Jillian Turner Blog #5: Surrender to Your True Identity

In her presentation, Dr. My Haley stressed the importance of surrender. She said "surrender and find yourself." This is something that spoke to me in regard to what we have been discussing in class. Identity is a word that keeps coming to mind through our readings and discussions in class.

Dr. Haley's presentation reminded me of a Sunday in church. The way she spoke and told her stories compared to a Baptist Sunday service. She touched on cultural issues such as the family dynamic formed in a neighborhood and even race. Her presentation was highly relatable and intriguing as she was so humble, despite having been so successful. I also appreciated the time we took in class to familiarize ourselves with some of the scenes from Roots.

In Anderson, Chapter 3 particularly interested me in the focus on language. He states "the convergence of capitalism and print technology on the fatal diversity of human language created the possibility of a new form of imagined community" (Anderson 71). Now, this is a mouthful, I know. But as I unpack such a statement, I can't help but think that Anderson is drawing attention to the change in our language today. With this "fatal diversity of language" comes a "new form of imagined community." I must then ask, is this a good or bad thing? Today, the word diversity comes with all sorts of positive connotations. But, in language, is it a good thing? Or does the diversity of language simply create barriers between groups of people?

So, I ask, who are we? Dr. Haley profoundly said "if you don't know who you are, you're like a blank piece of paper. Anyone can write on you." This, of course, could mean many different things. Are we defined by our name like the scene in Roots where Kunta refused to be called Toby? Are we defined by the nation in which we live? Are we defined by the language we speak? By the clothes we wear? 

How can we find our true identity?