Armenians: A Look into the Creation and Representation of Racial Identity

Armenian, American, Korean, Filipino, African American, Japanese, and Italian. No matter whether one has traveled, read about in books, or had face to face interaction, it is clear that each group has their unique and rich culture. It is in the different activities, traditions, and cultural gatherings that the old generations have attempted (most of the time successfully) to teach and pass down their culture to upcoming new generations. Yet, in the case of Armenian youth, many find themselves taking part of Armenian Genocide protests, and hunger strikes just for the sake of authenticating and being part of the Armenian community. Many of these youth are not there for the cause; they are there to socialize and to “prove” that they are true Armenians that have not forgotten about their dark past.

It is indeed a fact, that Armenian history has been a reoccurring cycle of bloodshed, war, and diaspora. Fortunately, even with the abundance of these horrific events, the natives of the country and their distant relatives in other foreign countries have stuck together to rebuild the country and to keep the rich culture alive. In more recent days, I have found myself taking active rolls in protests and marches to get the Turkish government as well as the American government to recognize that genocide did indeed occur in 1915. I know that my intentions and passion are pure and real, but I consistently find myself surrounded by teenagers and young adults that differ on how they care about the cause and the preservation of the Armenian culture. In moments that should be serious, I find certain individuals laughing and fooling around. It is due to my observations as an observer and active participant that I make my claims. Although, I know that I carry with me a personal cultural bias in judging my own people, I try to distance myself and take a more critical