Personal Identity

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Personal Identity

Nell Bernstein is the author of "Goin' Gangsta, Choosin' Cholita: Claiming Identity," an

essay describing how the youth in certain parts of the country are choosing their preferred

identity rather than accepting their own. For example, in Bernstein's essay a girl named April,

living in California, wants to be Mexican; therefore, she dresses like and attempts to talk in the

same accent as a true Mexican, even though she is Anglo. The essay also specifically talks about

the state of California, where all this identity changing is happening due to the great diversity of

race there. Bernstein claims that this is a positive situation when a youths choose an identity

other than their own, "actual" one. Whatever makes them feel better or boosts their self-esteem is

okay, I guess? But they still have to face the facts; they can not change their identity. I do not

know what dictionary Bernstein is reading, but the definition of identity does not include the

word "appearance." Identity is who a person is, not who they ap...

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