Personalnarrative

Darin Yrigoyen
Dr. Parks
Race and Ethnicity
14 February 2016
Personal Narrative
Societys concept of race and its use to categorize humanity is
a concept which continues to be pushed and challenged in 21st-century
thought. Although we as a people have certainly made strides in breaking
down our racial barriers in recent history, this systematic discrimination
which we categorize as racism is still very prevalent today. This naturally
brings about the discussion as to, How did we get to this point?, of which I
believe can best be analyzed through ones own personal lens.
For me, the concept of race is one which I was accustomed to at an
early age, made obvious by the fact that I dont remember experiencing a
non-racial world. My earliest memories are that of pre-school and
kindergarten, where I distinctly remember having and recognizing my
classmates as white or non-white. Living in a major metropolitan area
provided me the opportunity to experience some diversity of race and
ethnicity in everyday life, which I believe has helped me to have a more open
perspective when it comes to racial issues. Going further with this, I could
contrast my experience to that of my parents, whom grew up in more rural
areas, and werent necessarily exposed to diversity like I was. Because of
this, I can say that they seem to be less willing to compromise on certain
issues and see the world through a much more racial lens. `
Additionally, growing up as a white male of European descent, I
quickly learned that I was a member of both the racial and ethnic majority,
which carried with it some sense of entitlement thats hard to quantify. The
identity that came with my concept of these social groups was one that was
shaped both through observation and hands-on experience. I saw that much
of the worlds most successful individuals, based on wealth, happened to
be of the same race and ethnicity as my own. Also, it was obvious that those
in this group generally held most leadership positions, which certainly
shaped how I viewed myself. As a direct result of this, I believed that I, too,
should seek to be in a management position someday making good money
and get the necessary accreditation to do so.
Through my own experiences, my identity was largely shaped by my
upbringing, which was in an upper middle-class white home in suburban
Philadelphia. Although I did have interactions with people of different races,
they were largely isolated to school settings and didnt occur frequently. My
family members and friends were of the same race and similar ethnicity as
me, making it easy to ignore the boundaries of race when not faced with
them.
Still, race has certainly affected and continues to affect our lives in a
variety of ways, some of which we dont even realize. We have talked about
the concept of identity that clearly speaks to the impact that your race has
on how you see yourself. Also, the boundaries that society has helped to
construct put those of different races at odds, regardless of your own

opinion. We have grown accustomed to the assumption that personality and
physical traits stem from an individuals racial/ethnic backgrounds, an
assumption which continue to separate us across these lines. Biologically, it
has been proven that race has little to do with the things that make up a
persons identity, however the social and cultural significance attached to
race has made an undeniable impact on how we see ourselves.
For specific examples, which help to quantify my racial scope, I have a
story that I could consider both my most positive and negative experience
regarding race. In seventh grade, my friends and I traveled to the local
community recreation center after school for our traditional after-school
basketball game. We frequently would engage in these games with
whomever happened to be on the court that day, regardless of race and
ethnicity. On this day, however, our group was the only one interested in
playing while a small group of African-American children chose to sit in the
stands and watch. Following the game, we noticed that the spectator
group had since left and we began to gather our things. One of my friends
was the first to speak up and notice that his wallet was gone, a fact which
was quickly noticed by each of my comrades. It was the first and only time in
my life I have been robbed and I can distinctly remember that it changed my
views on race.
Although this was clearly a negative experience, it begun to open my
eyes to a few different misconceptions about race, of which I am still
discovering. First, my assumption that all African-Americans couldnt be

trusted after this incident helped to show me the value of treating people on
an individual basis. As I progressed in high school and college, I met people
of all different races, some whom could be trusted and some not, but this
made me realize that race is not a determining factor of this. Also, being
robbed by kids my own age made me think about their motive behind the
action, as it was something I would never consider. I began to think about
the circumstance that those kids may be faced with, and what this could
mean about their family situation. In my adult years, I have grown to
understand more about race and the lack of opportunity that impacts those
with low socioeconomic status. However, it was this negative experience
that sparked my interest about the realities of race, which I why I have
come to see it as positive.
In connecting these things with the United States culture which I was
raised in, I believe I have an advantage based on my race and ethnicity.
White males have long been the dominant majority in the U.S., and this
continues in todays landscape. Because I am part of this societal
grouping, I have always had opportunities to participate and grow that may
not have been afforded to those of other races. Ultimately, the boundaries
of race that developed in the early years of U.S. settlement still exist in the
21st century, although less directly. It is clear to me that my idea of race has
come from this historical opposition between the white majority towards
everyone else. Now, it seems time to attempt to repair that and create the
colorless society that we know is most logical. After all, race is a socially-
created term, meaning it can eventually be socially destroyed.

Personalnarrative

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Personalnarrative

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Personalnarrative

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Darin Yrigoyen

Societys concept of race and its use to categorize humanity is

a concept which continues to be pushed and challenged in 21st-century

thought. Although we as a people have certainly made strides in breaking

down our racial barriers in recent history, this systematic discrimination

which we categorize as racism is still very prevalent today. This naturally

believe can best be analyzed through ones own personal lens.

For me, the concept of race is one which I was accustomed to at an

non-racial world. My earliest memories are that of pre-school and

kindergarten, where I distinctly remember having and recognizing my

classmates as white or non-white. Living in a major metropolitan area

provided me the opportunity to experience some diversity of race and

contrast my experience to that of my parents, whom grew up in more rural

areas, and werent necessarily exposed to diversity like I was. Because of

of the worlds most successful individuals, based on wealth, happened to

in this group generally held most leadership positions, which certainly

should seek to be in a management position someday making good money

and get the necessary accreditation to do so.

Through my own experiences, my identity was largely shaped by my

upbringing, which was in an upper middle-class white home in suburban

Philadelphia. Although I did have interactions with people of different races,

construct put those of different races at odds, regardless of your own

physical traits stem from an individuals racial/ethnic backgrounds, an

assumption which continue to separate us across these lines. Biologically, it

persons identity, however the social and cultural significance attached to

race has made an undeniable impact on how we see ourselves.

For specific examples, which help to quantify my racial scope, I have a

regarding race. In seventh grade, my friends and I traveled to the local

community recreation center after school for our traditional after-school

basketball game. We frequently would engage in these games with

whomever happened to be on the court that day, regardless of race and

playing while a small group of African-American children chose to sit in the

Although this was clearly a negative experience, it begun to open my

eyes to a few different misconceptions about race, of which I am still

discovering. First, my assumption that all African-Americans couldnt be

an individual basis. As I progressed in high school and college, I met people

action, as it was something I would never consider. I began to think about

mean about their family situation. In my adult years, I have grown to

with low socioeconomic status. However, it was this negative experience

come to see it as positive.

raised in, I believe I have an advantage based on my race and ethnicity.

continues in todays landscape. Because I am part of this societal

created term, meaning it can eventually be socially destroyed.

You might also like