Examples Of Ethnic Studies Reflection

Part One, Language and Identity, includes personal essays that explore the struggles of two individuals with issues of identity connected to the languages they were raised to

Throughout the semester I have learned to analysis the dialogue of the texts we read and came to find out the characters voices derive the tone of the author's argument. Better yet, I learned how to read between the lines. Based on the series of texts I have read in GEW 101, I come to depict the significance of language to one's identity is that racism is not acceptable, by comparing texts, authors and scholarly sources. Some of the texts and authors include: Martin L. King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail; Urban Neanderthals; Black Ball; Gran Torino and a Very Old Man with Enormous Wings. I believe that the connection between all these texts brought about a social change in the community by the language of the authors.

This course has really enlightened my view of being able to learn the value of linguistic and cultural diversity and the influential learning opportunities it gives today’s classrooms and schools. We as teacher educators were allowed to examine our attitudes, beliefs, and preferences regarding linguistically and culturally diverse students, families, and communities and learn methods for working together to confirm high levels of learning for all students. Also, strategies for guaranteeing

Before I began this class I thought I was well versed in terms, of race, ethnicity, and nationality. However, I may have been partially wrong. I always considered my race to be Mexican and my ethnicity to be Hispanic while my nationality is American. However, according to the definitions I don’t have a race. On forms, I usually check the block for other and identify by ethnicity. I consider myself of Hispanic ethnicity from Mexican descent. However, to Mexicans from Mexico, I am not considered Mexican. I am a white Mexican, Mexican American or Chicana; both of my parents are born in Mexico of Mexican parents. I am most certainly proud of my roots as well as being an American. In the world we live in today it’s difficult to neglect the fact that I stand out for obvious reasons. That at times I am treated differently. That because of my roots I am told to go back to my country. That I shed a tear as I write this because I live with an inner struggle of who I am.

There are all kind of feeling that are transpiring throughout my mind when think of the term cultural analysis. In executing the communication concepts of African American cultural, I found that the Chinese and African American cultural are strongly tied to their beliefs and family concepts. I define myself through my culture as being an African American male, thought out religions, education, and family is very essential in my culture. Also, being limited to making lifestyle changes, and the different ways we communicated with each other are how I define myself through my culture. Being African American my perception of my culture is that we as a community are high in health, crime, education, and public housing, which implies welfare, government assists, black on black crime, and drug abuse. Being an African American, other cultures have a better chance at getting better jobs, education, and opportunities in life.

There are Whites, Blacks, Asians, Indians and Latinos yet they are able to co-exist due to the use of the English language. This has helped to enhance the culture of America which is based on the notion of the ‘melting pot’. Different cultures bring to the table aspects that define and integrate them to the American way of life. Despite each having a different language, the English language has been core to their socialization which continues to impact, their social, economic and political constructs.

The United States has always been considered a “melting pot”, but how true is that statement now? While there is growing diversity among the population of the United States, the different people may not be blending together as well as they should. Many people are unaware of how many students are English language learners. According to authors Katharine Davies Samway and Denise McKeon, the largest growing group of students in our country is the language minority students (2007). There are many negative ideas that people have regarding those students. However, those students deserve a quality education as much as native English speaking students. The responsibility to provide this falls on the families, the government, and the teachers of those students.

Tajfel (1981) described ethnic identity as part of an individual’s self-concept developed from knowledge of membership in a cultural group and the value or emotional significance attached to that membership. Ethnic identity content has been defined as “the actual ethnic behaviors that individuals practice, along with their attitudes toward their ethnic group” (Phinney, 1993, p. 64). Charlesworth (2000) maintained ethnic identity development to be an essential human need that provided a sense of belonging and historical continuity and created a foundation on which to build a concept of self.

In this course, I have learned from important aspects of multicultural relationship and it has reinforced some knowledge that I already have practice. Though this course I learn that it’s important to appreciate and respect different culture and understand there are differences within culture, and a lot of similarities these differences are only practices that they were established by society and what makes unique. Learning about inter cultural habits and beliefs are extremely important because we encounter people from different background on a daily basis breaking the barriers that exist within culture is necessary to for our personal and professional life.

Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” and James Baldwin’s “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?” discusses the power in language and how it is defined as a tool for communication but is used to shape people’s perception of others. Both Tan and Baldwin state that language is used as an oppressive force that doesn’t properly acknowledge minorities and the lack of proficiency in “standard” English doesn’t allow them to participate with society equally.

Talk about race and ethnicity, sometimes get hard to keep it in the gray area. My story started with my first time working in USA. When I started that job search in the agencies, I found that mixture of race and ethnicity of people from different countries. Wanting to share with them during work without malice any framework my way of being: the power of labels in race and ethnicity. When you don’t know diverse cultures, it is difficult when another arrives without resentment. When you send us to work through the agency, try to establish a friendship with the co-workers with whom you would spend all day. Understand that being in a country other than yours. While we worked during that day I felt some displeasure on the part of one of the coworkers; because I showed a desire to learn and do my best work, so they can send me to a job. Well. At the end of the day, the supervisor talked to me more and the group's directions were given through me as the one who interacted more with him and paid more attention to the details.

The erosion of a key fabric of our society has provided me motivation to research perceptions of ethnicity as it relates to socioeconomic as the focus of this

What is ethnicity and why does it matter? Ethnicity is; “the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.” Our dreams and opinions create meaning about race and ethnicity, and plays an important role in shaping the way we understand race and ethnicity as part of our identity, our social institutions, our history, and our everyday lives. Often used mutually, race is a way of classifying individuals and groups on the analysis of physical characteristics, mainly one’s skin color. Ethnicity lays out one’s place of origin or nationality, one’s ancestry or cultural background``, one’s language and by extension, one’s belief system. Nevertheless, how does this affect how the authors ethical impacted

Although the terms “race” and “ethnicity” are often used interchangeably in everyday conversations, they are in fact distinct from one another. The idea of race is primarily associated with an individual’s biological and physical characteristics, whereas ethnicity reflects an individual's culture. The distinguishing feature between the two words is that of choice; one can choose his or her own ethnicity while race is predetermined. If somebody was born in China but adopted and raised by a German family, that person would be Asian in terms of race but could choose to identify as German ethnically. Becoming aware of one’s race and ethnicity is an important element in growing up as both can impact the development of a child.

As Americans, we pride ourselves with being the most cultured and diverse country thanks to our great great great (you get the point) grandparents who immigrated from around the world. Walking on the street, I see so many colors and ethnicities. But, if you were to ask someone at random, it is rare that they can tell you where they truly came from. In this class, students will delve into their own history and conduct an in-depth analysis of their country’s original language, customs, delicacies, beliefs, etc. Each person is required to educate their peers of their research through either a website, documentary, or theatrical performance. This class is essential not only for grasping