According to the title “The Complexity of Identity: “Who Am I?” for me means exactly what it stating. Beverley Daniel Tatum talks about what really defines someone based on their race or ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, and physical or mental ability. In the essay according to Beverley Daniel Tatum people know who they really are deep down inside and they can accept that. It also says in the essay that numerous people can’t escape the cruel fact that they will get “labels” from other people and that there’s no way to escape it. No matter how much someone tries at the end of the day they are represented by the thoughts of what others think.
One of the main points in the essay is “the looking glass self,” which it is defined as not a flat one-dimensional reflection. It mentions important ways which give it; it’s deeper meaning which is that one sees themselves for how others see them and that that’s who they really are when they’re not. The main part which supports this is when it talks about how one’s racial identity is experienced by others such as, male or female, young or old, gay lesbian, or bisexual, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or Jewish, and many more things. Another idea that I get from this is that not just one quality defines someone but there are many qualities that define a person for who they really are.
Another main point in the essay is when Beverley Daniel Tatum mentions the “social context.” To me this quote mostly means that to be someone you’re not just so that you could fit in with everyone else isn’t the right thing to do. Everyone has their roots and that’s what really describes the person deep down inside which is who the person should embrace and be happy to be. Everyone was born the way they are supposed to be for a reason there is no right or wrong way to live your life if you love the way you live your life than that’s all that matters. Nobody has to change for anyone everyone is just fine the way they are.
