Reflection of Family History and Cultural Heritage - Essay Example

Family History and Cultural Heritage Student’s name Institution of affiliation Family History and Cultural Heritage My family’ history and culture have definitely played a vital role in my behavior and my belief. From my own experience, I have learnt that knowing and having a deeper understanding of one’s cultural heritage is important when interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds. My culture has been the shaping stone of whom I am today. It has allowed me to be open, listen to my inner voice, ability to accept without compromise. Alarcon (2003) defines culture as a set of behavioral norms and practices that arise out of collective cultural heritage, any form of religion, belief, language, knowledge, ideals and forestall each other’s motives and behaviors. This essay therefore examines my family’s historical background and cultural heritage with a view to analyze possible impacts it has had on my personal life. I am of African and England descent. I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago and occasional I used to visit my extended family back in England and South Africa (Johannesburg). My grandparents from my mum’s lineage migrated from England to Trinidad and Tobago. My mum was born on the island of Trinidad and Tobago and she frequently visited the extended family back in England. My grandparent from my dad’s lineage migrated from Africa to Trinidad and Tobago with my dad. Trinidad and Tobago is cosmopolitan country, with people from different lineage all over the world. Some of the occupants came from Africa, India, and a mixture of nations, including France, Spain, Chinese, Lebanese, Syrians, Americans, Venezuelans as well as Amerindians. The largest spiritual group is the Christians followed by Hindus, Islamic and tradition African faith, especially Orisha and spiritual baptism My family is known for the number of church ministers they have raised over the years. Therefore, in the same spirit, I was raised with firm believes in the Christian rules. My father is a church minister in his own church and my mother has a large role to play in the church having studied theology. I was baptized and I continue to observe spiritual life as part of my tradition. The three primary core features that shape my culture are the family, religion and past knowledge. As time lapses we expect certain values to change while some remain the same. In this context, I have had three primary features which have been the main pillars in my life. The diverse interaction with different cultures I have had has provided me with the platform to grow, live, and work with people from many cultures and this has enabled me to have a deep understanding on how to relate with different people. It can be said that there are various things that influences culture. As a person growing up in and around multicultural systems, friends and families have enabled me to grow up with the existence of expected set of rules and expectations that have been passed on from generation to generation. My parents have shared with me their generational history, culture, beliefs and spiritual values. Living in Trinidad and Tobago and being around other cultures played a huge part in influencing my cultural identity. For instance, my style, choice of clothing, my accent, speech patterns, language or customs sometimes change depending on where I am. My knowledge and understanding of living in a multicultural environment has allowed me to develop a different outlook to be able to analyze different circumstances or situation from different point of views. However, multiculturalism isn’t always accepted by everyone as some people are cynical and can be cruel. In real sense cruelty comes in many forms such as racism, discrimination, prejudice and privilege (Axelson, 1999). As I look back and reflect on some of my experiences of prejudice, racism, discrimination and privilege. I focus on my experiences of racism; my understanding of racism is the narrow-mindedness of another race or other races. I have many experiences with racism, which at times can set you back on how you feel about humanity. I recall a few years ago, working as a store assistant with another female who in the beginning seemed fairly friendly and pleasant to work with. As time moved on she began to expose a different aspect of herself, by pointing out embarrassing things about others for her own amusement. Regardless of this, I tolerated her as we had to work together. On this particular occasion, we had a conversation when she asked me if I remember the name of a street in San Fernando. I wasn’t sure what particular street she was refereeing too, so I asked for more information, when she responded by saying “you should know that street really well, its where all you black people live!” I was a bit thrown so, I replied “and why should I know that street I don’t live there’’. She looked at me and responded by saying “oh, I just thought you would know” and smiled. As I reflect on this experience, it highlights how people perceive others and make an assumption of others. This makes the difference in determining whether words and interactions are hurtful, insensitive, spiteful and outright cruel (Laungani, 1998). In the past, different communities integrated new immigrants from different cultural background who have dealt with some type of discrimination. These migrants main concern would be to survive and keep their history alive through all mediums and not limited to just family gathering, food, cultural history such as folk music and religions. They could teach their loved ones to overcome discrimination, racism or prejudice at all levels. They could also guide them how to be tolerant and understanding toward one another regardless of one’s ethnic background. Today the new and younger generations are citizens enjoying the new cultural community that is somewhat different from their parents or grandparents. The current system differs from that of their descendants who were trying to adapt without modern society influences and modern culture (Atkinson & Hackett, 1998). Looking back at the past and the present, so much has changed with regards to people’s views on discrimination, racism, prejudice and privilege. For instance, over the year, most cultures did not allow interracial marriages, but with the modern trend, in most societies it is no longer an issue Though some of these changes have had both negative and positive impacts, I believe with continuing educations on ethnicity and multiculturalism within communities, people will learn compassion and tolerance towards embracing multiculturalism in our cultural society. Axelson (1999) believed that modern culture has played a significant part in influencing one's identity. As I draw on my understanding of living in a multicultural society, both in Trinidad and in Australia, I look back at the things I used to do and enjoy, such as the food I eat, the music I like, my taste in fashion and styles, most of these things has changed so much in the last 20 years. Although I haven’t forgotten my cultural heritage, it can be said that I have incorporated modern views and outlooks to try and fit into my community and go past people’s views of who I am, my culture or my religious choice. Further to this, Axelson (1999), stated that the leading initiators of culture change would have to be the media, people of stature, large companies, and organization Any act of racism, discrimination, prejudice or privilege against another is in no doubt undermining our social cohesion within one’s community. To ensure social inclusion, people need the opportunity to accomplish goals in securing a job, being able to access services, bond with family and friends, and work colleagues. Having personal interests in partaking their local community and just having their voices heard. Discrimination, racism, and prejudice towards any person, individual or towards their community undercuts the accomplishment of each of these goals (Lungani, 1998). Racism, prejudice, discrimination and privilege have a significant effect on the individuals who have experienced it, as well as the people of our broader community. Research conducted by Days (2001), highlighted that there are possibilities of substantial relations between a person’s experience’s and understandings of racism, prejudice, discrimination, poor physical mental health, poor efficiency and a shorten life expectancy. Also, it is understood and fully recognized that any form of prejudice, discrimination, racism, and privilege presents numerous obstacles towards our communal involvement and contribution which can in turn create a form of shared segregation and ingrain numerous types disadvantages that will affect generations (Days, 2001) My current identity factors would be that I am a woman in her late 30’s, married with two young children. The three salient personal identity factors that have contributed to my cultural identity would be growing up as a minister’s daughter in a family of 5 girls and one boy. The three most contextual factors that have influenced and contributed to my identity would be at 15years of age, I was financially responsible for myself, I was able to work and pay my own way through school and home. Further to this I managed to gain an opportunity to work on a cruise line with a vast ray of people, and then began educating myself to work in an area I have always dreamed of. Three universal factors that I would say connect me to every other person is not the fact that we're all human beings, but we share love, anger, empathy, being aware of oneself and the ability to change For me it is hard to have a grounded knowledge of most cultures, however, if a client comes to me of an ethnic background other than my own, as a counselor, I am there to listen and to encourage their openness to their values and to help them find what is needed to come to their conclusion. In relation to gender difference I see no difference, but respect the client and to gain an understanding of how I can help the client. As a counselor it is very important for me to have a great understanding of myself, my beliefs and my values and to treat everyone equally (Diller, 2001). Having the understanding that my clients are not me and I am not my clients, and to treat each one of my clients with respect and as an individual with their own values and to work along with them. As part of my current profession, working with people of all ages and ethnic background has enabled me to be open and respectful to ones beliefs and values even if it does not align with my values its’ not about me. One’s cultural individuality plays an important role in understanding oneself and being able to relate to others. If a person has a strong firm cultural identity of whom they are and what part they have to play in the balance of not being lost in one’s own identity can be said to go a long way in contributing to a person's overall well-being. Being able to identify with other culture helps us to feel that we belong and creates a sense of security. It also helps to be in a position to access shared and collective network systems, which offers support, shared values and aspiration. Such network gives us great advantages in helping one another as well as our community to discontinuity and break down barriers and obstacles to create a sense of unified trust between one another. Part of my cultural ethnicity and cultural heritages in Trinidad and Tobago are the result of the different influences of all the ethnic groups that have settled in Trinidad and Tobago. They have been combined in a manner to create and enhance the rich tradition of art, music dance, cuisine and festivals. As reported in the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago news, many of the celebrated festivals in Trinidad and Tobago, such as the festivals of Hosay and Eid-UL-Fitr, which is a Muslim festival, the Hindu festival of Divali are all religious fulfillment. Also, there are festivals, like Trinidad and Tobago Emancipation Day, Shouter Baptist Liberation Day and Arrival Day, highlight the traditions, customs and contributions specific ethnic groups have made to the islands' development. Trinidad and Tobago also celebrates Easter with two public holidays this being Good Friday and Easter Monday. Besides that, there is Corpus Christi which is a Roman Catholic public holiday, the Emancipation day and Spiritual Baptist day also referred to as Shouter Baptist Liberation day. In Tobago, they still continue with their traditional dating ceremonies, including the offerings of gifts to the soon-to-be bride and a physical challenge of one’s strength for a man seeking the bride. The wedding is then paraded through the main streets as part of this well-loved tradition. The men are formally dressed in a large black top hat and tails, a bow tie and white gloves on both hands. The woman or bride is expected to dress in a type of bustle dresses with a wide brimmed hand and white gloves. This is all part of the resonance of the 18th/ 19th century. The sole objective of this paper was to investigate my historical background and the cultural heritage and the overall effect impact in interpersonal relationships. Having vast knowledge and understanding of one’s culture is vital in interpersonal relationship with people from different cultural backgrounds. The knowledge and understanding from my ancestral traditions have given me the platform to understand and formulate concrete decisions in various situations. Generally, this has had a positive impact on how I relate to other people. I have identified that one of the most important things to me in relation to multicultural cultural counseling is being aware of how my cultural identity will impact on another individual or on my future clients. At present I have a sound understanding and awareness of my cultural background and social upbringing and am mindful of how I feel, and how it affects me. I constantly remind myself of how different other people’s experiences is to my own. This awareness is something that I continue to develop each and every day and it will only get better the more I continue to actively increase my awareness of other cultures. I have the passion to continually work with and around cross cultural counselors to gain experience. Further to this, I will try working with a diverse role with clients and to be respectful of them, and open to learning from them about their different processes. Reference Alarcon. R.2009. Culture, cultural factors and psychiatric diagnosis: review and projections. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA, Retrieved from, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755270/. Atkinson, D., & Hackett, G. (1998). Counselling diverse populations (2nd ed.).Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Axelson, J.A. (1999). Counseling and development in a multicultural society. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. Collins,S., & Arthur, N. (2007).Culture- infused counseling: A model for developing multicultural competence. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, pp ,217-233 Diller, J. (2010). Cultural diversity. A primer for the Human Services. (4th Ed.). Belmont, USA: Brooks/Cole. Days,S (2008). Theory and Design in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Diller,J. (2001). Cultural diversity. A primer for the human Service (4th ed.). Belmont , CA: Brooks/Cole. Kottak, C.P. & Kozaitis, K.A. (2003). On being different. Diversity and multiculturalism In North American mainstream. New York: McGraw Hill. Laugani, P. (1998). Culture and identity: Implications for counselling. In S. Palmer & Laungani, Counselling in a multicultural society (pp.35-70). London,U.K: Sage Publications. The Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (n.d). Culture and heritage in Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved from http://www.ttcgnewyork.com/cultureandheritage.html Read More