Clash of identity :: essays research papers

Clash of IdentityThe difference between Rodriguezs struggle between identity and Angelous struggle is that, Angelous identitys center of focus is her name, while Rodriguezs identity seems to short-circuit around his complexion. Although they both wrote ab place the struggle with their own identity, the views and military position of the two authors differ. In Richard Rodriguezs examine Complexion and Maya Angelous essay Mary both authors illustrate some hardships they faced during their life, such as their experience with racism and prejudice. In spite of the fact that they are both faced with similar situations, the actuality that sets apart their characters is how they dealt with each of their situations. Rodriguez attitude about himself during his puerility was largely influenced by his family, especially his mother, Dark skin was for my mother the most(prenominal) important symbol of a life of oppressive labor and p all overty.(Rodriguez. 451), populate who worked in field s and construction sites spent most of their time on a lower floor the sun, causing their complexion to unsungen, so it was assumed that a per tidings with dark skin was a menial laborer. Rodriguezs mother would commonly leg out his dark complexion by comparison with the poor and the black, at one time she told Rodriguez, You look equal a negrito you wont be satisfied till you end up looking like los pobres(Rodriguez 447). His mothers friends would also often talk of what a shoot or a curse it was, to have dark skin, it was a charrs spoken concern the fear of having a dark- struggle son or daughter.(Rodriguez 449), Rodriguez is illustrating that in his culture, people preferred light skin children over dark skin, knowing that a light skinned child would not face as much prejudice a dark skinned child would growing up. In contrast, Margaret wasnt ashamed of her skin, or creation of different color, she was proud of her race and ethnicity, at the beginning she expresses her pr ide done her relatives accomplishment, my grandmother had owned the only Negro general merchandise descent since the turn of the century.(Maya 3), this she said to a Texas women, when asked about her hometown. Rodriguez and Angelou both expressed their struggled in search for their own identity in their essay. Margarets identity was compromised when Margaret was called out of her original name. Margarets name was casually changed by Mrs. Cullinan, Thats withal long shes Mary from now on(Maya 6).