Ethnographic Interview: Identity Development

Ethnographic Interview:
Identity Development Paper
Chopin, Leslie
California State University, Los Angeles

A) The Interview:
I interviewed an African American male (D. Simington) age thirty. This section of the paper will illustrate how certain factors played a significant part in developing his cultural identity. I began by asking him to define his ethnic/cultural/racial identity, he explained the following:
First and foremost, I do not like the term African-American. For centuries, slaves were strategically deprived of spiritual beliefs, cultural practices, traditions, and values which would link them to their native land. As such, Black Americans have little to no ties to their native continent Africa and I feel that an identity in context to our experiences in the United States has developed as a result of cultural genocide by slave owners. In addition to African American I also do not like the term Black. The term has an excessive amount of negative connotations attached to it but most important, the term would indicate that a cultural binary exist between black and white or black and brown. Racial stratification exist with this ideology by either finding a contrast or by creating an opposite. Lastly, if I were to visit any place outside of the United Stated I would be American. Thus, I like to say I am American and usually check “other” when I must do so on applications etc. (D. Simington, personal communication, January 15, 2014).
D. Simington explained that education has taught him that the ethnic part of our identities simply illustrates a communality. In this case, he said he is a human being. In his words, “I have two eyes, a nose, ten toes and a head which is something all human beings have in c...

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...s questionnaire will allow for the social worker to learn from the client in regards to their culture and values. This can form a sense of connection (rapport) between social workers and clients. These type of questions will also allow for the social worker to become less biased and more open-minded in order to assess successfully and not make significant mistakes. Knowing about someone’s identity is very important because this can be part of the reason why people act a certain way or behave a certain way. As a social worker, my goal will be to empower those that are subject to the American society negatively and help them work around this society in a more positive manner. Overall, I will advocate for those that are silent (those in need). I will teach them that they have freedom of speech, that they are assets to this society and that their identity is important.