Utilizing pride in identities to create a sense of uniqueness, belonging, recognition and raise awareness. Often, each group prioritizes the concerns of the group over the whole in an effort to give equal liberties to minorities.
Identity politics offsets the gap in a democracy where every man is created equal, but the
majority rules.
It's good in the sense that it creates communities, bad that it overlooks where identities overlap or cross.
The identity can be anything. Examples include age, religion, social class, profession, culture, race or ethnicity, health diagnosis, disability, education, sex, gender identity, occupation, sexual orientation, veteran status...
Because the identity can be anything, the concept of
Identity Politics gets used and misused with varying definitions in different contexts. In 2018 -2019, it seems to be a term white people throw around to deflate the issues and struggles exclusive to people of color, and as a result, an attempt to diminish the power and purpose of
identity politics making this word, in of itself, taboo to use.
In another context, identity politics can mean that people put more emphasis on the identity of the group over the betterment of it. It usually entails the notion of ostracizing people because their belief or opinion slightly veered from the majority of that
minority's belief or opinion.
I am so sick of
identity politics. The issues you raise for black people are issues all people face. I don't feel privileged being a white man probably because my belief in white superiority just masks my feelings of inferiority.
Just because I am a black man who identifies
as a black man doesn't mean I have to support the identity politics behind being a black man. I know the struggles of my people, but I would rather become affiliated with the very people who
marginalize my people to show them what a black man is. And a black man isn't a victim. A black man isn't complaining about the unfairness of a life we all admit is unfair. A black man built this country. A black man can run it.
I think people form identities around their politics. They fit the box too perfectly. They blindly accept these principles because it's not a belief system to them. It's an identity. It's playing dress up, "I'm a republican, so obviously I'm an intelligent, practical rich person. I'm going to take that left hand turn in my expensive truck with a
serious face because I'm a serious republican, " versus, "I'm a liberal, so obviously I'm a caring compassionate person. Fuck you if you disagree! I hope you die and burn in eternal flames. I'm standing up for the meek here. I'm a compassionate democrat. " This is the new identity politics. At its finest. Where it's about being someone more than helping anyone.
