Social Identity

Social identity plays a huge role in the way a person grows up. It can influence the way they see the world around them and how they are viewed by others. 2 important elements of my social identity are my race and my gender. As a black male, there are many factors which effect the way I, as well as others who look like me are, am viewed by society. Growing up, it always felt like I was the minority. I would often be the only black person in honors classes or in leadership roles. What I think would be most interesting about the experience in Zambia is that I will be apart of the majority. I believe that being able to readily slip under the radar compared to the other people in my cohort makes me privileged in a sense. I feel as though because of my race and the way I grew up, I might not stick out as much as others. However, being an American from an Ivy League institution sets me far apart from the people I would be interacting with in Zambia. It is because of this huge discrepancy in privilege that it is important for me to actively be aware of my situation. In order to contribute most to this program and truly become a global citizen, I must strive to find similarities among my peers rather than differences and strive to approach Zambia as if the problems faced by the country are my own.