In 1971, psychologist William E. Cross, Jr, released his Black identity model. It's a model that supposedly explains the process in which African Americans develop cultural identity.
The first step of development is the pre - encounter stage. When you start at this initial point, an individual believes that the dominant culture is the only true culture. They downplay the importance of their own culture and completely accept the European way of life.
Step two is the encounter stage. In this stage, something happens in which the dominant culture pushes an individual away. They become unable to identify with the dominant culture. For instance, a high school kid is going to lunch off campus, he or she goes to their car and finds "Nigger go back to Africa" written with lipstick on the windshield.
The third step is the immersion - emersion stage. When an individual reaches this point, they completely reject the dominant culture. They may even harbor some hatred for European culture. They now replace their love for European values to Black values.
The final step is the internalization phase. In this stage, the Black culture is still embraced, but some parts of the European culture are appreciated as well. Although, only parts of the dominant culture that are not racist become acceptable.
I personally believe for most African Americans, their development is more complex than Cross's Black identity model. For some AA, they may at first view white culture as the only true culture, while others may never view white culture as dominant or important. An individuals identity is dependent upon the environment and value system in which they are raised. Cross's identity model makes the assumption that all AA start out the same, which simply is inaccurate. There are many within group differences of AA, economic, religious and values, just to name a few. It's the writer's belief that Cross's model makes too many simplistic assumptions to be taken seriously.
What do you think about this model? Did your identity development follow Cross's model? If so, what stage of development are you at now?
2 comments:
First time reader. I came from fellow blogger A blackman's view.
All I have to say is wow. I fit this to a "T". When I was in elementary school for some reason I hated, hated malcolm X. For some reason it was ingrained in me (probably from the school, I can't recall) that he was nothing but a hatemonger. I favored Martin Luther King and was very patriotic and believed every thing that america did was right. Then my militant sister and her boyfriend and other friend changed my views when we had a debate over the statue of liberty. I refused believe its true origin (I'm sure you know about that) then I went to see Malcolm X movie with my two sisters and lets just say my idea of him changed dramatically. I truly loved my brother malcolm and felt bad that I harbored such feeling for him as I did. I then read his autobiography (which is so worn from being passed around in our family, I have a niece waiting to get it next from me) and I was inspired by his love for his people and just love for the being black.
Today I am not so militant but I do love my people though I find fault with them for they way we just are not united and hurting one another.
However like you stated the Cross black model does not fit every person of color. I just so happen to identify with it.
Thanks for posting this. I will bookmark your site and will definitely be back again for more intelligent conversation.
See ya around in the blogosphere!
Peace
(hope I wasn't too long winded there!)
Chocolate matters,
Your story is interesting and insightful. It's good your family has the tradition of passing Malcolm X's autobiography around to each other. Each one, teach one, your family is proof for a hopeful future. Things can and will change for our people one day.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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