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African american traditional foods essay
Significance of cultural identity
Significance of cultural identity
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My Cultural Identity In America, culture is defined by your family history and is considered a melting pot that is made up of different cultures. There are also people who have more than one culture that’s part of their background, which is multicultural. I am part of this diverse category because I am half Mexican and half African-American. Being mixed with two different cultures is interesting because I get to experience both cultures and compare and contrast between the two. There are traditions in my African-American culture that I would practice more than the ones that are in my Mexican culture. Overall, both cultures are equally fascinating to have because it’s intriguing to find out more and more about both cultures as I get older. …show more content…
It defines my background and the key aspects of my cultural identity are, my family history, food, and my values in life. These key aspects form me into who I am and gives me a perspective on how I view other traditions in the world. My family history shapes who I am by how traditions that my family has practiced in the past has an influence on the traditions my family practices now. Food shapes my cultural identity by how the type of food, like soul food or Mexican food, shows my culture and where I come from. My values in life shape who I am as a person and have an impact on my cultural identity because they help me to make decisions in my life and help me differentiate between other cultures and my culture. Lastly, all aspects make up who I am as a person and help me to understand more about both of my cultures …show more content…
In my Mexican culture, traditions that are part of my cultural identity would be celebrating Cinco De Mayo and the tradition of when a girl turns 15, she has a Quincenera to celebrate her transition from being a little girl to a young woman. These traditions help morph me into the person that I am and how I will pass down these traditions. Also, my grandmother, on my Mexican side of the family, likes to help me with my Spanish and likes to tell me more about my Mexican heritage. Foods of this culture that make up part of my cultural identity would be Tacos, Enchiladas, Quesadillas, Churros, Burritos and other ethnic foods. Overall, learning more about this culture, considering it’s practiced less than the other, is interesting because it’s like discovering a new perspective on my life and the views that I have and will grow to
Other cultures are interesting because they are different and we don’t usually understand the things that they do and why they do them. Learning about other people’s traditions from all over the world shows the diversity in people’s beliefs, habits and routine occurrences in everyday lives.
What is culture? Culture is such a complex concept that it is not defined by one simple thing. When studying the culture of a particular group of people we look at their beliefs, fashion, art, music and even food. By simply trying food from a particular culture we can learn much about its history and even geography. Recently I had the opportunity to try authentic Peruvian cuisine. Not only did I get to try new food and get to learn about a new culture, I also got to be able to compare it to my own Colombian culture.
“Cultural identity is a broader term: people from multiple ethnic backgrounds may identify as belonging to the same culture” (Elise Trumbull and Maria Pacheco). Though people may identify themselves with a certain culture, their beliefs and actions varies and adjust to their experiences. “…We do not consciously pick and choose attributes from the total set; rather, the conditions and events in our individual lives…” (Elise Trumbull and Maria Pacheco). A person is easily influenced by their culture which also makes an impact on their beliefs as well as their view of the world which can cause conflict with another person.
Living with different kinds of cultures around you is also very knowledgeable to many people. One could learn a lot about someone’s background or country just by interacting or spending some time with them. For example, you can learn about different foods, clothing, fashion, and the kind of lifestyles others might have. Living together helps keeps us in harmony and peace. If we didn’t get along or maybe even share some of the ideas we wouldn’t be such a diverse community. Knowing and underst...
...tions and other important parts of our lives. These two cultures are very unique and I believe they are two of the most influential cultures around the American continent. Overall the process of learning to communicate and share our cultural background with others is an important tool to live improved and fruitful lives.
An individual's identity is reflected through the uniqueness of their character, which is portrayed through distinct qualities such as habits, aspirations, or values. These factors are unique to each person, yet the most influential aspect towards one's identity is most arguably their cultural background. Culture is most commonly defined as the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social or ethnic group. Therefore, culture is a powerfully impressionable factor behind character formation; it imposes customs which ultimately manifest through a person's defining sense of identity. This clear link between culture and identity suggests that a cultural collision, or a conflict tied directly to one's culture, will ultimately affect one's sense of self.
I live in this huge mix of culture. Culture is personal. People can have many cultures especially in America and because of globalization. Cultural identity is not one or the other, it is not Mexican or American. Cultural identity is an individual relevant thing.
I classify my race, ethnicity, and culture as a white, Irish-Italian- American, woman. My mother was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and my paternal grandparents are from Sicily, Italy. I imagine being first generation Irish and second generation Italian helps me relate with my ethnicity.
When we think about our identity we often think about the way we look. Such features as hair color, eye color, skin tone, height and weight come to mind. Whilst these features are part of our identity, there are many more complex factors that make us who we are. Whilst psychological issues are paramount to the formation of our identity, I will be addressing the nature of our identity in relation to socio-cultural factors (Austin, 2002, p.9). During the course of this essay I will be discussing the term of Identity and some of the axes of identity, including Race, Class and Gender. It is important to understand some of the significant issues of identity so that we have more of an understanding of who and what we are, which in turn may help us to begin to better understand others.
Personally, my culture consists of being first generation Irish American. My parents immigrated to the United States for more opportunity and to start a family while they were in their twenties. I grew up in upstate New York with four brothers. A big part
For instance, not only do I believe I have the Hispanic culture but also interact with the Autism culture. I work with autistic kiddos. I interact with these kids on a daily basis and they are who keep me campaign. They have been part of my life since the day I began this job. I believe I have become part of the Autistic culture. I engage with them every day, for instance, I have teach them to dress, eat, and go to the restroom. My environment is surrounded with these Autistic kids. I have become part of their life just like they have been part of mine. I dedicate my time to these kids because I want a better future for them. Reason why I identify part of the Autistic kids is because I have become more involved in their community. In fact, those who are interpreters, identify themselves part of the Deaf culture. They environment in which they work Is with Deaf people. They have participate in events that contribute with Deaf people. The people you work with can become a factor to who you see yourself. The people around you shape your identity and personality. Therefore, culture also represent who you are and where you come
Who am I; my beliefs, values, morals, and views on society have assisted in molding me into the person that I am considered to be today. I was raced with specifics values, traditions, and norms. Being raised in a small town made being socially aware very easy. I was raised under the southern Baptist Christian religion. Church was always the same and it had a majority of women in attendance although the men and elderly people ran the church overall. It was always the same, repetitive habits and events that occurred in my town but after a while I became accustomed to always being near or known by others.
My culture identity, as I know it as is African American. My culture can be seen in food, literature, religion, language, the community, family structure, the individual, music, dance, art, and could be summed up as the symbolic level. Symbolic, because faith plays a major role in our daily lives through song, prayer, praise and worship. When I’m happy I rely on my faith, same as when I’m sad, for I know things will get better as they have before.
My heritage culture is what has shaped me into who I am today. I am a Caucasian female who is twenty-three years old. I am a granddaughter, daughter, sister, and friend. I am a Christian, and more specifically a Baptist. I attend Musella Baptist Church in Musella, Georgia. My ethnicity is a blend of Cherokee and English. Along with my family and who I am particular experiences have opened my eyes to the other cultures’ practices. Additionally, witnessing the diverse cultures has allowed me to become a more accepting of others’ differences. Through my own family’s culture, beliefs, and experiences I have become more aware of the diversity that surrounds me.
Identities that are developed in different ways in different cultures are cultures learned through your culture (Martin & Nakayama, 2011.) My Mexican culture has taught me that family is the most important thing in my live. I depend on all my family and trust in each and every one of them. I am really close to all my family and even my extended family. Especially now that I am a mother, I hope to aspire that value in my daughter’s life.