Name & Identity. Does it Even Matter? How Does it Really Affect Us?
- Colleen Joan Massey
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Mexicans, Germans, Puerto Ricans, Irish, Spanish, Hungarians, Greek, Jewish, Russians, Muslims, Nigerians, Ethiopians, Phillipinos, Chinese, Navajo's, Cherokee's...and more.
These are all something in common....What Might you ask? They are Names, Identities that a group of people call themselves when they are born in a certain country (nationality based), a certain Culture or Tribe (Ethnicity Based) or a Certain Religious group (Religious based).
People, since the beginning of time have been called something or the other, "special to them" and yes these names even , since the Biblical times, offer a sense of Identity, self-esteem and sense of BELONGING.
Humans forever, have always had the normal, natural desire to be a part of a larger group of people. A sense of belonging, acceptance, and community is vital to being a regular, average, God given, normal, human being.
So much so,, that people have even created their own groups and sub groups.
According to Google, 2025: "Having a positive identity group to belong to is crucial for a person's well-being and development. This sense of belonging is a fundamental human need that helps shape who we are and how we interact with the world.
Psychological Benefits
A positive identity group provides a sense of security and stability. When you feel like you belong, you're more likely to have higher self-esteem and confidence. This is because the group affirms your identity and values, making you feel accepted for who you are. This support system can also act as a buffer against stress and hardship, providing comfort and emotional support during difficult times.
Social and Developmental Benefits
Belonging to a positive group fosters social connections and skill development. These groups provide opportunities to interact with others who share similar interests or backgrounds, leading to the formation of meaningful friendships and a strong support network. Within these groups, individuals can also learn valuable social skills like cooperation, communication, and empathy. For children and adolescents, positive identity groups are particularly important as they help in the exploration and formation of their own identity, separate from their family.
The Risk of Negative Identity Groups
The importance of a positive group becomes even clearer when contrasted with the effects of a negative one. Negative identity groups, such as gangs or cults, can be just as strong in providing a sense of belonging, but they often do so by promoting harmful behaviors, prejudices, or an "us versus them" mentality. Such groups can lead to the loss of individual autonomy and can damage a person's well-being and relationships with those outside the group. Ultimately, the positive influence of a supportive group is what helps a person thrive, not just survive.
There are many positive Benefits to having a Positive Ethnic Identity Group to Belong to
"Having a positive ethnic identity is incredibly important for a person's well-being, especially for members of ethnic minority groups. It's not just about knowing your heritage; it's about a deep, positive sense of belonging and pride in your ethnic group. This sense of identity provides a vital foundation for a person's psychological health, academic success, and overall resilience.
Psychological and Social Benefits
A strong ethnic identity contributes directly to a person's self-esteem and self-worth. When individuals feel a sense of pride and connection to their ethnic group, it can buffer the negative effects of discrimination and racism. It provides a source of strength, community, and social support that helps people cope with stressful situations. 🤝 Studies have shown that people with a positive ethnic identity often experience fewer depressive symptoms and lower levels of anxiety. This is because their group provides a framework for understanding who they are and where they fit in the world.
Academic and Developmental Importance
For adolescents, developing a clear and positive ethnic identity is a key developmental task. It helps them form a cohesive sense of their general identity. Research indicates that a strong, positive ethnic identity is linked to better academic performance, greater school engagement, and higher GPAs. This connection may be because a solid sense of self-concept empowers students to feel more confident and motivated in their educational pursuits.
The Role of Cultural Pride
Positive ethnic identity often includes cultural pride, which is the appreciation and celebration of one's cultural heritage, traditions, and history. This pride is a powerful tool for resistance against oppression and for fostering a collective identity that empowers people to advocate for social justice. It helps preserve cultural practices, languages, and art forms, ensuring their continuity for future generations."
Mulatto & Mixed Identity in Conclusion
Mixed and Mulatto Identity, for many centuries, in America, especially as well as other parts of the world been a blurred and controversial subject, even shunned and hated, mainly because most majority racial groups (Monoracial or mostly white or black or asian for example) individuals have populated the earth and intermarried at higher numbers, historically, where as mixed and intercultural relationships have occured as well, however not as much, therefore mixed people are a rarity still, the exotic, the outlier or the minority group across the scope of the whole world. However increasingly growing....Have no fear, Mixed relationships and therefore mixed people populations are steadily growing in countries such as Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, America, Brazil, England, France, and South Africa. That does not even count North Africa and the Middle East....
Most of the time, as we know from most high school movies and experiences, the bigger persons, the majority group and more "popular" group will most often, bully in some way, the smaller people, the lesser and smaller numbered groups- as an analogy for comparison.
This bullying also occurs ehtnically speaking, unfortunately, mixed people are the brunt of this subtle yet, real and still present 'ethnic type bullying". Mixed people many times, end up experiencing some form or another of some type of psychological torture and abuse in their lives.
Most other Cultures and Ethnicities, Nationalities and Identities, are ALL ALLOWED to be who they are, and RESPECTED legally, politically, and socially as who they say they are. However, at some point in History, The Terms such as Mulatto, Sambo, Pardo, Meztizo, Hapa, Blasian, Chininidan, Etc. some people, (assuming these people were mostly monoracial) became OFFENDED by these names, and decided its better to just completely ignore and ERASE Mixed identity all together, than to actually RESPECT THESE PEOPLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THEIR OWN NAME. just let them pigeon hole into some other category and blend in somewhere else, they dont even really fit into. Its okay. As long as WE monoracial people (All black, all white, all Asian, all whatever) can act like these dang mixed people dont exist, right?
Well believe it or not this type of thinking and theology is very common amongst some major racial group/monoracial people. They believe that mixing should NOT happen. They see it as shameful and unaccepable. All people should stay with their own kind right?
Well here we are. In the year 2025, in the future where millions of mixed relationships and marriages have ALREADY occured, and millions of mixed babies have arrived. Slavery has BEEN over, yet we still do not give Mixed people their own respected name and identity. Why, because it better to ignore what makes us uncomfortable.
If you even google these mixed terms, even AI or whoever programmed it to have its information will say, This term is "Highly Offensive". ????? A robot. saying this. who programmed this thing. Obviously a monoracial person.
Anyway.
We mixed people ASSURE YOU the rest of the world that we don't want to be anything better than anyone else, we JUST WANT AN EQUAL, FAIR AND LEVEL PLAYING GROUND. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
Did you know that many mixed and Mulatto people feel like they are treated as a nobody? a no name nothing just urged to dissapear? With no group to beling to and no real identity. Its sad..And that is really the only sad part of it. Everything ELSE IS GREAT about being Mixed.
So interestingly, there is a National Hispanic Heritage Month, and Day, There are also National Hispanic (Puerto Rican Day) Parades, and Cinco De Mayo for Mexico. There is Also National Asian Heritage Month and Day. There is Also a National St. Patricks Day Parade for The Irish in March. There is Also a National Black Hertiage Month and Day, Also JuneTeenth is Nationally Celeberated. These are only a few of the many examples of how Other Ethnicities have their respect and rights.
Its Now Our Turn.
Mixed people are urged , in todays modern fast paced, technology filled world to use modern technology to their benefit and JOIN TOGETHER, whether it be online, (which allows connections around the world now), and in person to use this to OUR GOOD. and TO THE PROGRESSION of our PEOPLE and UNITE AS ONE PEOPLE.
Going into some other countries and back into history as well in the americas, These Names for Mixed people were given to Mixed people and created by Europeans Mostly to help be able to Identify the beautiful mixes that came out of Multi-cultural Relationships.
THERE IS NOTHING OFFENSIVE ABOUT THAT! Id Rather be called Mulatto any day and Every day than called "biracial" or called "other" or even just marked as black or white!
Here at Mixed Community Forum,
We have a public free survey that you can be a part of. All names, information and answers will be kept anonymous. We will not share or use any of your information. It is solely for survey/statistical data and studies., in which large data info will be summarized for final review. ( for example (30% of people preferred....) No personal names will be used, ever.
If you feel mixed and mulatto people DESERVE RESPECT AND RECOGNITION, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING SURVEY AND SUBMIT. YOUR ANSWERS WILL BE APPRECIATED.
What Would You Rather The Rest of The World Call You?
Mixed
Mulatto/Hapa/Blasian/Sambo/Etc.
Biracial
Tan
You can vote for more than one answer.
If you could be Respected with Your Own Ethnic (Legal) Name and A National Mixed Celebration Month, National Day, and Mixed Day Parade, Would you feel Better?
Yes
No
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