Beverly Daniel Tatum Theory Of Social Identity

Johnny Ramirez
CRD 002
27 April 2014
Social Identity Paper Being born in America was a huge step for my family’s reputation. Never have I imagined how proud I have made my family for being an American. My family knows that America is nothing like El Salvador. My parents saw an opportunity to help our people financially by leaving their native country and illegally entering this great country. Even though it is considered illegal, my family thinks otherwise. By taking the risk of entering America they greatly gave my people in El Salvador hope. Hope that we as Americans can help them with their everyday struggles: Health, Food, and even shelter. My family had three children. I am the oldest of my generation, with a younger brother and
There is a lot of pressure in dealing with my own social identity and trying to cope with the American system. Being Hispanic, Salvadorian and a part of the middle class, people in America do not see us as the dominant race. It ultimately feels like I am at a disadvantage because I am Hispanic who is trying to compete with those who are not Hispanic. I myself went through phases--and currently still am--in my life that are helping me shape who I really am, and who I am proud to be. Beverly Daniel Tatum emphasizes a social identity theory for whites and colored people. Focusing on his theory for colored people, Tatum describes five stages that I must admit are pretty accurate to my own racial identity development. The five stages are Preencounter, encounter, immersion/emersion, internalization and internalization-commitment. In the next few pages I will address my social identity and what it means to me, what
Being a part of an organization where day to day I meet all kinds of ethnicities exposes my own ethnicity and proves that I too can do a great job. I provide an example to the great people of America that Hispanics are not only here to take over your space but to also provide to our country. I take that as a privilege. Because I am Hispanic I am the model in my work force that shows that Hispanics are nothing less than white people. Tatum’s fourth stage is Internalization. “The internalized individual is willing to establish meaningful relationships with whites who acknowledge and are respectful of his or her self definition” (Tatum, 2). My good friend Reynolds is an example of a white person who accepts me for who I am. Because of him I realized what a privilege it was for me to be a part of America. We joke like we have known each other since the beginning of time, we introduce ourselves to the people we know. I met Reynolds as my co-worker at the Dining Commons, where we constitute ourselves as professionals. Outside of work we tend to let loose and be our regular selves. I am truly grateful to live in a country where diversity is