Magic's Touch By Magic Johnson

Multicultural Narrative Essay

I am going to be comparing and contrasting the culture of Magic Johnson and my own culture. The book I read was Magic’s Touch by Magic Johnson and Jerry West. I will go over how he grew up with his culture and lifestyle compared to how I grew up with mine. The definition of culture is, the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Culture affects your everyday life; it’s basically your lifestyle. My culture is basically just American culture.

First, I will talk about my culture. My culture is a very simple, average, American culture. There is not much to it. A lot of people live differently though, and I am one who likes to be different. I am one who is very energetic,

happy, and outgoing. I like to do things out of the normal. On weekends I wear interesting apparel that people think is cool but very unusual. During school days I just look normal and dress in basic sports clothes.
In my school, being different is weird and “uncool.” All people try to look the same, stay quiet, and they are boring.

I like to be crazy and wild, no matter where I am. I am not really like others at my school. People with the same ethnicity and culture are all extremely different at my school in ways they talk, dress, and act. Everyone eats alike and thinks alike. I enjoy trying weird foods and thinking outside of the box.

Sports are a huge part of my culture. Almost everyone I know plays a sport. Football, basketball, and baseball are definitely our most popular sports. In the U.S.A, baseball is considered America’s pastime. I personally think football is much more interesting, but, that’s only an opinion.

Sports are also a huge role in Magic Johnson’s culture. His favorite sport is basketball, obviously. He was arguably one of the greatest players of all time. Johnson lead the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA Championship; as well as, being the Finals MVP three times. Basketball is a very popular sport in the African American culture. Having a good relationship with your coach is key to being a good team. “Pat Riley and I have a little ‘heart to heart.” (pg.

174)
As for both cultures, any sport you play, at any time, is intensely competitive and losing is something that nobody wants to do.

You could be playing a simple pickup game at the gym and people will get aggressive and they will put in their all to win. If you are playing for a big prize, such as, a championship or a trophy, there is no holding back. You will do anything to win; blood, sweat, and tears will be shed before you lose; that goes for any culture. “When you’re fighting for a championship ring, there’s no time for friendship.” (pg. 163)

Our cultures do have major differences though. In the 1900’s African American’s were known for struggling with family, money, and homes. Nobody would hire them because of racism and all of the slavery that went on. Everyone thought that skin color mattered and that if you were dark, you were different and less important. Racism being a thing made any dark person’s success that much greater. When anyone who wasn’t white became successful, everybody hated on them and wanted to harm

them.
Besides all of the hate, these two cultures do have their similarities. We all have responsibilities in life. We all have a purpose to be here. We are all alive for a reason. Everybody acts like they are so much better than one another. People of a higher class have the mindset that they are better than every other human around them. Some can afford things that others can’t and then act like the individuals who can’t afford it are completely worthless. No matter what culture you are apart of; you deserve to be on this earth and you deserve to be respected as a human on this earth.
All I am trying to say is, no matter your skin color, culture, or ethnicity, you are important and everybody should just be respectful that you exist. All cultures can get along. There has been many examples in history. As of right now, Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams, one of the white culture, another of the black culture and together they are one of the best duos in the NBA. All together, Magic Johnson’s culture and my culture do not differ because everybody is equal.