Can you imagine a seemingly harmless star on your belly can be the main reason for bullying and rejecting others? Well, it is used in a picture book called The Sneetches as a physical trait, and just like skin color in Black No More, is used to determine a person’s identity. But, do physical traits actually show a person’s identity though? In this paper, I will argue that identity is concept made by humans to make divisions and exclusions, show social status, and can be changed for personal gain by using examples from Dr. Suess’ The Sneetches and George Schuyler’s Black No More. Both texts contain satire in order to make readers understand the true meaning of identity.

Firstly, identity is often used for divisions and exclusions. The Sneetches’ different physical traits allow some to have more power and opportunities than others. In the book states, “They never invited the Plain-Belly Sneetches. They left them out cold, in the dark of the beaches. They kept them away. Never let them come near. And that's how they treated them year after year” (Suess, 10). This quote emphasizes how the Star-Belly Sneetches use their physical trait of the star on their belly as a form of power in their society and not engage in activities with the Plain-Belly Sneetches, which are considered the low class in their society. Dr. Suess exaggerated the Sneetches’ obsession with their small star in a comedic way to make the audience feel more relaxed at such a heavy topic. Not only do the Star-Belly Sneetches exclude the Plain-Belly Sneetches, but they also use their physical trait as a type of access to certain opportunities, therefore proving identity can make divisions in society.

Secondly, identity can show social status, whether individuals are considered high, middle or low class. Also in The Sneetches, it states, “We’re the best kind of Sneetches on the beaches” (Suess, 7). Other than excluding and dividing the Sneetches, the quote also highlights how the Star-Belly Sneetches are pushing the Plain-Belly Sneetches to the edge of society, and they have the privilege to do so because of the little star on their belly. The use of “best kind of Sneetches” in the text really show how they are dumb enough to think that the star is a sign of superiority over the Plain-Belly Sneetches. Towards the end of the text, the Sneetches were all trying to change from a Star-Belly to a Plain-Belly and back and forth. Dr. Suess uses this to show the pointlessness in their actions of trying to divide themselves, just like how it is pointless to judge someone based off of their appearance. Why would anyone think that social status being based on physical traits is reasonable and fair? Unfortunately, in the real world, humans do so as well, whether they realize it or not.

Lastly, identity can be changed for personal gain, showing that it is not a concrete concept. George Schuyler wrote in Black No More, “ Dr. Yusaburo Noguchi, head of the Noguchi Hospital at Beppu, Japan, told American newspaper reporters in October 1929, that as a result of fifteen years of painstaking research and experiment he was able to change a Negro into a white man” (Schuyler, 6). In the text, a black man is going to get an experiment done on him and turn him white. If identity can be that easily changed, it should not be used to determine a person. People’s physical traits are basically the outer shell of an egg, the part people do not eat, while personality and talents are the insides of a the egg. Satire was used in the idea of changing black people into white people by using chemicals and the way Schuyler exaggerated it. This can prove through the juxaposition in the author’s intention of trying to inform the audience that identity is not stable.

In conclusion, The Sneetches and Black No More uses a satirical tone to describe how identity can divide society into unecessary groups and rankings since it can be easily manipulated. Humans should focus on helping each other and showing more empathy rather than immediately classifying someone based off of their physical traits.

Works Cited

National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Race and Racial Identity.” National Museum of African American History and Culture, 2019, nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/race-and-racial-identity.

‌‌Seuss, Dr. The Sneetches. Random, 1989.

Schuyler, George S. Black No More. 2018.