Blog #1

My definition or idea of American identity has always revolved around the common symbols and words that we associate that identity with. The most common of these in my opinion, to name a few, would be patriotism, freedom, capitalism, the American flag, and various monuments that attest to the hard work and greatness of the United States. My ideas that make up this identity have not changed but I think those ideas have been challenged and are constantly evolving. What makes this country so great is the fact that our identity constantly evolves because we are a country that is made up of many ideas and cultures, our country can be considered a melting pot of identities, ideas and cultures.

I felt that Langston Hughes challenged my definition of American identity in class, after we read his poem “I, Too”. It further reinforced my idea that not everyone’s American identity is identical. Although our collective identities differ, we all have one fantastic thing in common and that is the fact that we are all Americans. In theory we are afforded the same opportunities from one man to the next. That opportunity may not have always presented itself throughout our history but being an American gives us a collective identity that I think we all can gather inspiration from.