How My Neighborhood Shape My Family Essay

My parents have always been hard workers and dream chasers. They have told me how in their early years they lived in poverty and were determined to never go back to these conditions. Years before I was born, my parents planned to live in the United States. It wasn’t until my older brother finished high school that my parents thought it was the ideal time to move. In the Dominican Republic, good quality of life is only found by the lucky and the wealthy; my parents were well aware of this fact and craved for betterment. This was another reason why my parents wanted to move to the land of opportunities.

I live on the East side of Cedartown. There happens to be only one-way to get to my neighborhood. First, one must go South on Main street. Then cross the only railroad on Main street and take a right turn at the first intersection then continue straight, straight through another intersection. My house will be the first on the right. My house a small, one-story house painted a greenish, blue tint with a shed right beside it painted the exact same color.

Immigrant groups take refuge in America in hope of starting a better life for themselves and their ongoing generations. They take on the belief that upon coming to America, they will be presented by the riches and freedom granted by the “American Dream”. However, these opportunities are not easily achieved. Many immigrant families are challenged with the initial obstacles of having to adapt to the new languages and the customs of their environment. For example, without the basic knowledge of the standard English language, immigrants will not be able to apply for a majority of the jobs available. This puts immigrant parents at disadvantages because then they will not be able to provide the sufficient funds needed for allowing their children

Inclusion of other cultures is a result of marrying into another culture, children become independent from the family, language barriers between the parents and children, distant from family left behind in old country, etc. Virtually every ethnic group has planted its footprint into the history and daily life of the United States (Times – News, 2008). Due to the geographical proximity of Latin countries, Hispanics have played a vital historical role in the development of this country (Times – News, 2008). The way to ensure that the family retains and remember their culture is to maintain their cultural heritage through the knowledge of one’s cultural history and how the people in that culture dealt with struggles and how they handled difficulties in life to know how their source of strength is sustained. History informs us that societies are the result of collective contributions from the various social and ethnic groups (Times – News, 2008). The United States contains the most diverse combination of cultures in the Americas, due to the contributions made by all the native and foreign cultures embraced within this nation (Times – News,

My parents left Belize to start a life filled with greater possibility. Their journey to America was preceded by a few my grandmother’s family migrating first in the late 1960s, which led to the opportunity for my mother in the early 1980s. After she was settled, she then sponsored my dad’s immigration. They viewed immigrating here as a giant opportunity for their own work ethic. While growing up my father was employed by unionized grocery chains, and my mother has been employed by Southern California Gas Company for the past 33

Many people are proud of their cultural legacies and ties to their heritage. This can be pride in their country of origin or pride in their cultural history in America. In “The Civil Rights Movement: What Good Was It?” Alice Walker explains that the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s continues to impact African Americans because it gave them the confidence to stand up for their rights and claims, “If the civil rights movement is ‘dead’ and if it gave us nothing else, it gave us each other forever.” Every group seen as a minority has a detailed history in this country that impacts each member of the group personally. Along with a general cultural history, many people’s identities are affected by their own family’s history in America. Family traditions and heritage shape children and form each child into the person they will be. Families share the stories of ancestors, old or new, coming to America for a new life. For some, traditions are kept and passed from generation to generation, while others naturally assimilate like Asian American author Eric Liu explains in “Notes of a Native Speaker.” He plainly states, “I don’t mean that my parents told me to act like an American… they didn’t tell me to do anything except to be a good boy.” Whether or not a person chooses to assimilate to American culture, many experience a

One of New York City’s most historic yet hippest neighborhoods, Chelsea has also come into vogue as a top business destination in recent years. Sandwiched between the booming Hudson Yards district, the Flatiron District and trendy downtown neighborhoods, Chelsea has much to offer businesses looking to relocate there. Although it has several drawbacks – namely a limited transportation network – its major selling points such as its trendy, creative appeal and diverse office inventory make it a solid deal overall for many companies.

“Don’t listen to them,” my grandmother said as she wiped the tears from my face and ran her fingers through my long, black hair. I remember the constant teasing from my peers in elementary school. Growing up in a predominately white neighborhood, my family and I were looked at differently because we were “people of color.” All of the parents who would drop their children off for school in the morning would stare at my father. Growing up, it was incredibly difficult to figure out who I was because I was Mexican and Caucasian with a Puerto Rican step father who raised me since I was three. Thus, his culture heavily influenced me as well. At family parties I was spoken to in English and Spanish with both Mexican and Puerto Rican dialects.

Many present day immigrants come to this country from Mexico and Central America where living conditions are poor and where governments care little for their citizens. Their food supply is scarce, their water is filthy, and their houses are hardly more than shacks. Not only this, but there is little to no opportunity for them to even escape these tribulations. Across the border, however, the United States has a surplus of food, clean water, and modernized houses. Above all else, there are yet opportunities for these immigrants to improve their lives.

As the son of immigrant parents, I have always wanted to assimilate into American culture. My parents expected me to excel in everything I do, especially in academics. When report cards came at the end of the quarter, I would be ashamed when my parents saw my grades. Every time I got a B, I could see the disappointment on their faces. I would lock myself in my room and think about how much easier my life would be if I was not Asian. I had always hoped that my parents would congratulate me if I completed something, or showed affection when I needed it. My parent’s merciless emphasis on academic achievement made me submissive to their authority.

According to the 2010 U.S census, the percentage of multiracial American children has increased almost 50%, to 4.2 million, in the last ten years. It’s interesting to think of myself as one of those statistics. While my mom and her side of the family is American, my dad and his side of the family is Puerto Rican, my brother and I ending up being half white, half Hispanic. The cultural differences of the two sides of my family are significant, whether it be food, past times, or communication/interaction, they differ.

The migration of Jamaicans to the United States began in the early 19th century. Starting in the 1850s, there were only a couple hundred Jamaicans immigrating into the United States each year. However, by the end of the century, this number rose to approximately 1,000 per year. Between the years of 1981 and 1991, there were approximately one million immigrants from the entire Caribbean in the United States; the Jamaican immigrants made up one-fourth of that total. A common immigration scenario for this culture is for one family member to travel alone to the United States, become established, and send for other family members later. Several Jamaican families often decide to share an apartment or house, with each family occupying a bedroom, as they viewed extended family as an important resource. Jamaicans have come to the United States voluntarily, often looking for educational and occupational advancement. This immigration process was characterized by family separations (often prolonged due to the cost of flying back to Jamaica), feelings of dislocation, and adjustment to the urban settings and colder temperatures.

I will never have my father’s smile or my mother’s eyes. My skin tone will also never match their pale skin even though I am their daughter. Although my siblings and I are all adopted from China, growing up in this unique family dynamic played an integral role in my development. I have grown to realize my ethnicity and upbringing are not labels used by my peers to define me. My background has helped me push through social barriers to build friendships. It challenged me to impel beyond the world’s “black and white” boundaries to see a society that thrives on diversity. My multicultural background equipped me with experiences that gave me a new perspective on privilege and responsibility, preparing me to overcome obstacles in the global industry

My family’s identity has been formed through our cultural background. In our household, there are six members total; my mother, my father, my three siblings, and I. My family’s ethnicity is strongly based on a Latino culture. Since the day I was born, my family’s heritage still remains alive. Aside from biologically obtaining the traditional Latino heritage, our family has also adopted a minimal of the American culture. It has been a struggle for my parents to keep intact with their norms, beliefs, and practices as they were raised in their home state. Although my siblings and I have become more tied with the American culture than our biological heritage, my mother and father have a major impact on how we were raised due to the way my parents were taught growing up. In our Latino culture, my parents were raised by a strong mother figure; therefore, their expectations were to raise us into becoming strong independent women. In addition, women in my culture are expected to hold high standards of duties; such as, cleaning, cooking, and being nurtures. Unfortunately, if such duties are not maintained, it often leads in being criticized by others in our family. It becomes challenging to understand the views my parent grew up with while growing up with different views that we encounter in the United States. My siblings and I still greatly practice our family’s heritage, but unfortunately we have grew new perspectives being born and raised in the United States.

No one can’t meet a family like mine’s. My family is well diversified. Every family member plays an important role in all my family’s lives. In my family, there are four people: my father, my mother, my little brother and me. My father is one who brings money home and is also responsible for organizing and planning family trips. My mother is the one who is in charge for making meals and makes sure everyone eats at the appropriate times. My little brother is the pet of the family. He actually doesn’t have any responsibilities, for he’s the pet. I am the rock of support in my family. I always go beyond my parents’ expectations. I also support my younger cousins and little brother, by being a role model that they can look up to. Another