Mixed Cultures: Growing up in a biracial and bicultural family
How does one determine what their ethnic background is? I am one that cannot determine mine. It is very hard to determinemy ethnic background when once asked, "What is your nationality?" The purpose of this paper is to explain in full how hard it could be to one in choosing a subject such as this. I have a number of races and cultures in my family. For example, my mother, Gihaan, was raised in an interracial and bicultural family. Her father, my grandfather, is one hundred percent Cherokee Native American born in Jacksonville, Florida. Her mother, my grand mother, is part Guyanese and part Argentinean born in Salivete', Panama. My mother was born and raised in Cau`de luVialle, a small village in Guyana. In Guyana, my mother was raised by her mother and aunt and bought up in the Islamic faith. ...growing up in this faith was very hard for me as a female. My mother and aunt were very strict on my sisters and I; it was harder on me because I was the oldest of the bunch...1 My mother was not permitted to even speak to persons that did not follow this particular faith strictly. Gihaan had to wear long dark clothing that covered her body entirely; from her fingers to her toes. Every female, out of respect, is to do so for she will
He causeth the grass for the cattle, and herb for the service of man.9 7. Wildon Alexander of Jamaica, interview by Cynthia Alexander, 29 November 2000, Jamaica, tape recording, The Jamaican culture and the Rastafarian Faith. Interview 2 3. Al-Kamar Sharif Asimme, The Way of Life: The Rise and Fall of The Black Muslim. New York: Columbia University Press 1998. My grandmother would greet her son and his new bride at the door. She was expecting a tall light complexes female with medium brown hair that would come half way down her back. In stead, a short dark complexes female with pitch black hair to her shoulders. The complete opposite. The hard part of this marriage was telling my father's parents. 6. Marley, Bob. Redemption Song. Perf. Aston Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Tyrone Downie, Alvin Patterson, Junior Marvin, Earl Lindo, Al Anderson, and I Threes. The Wallers. Band.Tuff Gong. Island Records, 1980 At the age of twenty-one Gihaan changed her name from Gihaan Alexis Alniif to Graceyella Demetria Slater, Demetria for her father's name Demetrius. The younger the girl is the better the chances of fertility...it isn't that the man wants to marry a young girl just for her looks but to produce children looking towards the future is their main goal...12 7. Luker, Archibald L. National Anthem. Adopted in 1966. 3. Al-Kamar Sharif Asimme, The Way of Life: The Rise and Fall of The Black Muslim. New York: Columbia University Press 1998. 2. Randy Moore, My Family, My Fried, My Work. San Fransisco: Touchmime Press 1992.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Jamaica Living, Native American, Faith Muslim, Guyana Guyana, Jesus Christ8, Cynthia-Marie Alexander, South Carolina, America Simple, Muslim Muslim, Cynthia Alexander, islamic faith, november 2000, rastafarian faith, interview cynthia, tape recording, interview cynthia alexander, faith interview, cynthia alexander, lindo al anderson, alvin patterson, junior marvin, anderson threes wallers, marvin earl, al anderson threes, earl lindo al,
Approximate Word count = 3677
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
