What makes you unique?
This is a question everyone has a response to. I don’t care
how boring you think you may be. There’s something about everyone that stands
out, whether it’s your ability to initiate interesting conversation, the way
you sign your name or even your taste in shoes. I bring this up in my quest to
increase self-awareness and to also acknowledge the new wave of diversity that’s
become a global phenomenon. It’s actually pretty amazing, to see and meet
people of different backgrounds and diverse origins. No one is just from such
and such country anymore, it’s more diverse than that. I’m more diverse than
that.
how boring you think you may be. There’s something about everyone that stands
out, whether it’s your ability to initiate interesting conversation, the way
you sign your name or even your taste in shoes. I bring this up in my quest to
increase self-awareness and to also acknowledge the new wave of diversity that’s
become a global phenomenon. It’s actually pretty amazing, to see and meet
people of different backgrounds and diverse origins. No one is just from such
and such country anymore, it’s more diverse than that. I’m more diverse than
that.
My name already gives me away, but it doesn’t tell my
complete story. I was born and raised in the good ol’ US of A, in a small city
outside of the Washington DC area. I grew up in a typical house in a typical
neighborhood, but there was nothing “typical” about our home. The language was
different, along with the food, celebrations, and cultural beliefs that were
bestowed upon my siblings and I. Like many Americans, my parents came into the
U.S. as students who went to school and eventually worked their way up to
decent paying jobs and started a family. Along with their eagerness to succeed
in America they brought all of their traditional West African customs with
them, some would enrich their children and some would hurt them. They didn’t
know any better, so it is what it is. That’s another thing that makes us unique
– the adverse occurrences that took place along the way. It helped shaped me
into the person I am today. You can say the same for yourself believe it or
not. What’s amazing is that I was able to carry my different background well –
around friends, teachers and family members.
complete story. I was born and raised in the good ol’ US of A, in a small city
outside of the Washington DC area. I grew up in a typical house in a typical
neighborhood, but there was nothing “typical” about our home. The language was
different, along with the food, celebrations, and cultural beliefs that were
bestowed upon my siblings and I. Like many Americans, my parents came into the
U.S. as students who went to school and eventually worked their way up to
decent paying jobs and started a family. Along with their eagerness to succeed
in America they brought all of their traditional West African customs with
them, some would enrich their children and some would hurt them. They didn’t
know any better, so it is what it is. That’s another thing that makes us unique
– the adverse occurrences that took place along the way. It helped shaped me
into the person I am today. You can say the same for yourself believe it or
not. What’s amazing is that I was able to carry my different background well –
around friends, teachers and family members.
The Rough Part
Starting school with a weird name and different background
wasn’t traumatic until I reached second grade. I was teased relentlessly about
my name and having African parents. The monkey jokes, bootyscratcher comments
were all there – all the time. A couple of classmates came to my house, and
were terrified by what they saw; fish being fried at crazy temperatures, people
talking loudly and grandma wearing strange, but colorful clothes. They were
definitely blown away, but at the same time intrigued by what they saw. They
stood out from the rest of the classmates because they eventually got over the
terror and we became the best of friends over the years.
wasn’t traumatic until I reached second grade. I was teased relentlessly about
my name and having African parents. The monkey jokes, bootyscratcher comments
were all there – all the time. A couple of classmates came to my house, and
were terrified by what they saw; fish being fried at crazy temperatures, people
talking loudly and grandma wearing strange, but colorful clothes. They were
definitely blown away, but at the same time intrigued by what they saw. They
stood out from the rest of the classmates because they eventually got over the
terror and we became the best of friends over the years.
But of course, there was a flip side to this; I was teased
at school for having an African background, only to come home and be teased by family
for being American! This used to upset me because I would ask myself “well
where do I fit in?”. It was rough because I had to stand up for myself at
school among my peers and ignorant teachers (some, not all of them were
ignorant) and then defend myself when I was around my relatives for only
relating to some of the West African customs, instead of all of them. For
instance, my parents thought it would be in my best interest if I wasn’t taught
the language they spoke. They figured it would only hinder my ability to speak
proper English, so they never spoke their dialect to me they only spoke it
among themselves. So family members would tease me because I didn’t know the
language – and then they would talk about me among themselves in the African
dialect. Well, little did they know that I may not have spoken it, but I
understood it very well. I never got
around to speaking it fluently because I was embarrassed by the way I sounded
when it came out – plus the constant teasing never helped either.
at school for having an African background, only to come home and be teased by family
for being American! This used to upset me because I would ask myself “well
where do I fit in?”. It was rough because I had to stand up for myself at
school among my peers and ignorant teachers (some, not all of them were
ignorant) and then defend myself when I was around my relatives for only
relating to some of the West African customs, instead of all of them. For
instance, my parents thought it would be in my best interest if I wasn’t taught
the language they spoke. They figured it would only hinder my ability to speak
proper English, so they never spoke their dialect to me they only spoke it
among themselves. So family members would tease me because I didn’t know the
language – and then they would talk about me among themselves in the African
dialect. Well, little did they know that I may not have spoken it, but I
understood it very well. I never got
around to speaking it fluently because I was embarrassed by the way I sounded
when it came out – plus the constant teasing never helped either.
 |
| Diversity has become the forefront of major societal structures such as education. |
Bridges Have Been Built
After mastering the balance between two different cultures
and mindsets, I’ve embraced my diversity completely and am not ashamed of it.
Differentiating within myself and with others was no easy task. In fact, I had
to bridge the two worlds of America and West Africa myself in order to have a
functional environment at home and school. At home, I constantly had to “break
things down” to my parents about certain American things they didn’t understand
(or want to be bothered with), such as the language, music, and so forth.
Certain slang terms they didn’t understand, what we were taught in school
compared to what they learned as kids, it would get pretty interesting. At school, I constantly had to identify who I
was such as explaining the meaning of my name, how come I didn’t have an “African
accent”, and share the different cultural beliefs with my peers. Some loved
hearing about and some would just scrunch up their face in confusion and just
walk away. Oh well! All of these differences started to shape my unique world
and over time, showed me the unique person that I am.
and mindsets, I’ve embraced my diversity completely and am not ashamed of it.
Differentiating within myself and with others was no easy task. In fact, I had
to bridge the two worlds of America and West Africa myself in order to have a
functional environment at home and school. At home, I constantly had to “break
things down” to my parents about certain American things they didn’t understand
(or want to be bothered with), such as the language, music, and so forth.
Certain slang terms they didn’t understand, what we were taught in school
compared to what they learned as kids, it would get pretty interesting. At school, I constantly had to identify who I
was such as explaining the meaning of my name, how come I didn’t have an “African
accent”, and share the different cultural beliefs with my peers. Some loved
hearing about and some would just scrunch up their face in confusion and just
walk away. Oh well! All of these differences started to shape my unique world
and over time, showed me the unique person that I am.
A More Colorful Picture
So where are we headed? How much mixing and cultural
influence is taking place? Multi-ethnicity is at an all-time high and will
continue to grow in the years to come. Here are some interesting facts:
influence is taking place? Multi-ethnicity is at an all-time high and will
continue to grow in the years to come. Here are some interesting facts:
·
Nine million people claim more than one race in
their background, making up 3 percent of the population
Nine million people claim more than one race in
their background, making up 3 percent of the population
·
The Asian population has shown the biggest
increase of 43% between 2000 and 2010
The Asian population has shown the biggest
increase of 43% between 2000 and 2010
·
The Hispanic population in the U.S. grew from
35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010
The Hispanic population in the U.S. grew from
35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010
·
California has the largest minority population
at 22.3 million
California has the largest minority population
at 22.3 million
With that being said, I know I’m speaking for thousands –
even millions when I say I’m diverse and diversity is only going to continue
growing. Not only in the United States, buy everywhere worldwide. It’s everywhere you go these days. Where do
you fit in? If you feel you don’t, that’s good! I know I don’t fit in many
times because the diverse factor is so present – and that’s a good thing.
even millions when I say I’m diverse and diversity is only going to continue
growing. Not only in the United States, buy everywhere worldwide. It’s everywhere you go these days. Where do
you fit in? If you feel you don’t, that’s good! I know I don’t fit in many
times because the diverse factor is so present – and that’s a good thing.