You are to write a four (4) – page (minimum), academic formatted (APA, MLA or Chicago) paper reflecting on your personal racial formation and identity and it’s impact on how you’ve internalized the anti-Black messages about Black people.
This assignment needs to be proofread before submitting. Please have a person you know proofread the assignment and give you feedback. If you don’t have someone you trust to give the necessary feedback, you may use the NetTutor online tutoring service or see a tutor on campus at the Tutoring Center. (Please note: Turnaround time for a NetTutor submitted paper is usually 24-48 hours. Submit early!)
Your prompt is dependent upon how you racially identify.
If you identify as Black and/or African American, consider analyzing your experience based on the following questions:
Who Am I? – Consider the elements that comprise your own racial identity and think about what their implications are. How does your racial identity impact the way you approach the world, and the way the world approaches you? How has your racial identity impacted your life? Growing up what messages did you receive, from your family, friends, school, and media about what it means to be a Black/African American person living in the United States? How have people treated you because you are a Black/African American person? How do you feel about how you have been treated? How do you think anti-Black racism impacted your personal experiences or opportunities? How has anti-Black racism impacted your personal feelings about being a Black/African American person or about other Black/African American people? (What internal racism have you learned?)
If you don’t identify as Black and/or African American, considering analyzing your experience based on the following questions:
Who Am I? – Consider the elements that comprise your own racial identity and think about what their implications are. How does your racial identity impact the way you approach the world, and the way the world approaches you? How has your racial identity impacted your life?
What are your personal experiences with Black/African American people? How have your personal experiences influenced your perceptions of Black/African American people? Growing up, how did you learn about the experiences Black/African American people? What did you learn about the experiences of Black people? What messages did you receive from your family, friends, school, and media about Black/African American people? How did those messages influence your perceptions of Black/African American people? How do you think your learned anti-Black racism influences your experiences and perceptions with and of Black/African American people? How can someone who has never personally experienced anti-Black racism build enough empathy for the conditions experienced by Black/African Americans in and anti-Black/white supremacist society?
