Designer Labels

I've been spinning my mental wheels for a significant period of time trying to figure out how to make it to the next step, then even more time figuring out what the next step was - backwards?? Seems fuzzy.... Any how, I'm at a point right now where I feel as though I need to come clean about how hard it is to wear the labels that have been designed for me by society, my family, my friends and even my enemies (which I don't believe I have many of, personally!) These labels that you are supposed to wear, don't really get it right, but if you own them, you may feel somehow sold, lost and confused. I can't help but wonder what's on the designer's mind. Why the need to label at all. I know that's naive, but in a label's simplicity, more complex issues are buried and with all the newfound sensitivity surrounding code words (aka labels), how do we help those lost souls find out who and what they really are!

Some of the labels I am referring to are borne out of some sort of racial factor (black, african-american, nigger, hispanic, spic, gringo), some are cultural/community based or purely for political purposes (under-served, under-represented, ghettos, low-income, lower class, minority, at-risk). Nonetheless, they all have a certain stigma. And when you think of them, it's rarely anything good. Now when it comes to the flip side, there are many positive labels which are seldom associated or mistaken for any of the labels previously mentioned. In no particular order - racial(white), cultural/community based or purely for political purposes (affluent, upper-class, suburbs, upscale). These labels accomplish exactly what they are intended for, to separate and divide.

So please be careful of the labels you wear because the designer's definitely design with a motive in mind!