Exploring Racial IdentityWe All Have One

What is “identity”?

Identity is…“the collective aspect of the set of characteristics by which a thing or person is definitively recognized or known”

“the set of behavioral or personal characteristics by which an individual is recognizable as a member of a group”

Social characteristics like race or gender

Where we live

Conditions in which we live

Religious beliefs

Political or social leanings

We construct our own identities

Society also can impose them onto us

What shapes our identities?

Our Racial Identities

Write a biography of your racial identity.

When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic identity(ies?)

Our Racial Identities

When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic identity(ies?)

Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to, or took on particular meaning, for you.

Our Racial Identities

Write a biography of your racial identity.

When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic identity(ies?)

Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to, or took on particular meaning, for you.

Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to, or took on particular meaning, for others.

Our Racial Identities

Write a biography of your racial identity.

When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic identity(ies?)

Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to, or took on particular meaning, for you.

Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to, or took on particular meaning, for others.

How do you benefit from your racial identity(ies)?

Our Racial Identities

Write a biography of your racial identity.

When and how did you become aware of your racial or ethnic identity(ies?)

Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to, or took on particular meaning, for you.

Describe a moment when your racial identity(ies) were important to, or took on particular meaning, for others.

How do you benefit from your racial identity(ies)?

How do you suffer from or “miss out” because of your racial identity(ies)?

Our Racial Identities

Write a biography of your racial identity.

Were some of the questions easier, or more difficult, for you to answer than others? Why might this be?

Group Discussion PromptsOur Racial Identities

Were some of the questions easier, or more difficult, for you to answer than others? Why might this be?

Did members of the group have similar or different experiences with the questions? Why might this be?

Our Racial Identities

Group Discussion Prompts

Were some of the questions easier, or more difficult, for you to answer than others? Why might this be?

Has racial identity affected your lives to the same degree? Why?

Did members of the group have similar or different experiences with the questions? Why might this be?

Our Racial Identities

Group Discussion Prompts

In Summary

Our racial identities affect the way the world interacts with us.

Although we construct our racial identities to some extent, society does, too.

In the U.S., we all have a racial identity.

Our racial identities affect the way we interact with the world.