Part 1: "Hair" in Fires in the Mirror

Identity crisis is a significant issue in the society. In Fires in the Mirror, it was visible that people in every race goes through some type of identity crisis. Hair was one of the racial symbols that has been portrayed in the play which can be linked to identity crisis. Rev. Al Sharpton's character signifies the reality of identity crisis as he talks about how puts up his hair. Even though he says that he combs his straight because he promised to James Brown and that it is not a "reaction to Whites," it can be seens as he is trying to justify his own identity crisis. At the video shown in lecture, we also saw that Al Sharpton's character mostly focuses on the hair to solidify how important hair plays an important rule in one's identity.

Like African American uses hair as the identity, we also learnt in the play that hair contributes to identity crisis in Jewish culture as well. For example, the Lubavitcher woman, Rivkah Siegal talks about how she fools people with her wig and it has become a serious identity issue for her. Because, she thinks they are 'fake' and it does not portray who really she is. Despite using hair as an identity crisis, I think, both communities should embrace their identity rather going through the struggle of crisis. Embracing their own identity can lead to the appreciating their own beauty and acknowledge others beauty as well. Beauty may not be the concept to overcome the real inter-racial conflict that exists in this play, but the beauty within oneself can lead to the ultimate peace overall.