A major part of this unit is the idea of having a dual identity. It is seen in most of the texts that we have read including, “Passing,” “Double Consciousness” from The Souls of Black Folk, and the portrait Famous. While most of these listed are fictional compositions, the idea of having a dual identity can be seen in everyday life with normal people. I believe that I too have had a dual identity and have seen others have one too.
Dual identity is defined as, “identification with both one’s ethnocultural minority in-group and one’s society of residence.” This means that a person will have two identities, one with their race, and one where they will fit into society’s standards. I have seen myself having a dual identity when I was in middle school and would be sent to a Japanese summer camp. During this time, I would change the way I would act to be more like my fellow Japanese camp attendees. Being third generation Japanese American, I tend to have a much different upbringing than most of my fellow first-generation Japanese American mates. While this is different from the typical dual identity seen in African Americans adapting to fit into a white-dominated society, this is very similar as I was attempting to fit into a different type of group. I understand this does not follow the traditional meaning of dual identity, but I feel that this happens a lot to those who are second or third-generation Asian Americans.