Race and Impression Management

The discussion about being “too black” vs. being “not black enough” made me consider the idea of impression management. As members of specific races, do we work to maintain a specific impression that aligns with our race?

This is such a broad question. I guess in many ways, people maintain a specific impression (clothing, hair style, speech, etc.) that may or may not align with their race. Do individuals feel that it is important to portray themselves as belonging to a particular race? Is it more important to maintain the impression if you are part of a marked group versus an unmarked group?

In relation to appearance, I thought about the obvious clothing styles and hair styles. It seems that there are specific brands that are created with the intention of catering to specific races. Like Johanna mentioned earlier, FUBU caters to the black community, while Lacoste caters to the white community. I feel that many individuals wear brands as a way of establishing their identity. To wear a brand that is associated with a specific race is a way of making a statement about their racial identity and attitude about their racial identity.

However, I have often noticed individuals from races that present themselves in a manner that is antithetical to the stereotypes. This correlates to the idea of being “not black enough.” To a more extreme, it even correlates to the idea of passing. Individuals may view negative stereotypes associated with some races (including their own); therefore, they try to present themselves in a more positive light, even if it means they must present themselves as someone else.

Additionally, I feel that members of marked groups tend to make a bigger deal of maintaining a specific impression, whether it aligns with their race or not. I feel that as members of marked groups, individuals have a greater desire to create a racial identity versus members of unmarked groups.