages, are stuck in the nave stage of identity
development, no matter their age. Perhaps, this is due to the whole idea of questioning? They are
defensive because they have never had to question or defend their racial identity? But, even if
that is the case, why dont those whites look at it from perspective? After all, if whites are just
now having their societal role questioned, labeled, etc., why wouldnt they stop and think how
blacks must feel all the time? This is a regular battle, as I have had, and continue to have many
black friends. Majority of whites I encounter simply justify their thoughts or feelings by
prefacing their defense of Im not racist at all, I just think... Or, better yet, I know that you
have a lot of black friends, almost stating the need to explain why Im thinking in the wrong,
or why Im oversensitive to the issue of race. I can say that, first, my desire to get to know other
cultures and people so I can better love and accept them, is responsible for the opportunities,
large and small, to get to know the black culture much better than most whites I know.
Not many white people can say that a large group of black friends blind-folded them,
took them on an hour drive, and surprised me by taking me to a midnight showing at an all-black
comedy club in downtown Detroit. Most whites cannot relate to being the only white in a dance

club, and almost getting beat-up on multiple occasions simply because of their race. These
experiences in college provided me with an amazing perspective because I was truly put in
someone elses shoes, for a very brief moment. I applied those thoughts and feelings of those
experiences to the idea that I had moments, compared to other peoples entire lifetime of dealing
with unwarranted and subconscious racism. After reading the two chapters in the textbook,
however, and the article about black identify development, I realize that its because Im simply
at a different stage of ethnic identity than others. I still believe, however, that it is not an excuse.
At what point do people stop excusing lack of education or experience for racism, no matter how
deeply-seeded or surfaced the racism may be?
I find Bailey Jackson IIIs chapter Black Identity Development: Influences of Culture
and Social Oppression(2001) to be one of the best pieces Ive ever read in regards to racial
identity particular to blacks, and think that all of it applies to the general population, but
especially those in higher education. It surprised me that blacks start moving to the acceptance
stage of their identity development at the age of three. To think about a 4- or 5-year-old black
child accepting the concept that white is right as a societal standard shocked and disgusted me.
To then read the description, with each stage, of what the consequences are for either actively or
passively accepting what each stage presents to self-awareness, resulted in even more empathy
than I already had, because it put to put the no-win-situation into light. With each stage
description, I could relate black young people and adults that I know, and finally understand why
each of them tend to accept or deny their racial identity differently.