Culture of Being an African American Representative

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Cultural Reflection
Cultural Comparison
Cultural Accommodation
Civic Responsibility
Culture and Civic Responsibility
Philosophical Engagement
References

Cultural Reflection

Being an African American representative influences my identity and worldview. Recent events with police brutality and the “Black Lives Matter” movement demonstrate how race is still a problem for many people. The African American identity was associated with property for an extended period. Consequently, rejecting the perception of “segregated people” is hard not only for other races but also for African Americans. The case of Gorge Floyd has shocked me and made me realize that I am a member of the segregated community, even though I was born in the US and have similar rights as everyone else in this country.

Moreover, I understood the importance of raising awareness about the problems of African American population so that the state officials will know that the problems should be solved, not ignored. I also realize that minorities need protection and an opportunity to be represented in politics. When cultural differences are accepted and have the freedom to express their concerns, the country will develop.

Cultural Comparison

I am going to compare my culture to the Native American culture. Both cultures experienced violent measures taken by white establishments and were segregated by the state officials and general population. The difference was in the perception of each culture by the society and state. The African Americans were considered as “slaves,” while the Native Americans were perceived as “discovered” and “conquered” people. As such, both cultures were perceived as a minority and were segregated from the general white population. However, today the situation is changing, and more civil rights activists are uniting to solve the problems associated with the African American and the Native American populations. People start to be tolerant and involved in politics, having an active civil society.

Cultural Accommodation

The world is abundant for cultures, thus accepting them is crucial to maintain stability and peace. People should understand the prevalence of cultural differences in the world and their country, accepting the fact that there is no single and right way of living. To interact successfully with various communities in the country, a person should adjust his actions about the culture they are communicating. A person should avoid thinking about stereotypes of a specific culture when interacting with them. For example, when talking with an Asian person, people usually think of him as a representative of the Chinese culture, neglecting many Asian cultures. Stereotypical thinking leads to misunderstanding between people causing social tensions and instability. Therefore, people should change their thinking and be more tolerant and understanding about other cultures.

Another thing that can be adjusted when interacting with someone from another culture is to pay attention to your actions. It may be bad behavior for some people if you get too close to a person or touch them. Moreover, you should not talk much about his ethnic or religious, or racial background because it may look rude.

Civic Responsibility

As a member of the African American and the LGBTQ community, I have responsibilities in front of my peers. I should raise awareness about social issues my community members experience and be ready to assist them. I also should try to mitigate any conflict regarding community members and outsiders, thus having stable order. Being supportive and responsive is my primary responsibility as a community member, as many peers have troubles daily. In addition, I should participate actively in movements, demonstrations, and protests to make our voices heard and defend our rights. Indeed, I should be politically active and follow the law. Moreover, I should be open to communication about my community and be involved in sharing relevant information. I can say that I am doing my best to be a good member of both communities, as I try to serve the interests of my communities and do civic responsibilities.

Culture and Civic Responsibility

Culture gives the basis for every community and influences its action. Cultural identity makes people unite and support each other. Civic responsibilities are the actions which population is required to do to contribute to the general well-being and prosperity of the country. So different cultures need to do the same civic responsibilities to sustain the country. Civic responsibilities can improve intercultural interactions as they solve everyday problems and live in the same region. Cultures can practice their routine and traditions, but they should all agree to do their civic responsibilities. When cultures know the boundaries of exercising their traditions and norms and follow the general civic agreements, there are stability and order.

Moreover, it is significant for cultures to adapt to the context and reality of a country. They should cooperate and know that they are not alone and be open to communication with other cultures. To do this, the role of a state is essential, as the state can be a mediator between cultures. It also can provide ground for dialogue for cultures and manage conflicts when it is necessary.

Philosophical Engagement

We have studied central philosophical questions regarding the nature of human beings, justice, goodness, and reality during the course. I want to emphasize the concept of “othering” and address Beauvoir’s work of Second Sex (1949). She highlights how women are treated and expected to act in society. By questioning, “what is a woman?” she draws the line between men and women, showing distinctions between them. She provides a quotation of Aristotle, “the female is a female by virtue of a certain lack of qualities,” to illustrate how society perceived women as “other” than they, men (2). However, now the perception of women is changing towards a more positive approach. In most countries, men and women have the same rights and can exercise their freedom. Such transformation suggests about interchangeable nature of social phenomenon like culture, gender, religion, etc.

Another philosopher that I want to address is Du Bois and The Souls of Black Folks (1903). He discusses what is like a “problem” for a man and that emancipation was a solution to all the struggles. He also writes that “the Nation has not yet found peace from its sins; the freedman has not yet found in freedom his promised land,” suggesting problems associated with African Americans in the country (3). This is what was happened in the recent events of police brutality and the case of Gorge Floyd. People still do not fully understand that their country is multicultural and that all races and ethnicities should live in peace and follow the same rules. As Du Bois proposes, being a poor race in the rich land is always complicated, our generation should eliminate such division and reduce inequality.

References

Beauvoir, Simone. The Second Sex. New York: Vintage Books, 1989.

Du, Bois W. E. B. The Souls of Black Folk. New York, N.Y., USA: Penguin Books, 1989.

Click Here To Order Now!