Racial Identities vs. True Identities

In Racial Formation in the United States, Michael Omi and Howard Winant describe how Racial Formations are present in everyday experiences, especially in the way we “notice” race.  Such a notion directly contrasts the “colorblind” theories, as it reveals that we cannot simply disregard race, because the connotations of different races and what it means to be a certain race are so heavily ingrained within people.  Omi and Winant state: “we utilize race to provide clues about who a person is… We expect people to act out their apparent racial identities; indeed we become disoriented when they do not” (59). 

While such “clues” may not necessarily lead to negative repercussions all the time, they can lead to stereotypes that overlook the identities of individuals, and instead generalize or even commodify such individuals.  In this episode of LEVEL: ASIAN, the Fung brothers explore Asian stereotypes and how other races use individuals’ Asian race as a clue to their racial identity.  However, these stereotypes can often prohibit an individual from being perceived as how they really are, especially when stereotypes are applied to such a large group of people.  In many instances, this perceived racial identity will blot out one’s true identity.  For instance, on a basic level, what if an Asian is not actually good at math, or doesn’t prefer to hang out with other Asians?  As an Asian-American myself, I am familiar with many Asian-American friends who feel pressured to be "good at math," just because they’re Asian.  Yet despite the prevailing stereotypes, one’s racial identity should not dictate one’s individuality in character.