Understanding cultural and ethnic identity of United States - Essay Example

Understanding cultural and ethnic identity Culture is people's way of life. It de s what a people value and abides to as normal. It is that complex whole of a people's collective experience in life. It includes religion, political, economical, ethics, social and aesthetic. Cultural identity is something larger than ethnic identity; it relates the culture of one group in relation to the culture of another group especially when one group is dominant. 'It is the sentiments of belonging or connection to ones larger culture as in case with U.S minority ethnic groups mixing their ethnic oriented values with some of the larger US cultural values' (p94). A people's culture can have strong or weak cultural salience. Strong cultural salience reflects weak cultural identity and the opposite applies. Ting-Toomey defines ethnicity as an inheritance where members of a particular group perceive each other as emotionally bounded by a common set of traditional, worldviews, history, and heritage. (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005) Ethnic identity can be defined as '...subjective, allegiance and loyalty to a group-large or small, socially dominant or subordinate with which one has ancestral link...' (p96) It is difficulty to trace ones ethnic origin especially where one is from parents of multiple ethnic backgrounds. This can go back to great grandparents who had mixed ethnic heritage. Group membership among communities defines social identity along the ethnic cultural boundaries( Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). The issue of ethnic and cultural identity has been a dominant and salient issue of many minority ethnic groups for along time. America has been the battlefield of this identity struggle. But why should a group develop this kind of feeling and urge to identify itself in the line of ethnic origin or with their original culture Interestingly, the initial immigrants to America mostly from Europe and Balkan region did not meet any threat concerning their ethnicity or culture. They were able to quell the little resistance from the Native Americans. Thus, their mixed European cultural heritage became a dominant culture in America. However, minority ethnic groups such as Asian, African-American and Latino settled in America in the 'eyes' of dominant culture from the host. This dictated the way and how far they could practice their ethnicity and culture. Their cultures and ethnicity became threaten by this dominant culture and therefore minority community became more ethnic and cultural aware of their origin as people '...from somewhere... ' (p94) In order to understand the significance of an individual's ethnicity, it is imperative to understand the ethnic value content and ethnic salience of that person's ethnic identity salience in particular. A closer look at different ethnic backgrounds of American people, we can identify a European or a Latin, Asian and Native American by looking at the salient aspect of individualism and collectiveness. A European will tend to exhibit individualist tendencies whereas Asian, Latino and Native American will have in-group orientation thus collectiveness. Strange enough African -American will tend to blend both collectivism and individualism for the purpose of survival and adaptation. (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). The adaptability process of minority groups in America can be analyzed along a number of factors on the ground. First the social economic situations of the host culture: America is mythically known as 'land of great opportunities'. Therefore, immigrants were welcomed by the host culture, as there were a lot to share since the economy was doing well. This could not be the case where the host culture is experiencing economical hardship. The host would become hostile to the immigrant and this means very difficult for the newcomers to settle and adapt to new cultural environment ( Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). In addition, consciously or unconsciously, the host culture may have a preconceived definition of the immigrant as part of their bigger human family or aliens or visitors. This also dictates how warm the host will be towards welcoming the newcomers, translating to either smooth adaptability or roadblock altogether. Policy of the host culture also dictates the direction and speed of adaptability of the immigrant to the new cultural environment. A host culture may adopt assimilation policy where the newcomers are expected to conform with the dominant culture or pluralistic approach where the newcomers are given opportunity and time to slowly adopt and make choices as pertain to cultural values. Many ethnic communities may migrate to other countries due to both 'pull' and 'push' factors. Refugees for example may be running away from their original countries due to religious persecution or civil wars (push). Others may wish to migrate in search of greener pastures in areas of economy and employment opportunities (pull). The former unwillingly move out of their countries and may have a hard time adapting to their new countries with new cultural environment. The later voluntarily move out their countries to look for a better life and they will be more than wiling to adapt to the new cultures of the found new homes (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). However, as much as these communities tries to be Americans, 'Media and normal interactions constantly reminds them that they are not part of the greater American culture.'(94) This makes it increasingly important for this group to identify themselves with groups of those who they share common heritage, values and ancestral origin. Schools, religious centers, work places and mass media are great channels in which ethnic and cultural identities are advanced. Media plays a major role in advancing these two cultural and ethnic identities. Dominant cultures have in the past used media to influence the subordinate cultures into acceptance and practising the dominant cultures. African-American struggle for greater recognition used the media to showcase the strength and pride of their ethnic group, such as magazines and music. Slogan such as 'black is beauty' black power' I am black and am proud' was the catching sentiments of this African American civil revolution. Ethnic minority groups especially from Asian origins use religion as an avenue to propagate their ethnic and cultural identity. For instance, an Indian practicing Buddhism in America may do so as a way of ethnic and cultural self-conceptualization. This is not the case with a Latino who practices Buddhism as a religion. Language is another cultural and ethnic identity carrier; minority groups especially in Britain started the supplementary schools as an avenue to promote their cultural heritage through teaching of their minority languages. Chinese, Indians, Urdu and others have been very successful in sustaining their culture through the use of minority language teaching in these schools. This was in the backdrop of the monolingual education systems in the mainstream schools that denied minority children an opportunity to explore their ethnic and cultural identity through their language. Great American heroes and heroines have in one time or another made public sentiments that suggest their subjective sense of belonging to a particular ethnic group. Recently, Senator Obama, the youngest senator in US, was quoted as saying that he is an African of Kenyan decent and he is in fact planning to visit Kenya in the year 2007 to pay respect to his father who is buried in Kenya. Tiger woods the Golf champion once said that he really knows who he is and call himself a 'Caublasian'. This list is endless. In a nutshell, it is imperative for world communities to appreciate the significance of ethnic and cultural identities. The values and norms embedded in these traditions are very important in shaping individuals identity and character in the wider society. We should appreciate the reality of world with people from different ethnic background and their right to look different. Countries with multicultural and multiethnic communities should formulate policies that promote cultural and ethnic understanding. This can be through the use of education system, interfaith dialogue and favorable social structures in work place. It is only this way we can advance our society holistically. As the world embraces globalization, where people of vast ethnic and cultural heritage will be 'uncomfortably' rubbing shoulders with each other, we should learn to appreciate other people's way of defining themselves; first by understanding how we define ourselves. This will foster understanding and mutual coexistence among communities. We should not strive to suppress nor dominate small groups, as it is normal for them to have a place to call 'home'- psychologically, socially and emotionally. References Ting-Toomey & Chung (2005), ________________________________ Read More