Creative Papers-Essay on Identity (nonfiction): Write to the best of your ability, based on your experience or understanding of the topic, and from what you learned in the class readings/discussions. The main point is to be honest, and to write from your heart.
Identity Essay: Read Professor Maldonado's lectures on the The Roots of Identity and Denial, and Privilege and Power, and read the essays in your Course Reader by Ana Castillo "Introduction" to Massacre of the Dreamers, and Roberto Rodriguez' "Who Declared War on the Word Chicano?" and "The X in La Raza". Write a 3- 4 page essay which analyzes the concept of identity, social, cultural political religious, whatever many ways a person may identify themselves as, and see if any of these things or combination of things might make up what we consider a Mexican Identity, or a Chicano Identity.
What external and internal factors affect how we identify ourselves racially/ethnically? How important is it to have or claim such an identity?
What are its strengths, weaknesses?
Where does it come from, this Identity?