Individuality And Community

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Individuality and Community: Individuality can be defined as an individual’s character that makes that person different from others. A Community can be defined as individuals that are alike or share common interests and point of views. There are many different communities that individuals can be a part of. Some communities we are a part of by choice while others we are just classified into such as race. Being a part of the African American community brings about problems such as racism. People of other races are quick to judge African Americans because of how life in our society was in the past, and the negative things that some African Americans are involved in today. Racism has gradually become less of a problem throughout the years but still exists in our society, and individuality sometimes gets misjudged or overlooked because of the communities we are a part of. In the story “Desiree’s Baby”, the issue of racism comes about. “Desiree’s Baby” is a story of a girl named Desiree and her husband Armand who have a baby boy together. When Armand realizes that the baby is mixed, he starts to distance himself from Desiree and the baby. Armand then calls Desiree and the baby out by saying, “That child is not white; it means that you are not white” (Chopin). Even though the baby is mixed, Armand should have not called his wife or the baby out by saying they are not white. He showed racism by disclaiming the child because it was mixed, and sending his wife and the baby away because he did not think she was white. However, at the end of the story a letter that Armand’s mother wrote to his father stated, “Night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery” (Chopin). Armand was thinking the whole time that his wife was the
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