Social identity of myself and others
My name is Albert Soprano. A white male who is 20 years old. I live in a quiet town of New Jersey. I come from a family of five total. This includes my Dad and Mom, my two younger brothers, and myself. Us all being white. Most people make quick judgment off white families. They think they are rich, spoiled and have it made. I happily say that is not the case for my family. I am not from the typical white family you see in the movies or the ones in magazines. We are creative and different.
My family background from my mother's side is 100% Italian. Her parents each come from huge Italian families. My grandfather, her dad is one of ten. And my grandmother, her mom is one of eight. Family barbeques and occasions where always so fun as a young child. Many people would be there. Over 400 people just from my mom's side alone. We value family, the moments spent together and of course food. Always the greatest Italian food no matter where we went. I always remember, even going back to as young as I can remember the best and highest quality Italian dinners. . My mom's dad had a lot of money, he was a wealthy man. He enjoyed the finer things. This being materialistic things as well. He would never consider himself to be higher than others though. He always related to everyone and treated everyone with the same respect. He saw them as a human, not a price tag.
My father's side is a large family as well. He comes from one of five siblings himself. His father was one of six and his mother was one of five. Their family values where a slight bit different from my mom's side. My dad's family really emphasizes hard work and dedication. Doing the right thing is very key to them in all situations. My grandfather grew up on a farm in Oswego NY. His life was early thrown into the working class, even as a young child. He became a truck driver and his work mentality was passed down to my dad, and now me. The men or breadwinners of the family made money in different ways from my dad's side vs my mom's side. My mom's dad wasn't the hard labor type of worker. He had a part in owning a butcher meat shop in Brooklyn NY. He also was a very successful sports gambler and made a lot of wealth off his winnings. He lived life with the upper 1% image but maintained the reality of middle class to stay under the radar. Things came easier to my mom's side vs my dad's side.
A lot of this trickled down to me. The things I value and practice today in my daily life. I am a very very hard worker. I value my money and time a lot. I respect and honor the working-class people I see every day. I also strive and try to achieve to be like the upper middle class. I would love to live a life with very little struggles and a lot of ease. That's why I hold myself to the highest standards and expect greatness. I like high quality things and to look like I deserve and earned what I have. I also treat and never look to pick fights or cause problems with anyone I meet or know. I like to really get to know people and relate to them in some way. I am good hearted person. I like to know your back story and have a fun good time. I don't see the need to waste time and cause problems making assumptions based off your skin color or the way you dress or what you're into. I like to dig deeper beneath all that into what you are truly all about. I only like to judge the people who give up and give the 80% when there that one step away from achieving something good. I ask myself in my head, "What are they thinking they can really be something." Then I start form opinions in my head of that person.
Not everybody thinks like I do. Society has as hard way of looking down on other people. According to the critical media project, they stated, "have you ever wondered…why most of the main characters in movies and television shows are white…why people of color are often cast in certain roles such as the maid, the gangster, the "model minority," the supportive best friend, the terrorist…why certain products like cars or phones are marketed differently to specific racial or ethnic groups…why certain races and ethnicities are portrayed more often as lower class individuals in mainstream American media? This is found to be very accurate. Throughout the movies and shows I have watched, I can definitely say the white characters take a more dominate role. The white race is looked at as the more dominate race throughout all of the United States. As a white person, I have realized I had been taught about racism as something which puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its chorally aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage. I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to see male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege. I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was "meant" to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an inviolable weightless knapsack of necessities for life. Peggy McIntosh (page 11). White privilege is very dominate around United States. White people have higher pay and better jobs vs other races. People of color are even more aware of racism vs white people.(Montepare &opeyo). They have become so accustom to it. It is like a part of their lifestyle that must be broken away for a more positive impact.
Racism occurs no matter if your black or white. Having a open mind and not judging a book by its cover can help eliminate these stereotypes. The first time you meet someone and have a conversation, imagine it is just them and you sitting down at a table enjoying a diner or drink. Two guys or you and a women just having a relaxed honest conversation being straight up. No need to start forming opinions or making assumptions. That is when you get the most from people and things really seem peaceful. If we can get just 10% of the world to think like that, this world would be a much more amazing place.
