Crisis of Identity 11302008

During our socialization and growth as people, we are bombarded with images, scenes, and other materials that we hope help us find out who we truly are. Some people find it easy to get in their molds and take their place in the pecking order that truly becomes apparent in high school. The movie Mean Girls did a great job of highlighting the different but 'traditional' cliques we fall into at the time. Although the names were greatly exaggerated, maybe even offensive to a degree, the attributes, from which we derive many our collected stereotypes, are mostly true. Many adolescents, and even some young adults, struggle with their identity. They often question their role in groups and how their acceptance into a group will further their popularity.

For a while I have been thinking about my identity. Questioning if I placed myself here because I felt it was right or if it was something I have been 'trained and taught' to do. Looking back on childhood experiences and questions I had back then, I know that where I am now is not where I should be. So this is my first step in my journey to truly get a hold of who I am. Breaking free from the shackles that I gained through my socialization as a black man. It feels liberating, very very liberating, but I know that the upcoming debacles will truly test me and the relationships I share with others. But it shall go down that through this journey my morals and sense of character shall remain intact. My purpose for this journey is to help my outwardly appearance reflect my inner thoughts. I'm bringing the inner me out.