Re: The question of race identity

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 16:17:09 GMT, Haines Brown
<brownh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Given the obsessive "interest" which many contributors to this
>newsgroup often reveal, I thought I'd toss out a little comment on the
>issue.
>
>I assume that in human affairs, we are speaking of processes, and
>therefore outcomes of any social or intellectual process are
>constrained by inherited circumstances. That is, racial identity is
>probabilistically determined by circumstance, but is at the same time
>what we choose it to be. I won't belabor the point, but it also
>follows that the difficulty of choosing an identity is a function of
>those circumstances.

I find it difficult to see how this is a "process" -- perhaps I'm missing
something.
>
>If we choose to identity ourselves as Black or white, etc., it is
>easiest if we, for example, take into account the circumstance of our
>skin color and respond to them. However, that identity is not
>inevitable--it is also a matter of choice if we make the effort to
>forge a self-identity that is improbable in relation to circumstances.

Perhaps it would be worthwhile doing soe kind of survey of people in this (and
some other) newsgroups, to see just how important "race" is to them, and how
important other features of identity are

Something like a 1-5 scale ranging from "No importance" to "Very important"

How important are the following factors to you in your perception of your
social identity (or, how you would loike other people to see your social
identity)

Skin colour
Residentce (where you live)
Nationality
Language
Religion
Social class
Language
Education
Income
Car you drive
Religion
Brand of clothes you wear
Interests
Politics
Job you do



--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
.

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