Question About Ethnic Identity

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Era Might' date='13 January 2010 - 01:19 PM' timestamp='1263403146' post='2036189']
If you were to go back to the country of your ancestry, would you "fit in" there? I think that probably will help to answer your question about identity. Having done so myself recently, I certainly was keenly aware of being a Gringo. But you can love your family's ethnicity without directly "identifying" with it.
[/quote]
I think I could do that with my Celtic ancestors, but for some reason the thought of Austrian- German leaves me cold.

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='Winchester' date='22 March 2009 - 12:33 AM' timestamp='1237696437' post='1813655']
Yes, you can tell horrible jokes about them and then claim membership. I do it all the time.
[/quote]



I like to tell people I'm black.

[Saint Therese]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' date='13 January 2010 - 12:52 PM' timestamp='1263405156' post='2036212']


I like to tell people I'm black.
[/quote]

Same here.

[IcePrincessKRS]

It might only be 1/4 but it's there!

On the other hand when people call Obama a black man I object and say "Please, he's only half!"

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' date='13 January 2010 - 01:56 PM' timestamp='1263405388' post='2036218']
It might only be 1/4 but it's there!

On the other hand when people call Obama a black man I object and say "Please, he's only half!"
[/quote]
Agreed. I get tired of people telling me I have a black president as if he was cloned by his father.

[Winchester]

However you game the stupid system that values that kind of croutons is awesome.

[Era Might]

[quote name='Winchester' date='13 January 2010 - 01:26 PM' timestamp='1263407184' post='2036258']
However you game the stupid system that values that kind of croutons is awesome.
[/quote]
Aren't you Belarusian?

[Winchester]

[quote name='Era Might' date='13 January 2010 - 01:32 PM' timestamp='1263407574' post='2036268']
Aren't you Belarusian?
[/quote]
I am indeed.

[Ash Wednesday]

[quote name='Era Might' date='13 January 2010 - 12:19 PM' timestamp='1263403146' post='2036189']
If you were to go back to the country of your ancestry, would you "fit in" there? I think that probably will help to answer your question about identity. Having done so myself recently, I certainly was keenly aware of being a Gringo. But you can love your family's ethnicity without directly "identifying" with it.
[/quote]

That reminds me of the first time I visited Scandinavia. Going there I figured out why my maternal grandmother did some of the things she did, just little things like the way she wrote some things out or made her sandwiches. Even though she was "American" she still retained some of the things that her grandparents from Sweden and Norway did. It was a really fascinating thing to discover.

I have always been keenly interested in my heritage on both sides, though I do realize at the end of the day I am still 100% American.

[Era Might]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' date='13 January 2010 - 01:49 PM' timestamp='1263408540' post='2036294']
That reminds me of the first time I visited Scandinavia. Going there I figured out why my maternal grandmother did some of the things she did, just little things like the way she wrote some things out or made her sandwiches. Even though she was "American" she still retained some of the things that her grandparents from Sweden and Norway did. It was a really fascinating thing to discover.
[/quote]
Hahaha. I had the same experience, but instead of my grandmother it was my hometown. I got some insight into the cultural origins of my city's large Spanish-speaking population, from the driving habits to the crowded streets. The "old countries" in Latin America have a much more vibrant street life than typical American cities, and that gets brought over by the immigrants.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Era Might' date='13 January 2010 - 10:19 AM' timestamp='1263403146' post='2036189']
If you were to go back to the country of your ancestry, would you "fit in" there? I think that probably will help to answer your question about identity. Having done so myself recently, I certainly was keenly aware of being a Gringo. But you can love your family's ethnicity without directly "identifying" with it.
[/quote]
Fit in culturally or visually?

And if culturally, is it alright to try to change that because you think that it would be cool?

Edited January 13, 2010 by Light and Truth

[Resurrexi]

I'm a total mutt. If I couldn't claim to belong to ethnic groups that only make up a quarter or less of my ancestry, I couldn't claim to belong to any ethnic group at all (save being American).

[Era Might]

[quote name='Light and Truth' date='13 January 2010 - 05:56 PM' timestamp='1263423367' post='2036485']
Fit in culturally or visually?

And if culturally, is it alright to try to change that because you think that it would be cool?
[/quote]
I would say fit in culturally. As far as trying to "change" your ethnic identity, I wouldn't suggest that. But I think you can definitely become more in touch with your family's ethnicity. Even if you are not directly part of that ethnicity, it can still be part of you. I would say that if you really want to get in touch with a different culture, learning the language is a good first step. Learning a language can actually be a very powerful and personal act, if you do it with humility. It allows you to be vulnerable, to learn from the people who are the guardians of that language. Learning another language can be about more than the language; ideally it can be about entering into a relationship with the people who speak that language. I would say that if you are trying to get in touch with a culture without getting in touch with the people of that culture, then you are on the wrong path. I heard an interesting statement once by a black scholar, who said something to the effect that black people can only love their people insofar as they serve their people. I was struck by that statement. If you are going to claim an ethnicity, then I would say it has to be about more than more language or external culture. It has to be something interpersonal; you have to, in some sense, be willing to join the community of that culture, to truly become part of the "family."

[Norseman82]

[quote name='Light and Truth' date='21 March 2009 - 02:41 AM' timestamp='1237621277' post='1813113']
If you are 1/4 of some ethnic group and you did not grow up around a lot of people of that group, is it possible to rightfully say that you are (that ethnic group)-American?
[/quote]

Rod Blagojevich, is that you?

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Era Might' date='13 January 2010 - 05:36 PM' timestamp='1263429397' post='2036547']I would say fit in culturally. As far as trying to "change" your ethnic identity, I wouldn't suggest that.[/quote] What does this mean change your ethnic identity?

Also, what if I want to learn another culture? e.g. Jewish.

[quote name='Era Might' date='13 January 2010 - 05:36 PM' timestamp='1263429397' post='2036547']I think you can definitely become more in touch with your family's ethnicity.[/quote] Is my ethnicity Armenian, Swedish, Finnish, Scottish, English, etc. or is it "white"?

[quote name='Era Might' date='13 January 2010 - 05:36 PM' timestamp='1263429397' post='2036547']Even if you are not directly part of that ethnicity, it can still be part of you.[/quote] And how does this relate? Is that only if it is imposed on you or change you choose it?

Can a person have multiple ethnic identities?

Edited January 14, 2010 by Light and Truth