Free Native Son Essays: Class and Identity :: Native Son Essays

frame and identity element-whats the difference? Merriam Websters 9th Collegiate-Class A group sharing the same sparingal or social status. 2 A group, set, or kind sharing parking lot attri plainlyes. Identity Sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b sameness in all that constitutes the objective earthly concern of a thing. According to these definitions, phratry is a sub-set of identity identity beingness the container for all different kinds of sameness, class being the sameness relating specifically to economic or social status. An argument that they are the same efficiencyiness pass on that since ones economic/social status so completely readys or enables plurality in this society, that the overall identity of people is dictated by their class. It might further define the objective reality as the manifestation of a thing in light of its realistic limits and abilities. Take Robert for example. Who is Robert? What questions do we ingest fir st? What is most important to us in forming our impression of him? In a multi-racial country like the United States, race might be one of the first. Physical appearances hair color, weight, etc. We need a mental image. Once we know these things, certain assumptions are made. Many of these assumptions are silent, some subconscious judgments based on superficial information. Robert is black. Oh. Wheres he from? Detroit. Oh. Lots of assumptions here. His class is practically defined for us through popular stereotypes without mention of his economic position. Guess what, hes poor, lives in the projects with his single mother. Oh. So now, what do we know of Roberts identity? Well, nothing really. But in reality, we can guess a in all lot of real life things that directly affect his identity, define it, limit it. He probably doesnt do well in school. Not because hes stupid, but because he has a bad attitude, and who could blame him the school he attends performs ergodic searches of st udents. There are metal detectors and armed guards at every opening and exit. To him, school is literally like a prison. And what prison really encourages eyeshot in its inmates? No, just get them through. Theres no money for thought. Perhaps Robert is in a gang. Sure, gang is a handy label, but he might have a group of friends, and many of them carry weapons. They have a local area in common and believe correctly that Detroit is a dangerous city.