Bob Greene's The People In Me

The human species has, is, and will always be separated into two distinct categories: those who succeed, and those who fail. Why is this? Why isn’t everybody a success? Those denoted as failures will argue only the lucky succeed, or only the privileged prevail. Those failures will claim that their deficiencies are circumstantial; that they never had a chance, because they adopted their identities, as failures, at birth. Those failures, however, are gravely mistaken. The fact of the matter is, as best stated by Thomas Merton, “A person does not simply, ‘receive’ his or her identity.” People create their identities based on personal values and morals as much as an individuals’ mindset and work ethic. For example, take Bob Greene. Greene’s true …show more content…
In the essay Kelly frequently expresses his view that race and ethnicity are completely irrelevant when assessing identity, with evidence presented through explaining, “My mother never fit the ‘black momma’ media image. A beautiful, demure, light brown woman, she didn't drink, smoke, curse, or say things like "Lawd Jesus" or "hallelujah," nor did she cook chitlins or gumbo” (Kelly). Kelly firmly believes his identity is what he makes of it, choosing to define himself on his culture and mindset instead the stereotypical assertions about his genetic compilation taking a, “nature versus nurture,” position. Kelly’s views apply to many individuals around the world, specifically to Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize winner. She, like Kelly, refused to adopt an identity based on her origins as a Pakistani, uneducated female. Yousafzai, though greatly opposed, fought for women’s rights in Pakistan, and was shot due to her actions. And yet, she still, to this day, continues to fight for Pakistani women’s