Understanding the Complexity of Identity in a Globalized World
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Chapter 1: The Issue with Self-Identification
Why do terms like "Global Citizen" or "Colorblind" come off as cringe-worthy? In 2024, we ought to have gained a clearer perspective on these labels.
Labeling oneself as a "Global Citizen," "mutt," or "colorblind" often stems from a desire to escape one’s identity while trying to adopt a visual style, experiences, and insights associated with historically marginalized communities.
Who typically uses the term "Global Citizen"? Often, it's individuals of European descent who feel discomfort about their heritage, grapple with guilt regarding their ancestors' roles in colonization, and wish to distance themselves from that legacy.
This situation is paradoxical. While it’s true they aren’t directly responsible for events like the colonization of Costa Rica in 1502, they still benefit from a racial privilege that they neither sought nor can fully relinquish. Dismissing white privilege does not erase its existence.
Many of my white friends recognize their racial identity, acknowledging the privileges and social advantages that affect people of color.
"As Global Citizens, we condemn discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization based on race and ethnicity anywhere in the world. An injustice to a Global Citizen anywhere is an injustice to us all. This premise underpins Global Citizen's mandate to end extreme poverty." – Liz Agbor-Tabi for The Global Citizen
However, this awareness seems to be absent among those who identify as "Expats" or "Digital Nomads." They tend to overlook ongoing systemic issues in developing nations as they migrate from wealthier countries, often appropriating aspects of those cultures while claiming a sense of rootlessness and freedom.
"These individuals exhibit a form of archaeological patriotism, expressing admiration for indigenous histories without showing empathy for the contemporary struggles of those communities." – David Luna Desola
As Luna articulates in "Antropologia Centroamericana," a Yuxateco Indigenous individual might be baffled to see their ancestral artifacts displayed in a luxury museum in Mexico City. It’s disorienting to be revered as a deity in museums while facing dehumanization in everyday life.
To call oneself a Global Citizen is to evade accountability regarding one’s origins and the effects they have on the world. It signifies a willful blindness to impoverished communities while simultaneously exploiting their cultures for a fleeting sense of the "exotic."
"Racial discrimination fuels a range of systemic issues, including unequal access to health care, poverty, and economic disparities, as well as other barriers to reaching one's full potential and living with dignity." – Liz Agbor-Tabi for The Global Citizen
Ultimately, no one can genuinely claim the title of Global Citizen. We are all a tapestry of identities, each with its own set of privileges and disadvantages that must be recognized and addressed without sentimentality.
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