2.5 Recommended Resources

Books

  • Adichie, C. (2013). Americanah. Novel examining blackness in America, Nigeria and Britain
  • Blee, K. (2002). Inside Organized Racism: Women in the Hate Movement: Self-identities of women connect to the US racist organization, the Ku Klux Klan
  • Friend, T. (2010). Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor: Provocative assessment of the role of WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) white privilege in US society
  • Lubrano, A. (2005). Limbo: Blue-Collar Roots, White-Collar Dreams: Personal account of growing up in a working-class, Italian-American community and working his way into the middle class
  • Said, E. (1978). Orientalism. Classic study discussing cultural representations that are the bases of “Orientalism”, defined as the West’s patronizing representations of “The East”
  • Shaprio, J. (1994). No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement. Classic account on the rights of the disabled

Films

  • Afro-Punk (2003): Documentary film exploring the roles of African-Americans within what was then a white punk scene
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fanQHFAxXH0
  • Babette’s Feast (1987, Danish title: Babettes gæstebud) celebration of the French culinary tradition
  • Bend It Like Beckham (2002). Story of an Indian girl in the UK who challenges norms and traditions of the Indian community to play soccer (football)
  • Chocolat (2000): French film illustrating the power of food to change identities
  • The Color of Fear (1994). Documentary film showing eight North American men from different ethnic backgrounds, gathered for a dialog on race relations
  • Crash (2004): Feature film featuring racial and social tensions in Los Angeles, exploring a verity of stereotypes
  • Witness (1985). Crime thriller which features members of the Amish community

Online resources

Ethnicity and microcultures

Conversations on race and prejudice

TED talks on identity: Knowing yourself before judging others

  • Liza Donnelly: Drawing on humor for change
    Interesting perspective on identity creation and appearance for women; humor as a powerful tool for self-actualization
    TED description: “New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly shares a portfolio of her wise and funny cartoons about modern life — and talks about how humor can empower women to change the rules.”
  • Caroline Casey: Looking past limits
    On the importance of “being true to yourself” and overcoming what seem like unsurmountable barriers
    TED description: “Activist Caroline Casey tells the story of her extraordinary life, starting with a revelation (no spoilers). In a talk that challenges perceptions, Casey asks us all to move beyond the limits we may think we have.”
  • Lizzie Velasquez: How do you define yourself?
    TED description: “In a time when beauty is defined by supermodels, success is defined by wealth, and fame is deified by how many followers you have on social media, Lizzie Velasquez asks the question how do you define yourself? Once labeled, ‘The Worlds Ugliest Woman,’ Lizzie decided to turn things around and create her own definitions of what she defines as beauty and happiness.”
  • Pico Iyer: Where is home?
    On the multicultural identities today and how we all are a “work in progress”
    TED description: “More and more people worldwide are living in countries not considered their own. Writer Pico Iyer — who himself has three or four ‘origins’ — meditates on the meaning of home, the joy of traveling and the serenity of standing still.”

Humorous takes on issues of race, ethnicity, and nationality

Food and cultural identity

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