In society, there are many misconceptions in terms of racism. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, racism is the belief that race is responsible for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Many people would agree with this definition. What is racism? The normal person, if asked, will simply answer, not liking someone because of the color of their skin. Racism in my opinion, confirmed by historical events, is a system of power. Therefore it is a system of power used to control the world and its people. Racism was used by Europeans to subjugate and discriminate against other groups, especially Africans/Blacks. It is also a power that has acted systemically to hinder and sabotage other groups. The system is so elaborate that it seems almost non-existent on a systematic level. That's why many people think it no longer exists. Racism is pervasive in society and remains a silent code that has a profound effect on society. Ralph Ellison, author of the award-winning novel, Invisible Man, deals with racism and how it affects an individual. I would like to analyze racism and show how it affects one's identity. The dictionary defines identity as an individual characteristic through which a thing or person is recognized or known. In other words it is the way one sees, looks, views and defines oneself. Many people's identities are influenced by religion, environment, parents, culture, gender, teachers and textbooks. The media can also play a role in shaping one's identity. This can include the Internet, news, movies, radio, etc. One's identity can be shaped by many different things or experiences. The things that have shaped my identity are family, race,...... the medium of paper... a Markmann. New York Grove, 1967. The book Black Skin, White Masks examines what goes through the minds of blacks and whites under the conditions of white rule and the strange effects it has, especially on blacks. So, it is the study of the black psyche in a white world. "Frantz Fanon Black Skin White Mask." YouTube. YouTube, February 27, 2013. Web. November 17, 2013. Documentary on Frantz Black Skin White MaskSabloff, Nicholas. “Obama opposes reparations for slavery.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, August 2, 2008. Web. November 17, 2013. Barack Obama addresses double consciousness in white America. Welsing, Frances Cress. The cards of Isis (Yssis): The keys of the colors. Washington, DC: CW Publishing, 2004. Print.The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors, presented a bold psychoanalysis of the system of racism/white supremacy.