Thank you for visiting Born Bucultural USA. The quality of our experience on this blog will be driven by feedback from curious thinkers like you. In an ongoing effort to improve Born Bicultural USA, I’d appreciate feedback on the following areas of the blog:
- Content – Does the first blog entry “I’m Not Black, I’m Hispanic!” interest you? Would you feel compelled to participate in this forum? Are the “Upcoming Blogs” of interest to you? Also criticize the “About Born Bicultural USA” and “About Me” pages.
- Format and Usability – Constructively criticize the way the information is laid out. Is it intuitive? Is the information easy to find? Are tools such as search, subscribe and Links to Resources of any value?
- Other Areas of Improvement – How can this blog be improved? How often should I publish new blogs?
I can’t thank you enough for your feedback. I hope BornBiculturalUSA.com provides a valued platform to openly discuss cultural diversity. Now let’s get started on this interesting, education-rich journey into a subject matter I find fascinating. I hope you share my enthusiasm.
Sincerely,
Alberto Padron
Born Bicultural USA
Copyright 2010 Born Bicultural USA. All Rights Reserved.
This brings up a topic that I’d like to discuss with you one day in depth, and hopefully over a pint. Namely: ‘Is the celebration of our cultural delineations ultimately beneficial? To society, or the individual?’
Here’s the thing: from my perspective, it’s almost impossible for me to even define a culture to celebrate. And when I think about how I might, if I wanted to, it strikes me as self-serving, gauche, or dangerous. What would I celebrate? What’s my bumper sticker? Certainly not ‘white’. One can’t be proud of one’s whiteness, it’s a cultural taboo. And it’s not even accurate; I have Cherokee ancestry, which is just as important to my high cheekbones as my German or Irish backgrounds.
A lot of people in my position might celebrate their predominant European ancestral home. But how genuine is that? If I celebrate Ireland like I’m from there, when I may be 20% Irish, or less. Who knows? I’d have to spend years doing a family genealogy to determine which Hyphenate-American I’m going to call myself. Maybe if I’m mostly German, I could be proud of that. No problem there, right? They are the best…oh, nevermind.
I am certainly an American. I can get behind that label, since it’s one of the few that’s actually accurate. And quintessentially American in the sense that I am a mess, a mixup, a leftover stew of cultures. And the most flavorful bits of my cultural stew are those that seasoned me externally – cultures I’m not even a part of. I’m more influenced by hip-hop culture, Chinese culture, or Caribbean culture that I am by actual German or Irish or English or Cherokee cultures.
I feel very strongly that if I were to grab hold of any of these cultural identities: white, Irish, German, even American — and publicly celebrate them, taking pride in my tribe, it would be divisive, selfish, and shortsighted. I’d be very critical of that instinct in me. I think I understand the urge, to an extent, to be part of a larger group…to celebrate with a team. But cultural labeling seems tribal in the worst way. ‘My tribe is stronger than yours, my culture is richer than yours, my god is bigger than yours.” Aren’t these all part of the same thought?
I happen to love cultural celebrations, now that I think about it. I’m happy to eat, dance, and drink with the locals. Maybe I’m just jealous that I’m not part of any exclusive social club (although I bet that could be argued). I do get put out that there are no Ohio-American MBA networking events, and I’m super curious what would happen if I tried to show up to a Hispanic MBA event. Would they question my ancestry? Would they make that judgment based on the color of my skin?
On Sunday, January 17, 2010, my cousin Gloria Sandrino Glassar wrote:
“To: albertopadron@hotmail.com
Dear Alberto,
I like the web site. I have actually written a number of law review articles on Latinos and our place in the black/white paradigm in the United States. Most of us are bi-cultural; the difference with Latinos is that we are also multi-racial. And as such, we don’t really “fit” the racial construct of the US, which is why we are so marginalized as a group. It is a very interesting dialog.
My suggestion (for the web site) is to focus on the Latino angle. As the largest minority group in the United States, it is the most important group. I also think that it is interesting to explore how different Latino groups deal with their bilingual/bi-cultural roots. For example, the term “Hispanic” is very controversial to Mexican-Americans. They feel that it focuses on their very violent ties to Spain. While Cuban-Americans embrace their ties to Spain.
Since my husband is Jewish and I have three mixed-race kids, the issue of bi-cultural hits home to me on many levels.
Best,
Tu prima
Gloria Sandrino Glassar, Esq.”
Thank you for chiming in Gloria!
Hey Alberto I really have to laugh and disagree with the following statement from Gloria Sandrino regarding what your focus should be with this blog:
“focus on the Latino angle. As the largest minority group in the United States, it is the most important group.”
Hey let me say the biggest minority group (in terms of future demographics; being excluded and ignored despite huge numbers by the main stream media and hispanic dominated media and culture) is the WHITE minority. We are truly the up and coming minority. We (I´m an exception ´cause I have 6 kids who are all half hispanic) generally don´t reproduce like Hispanics do; we are often passed over by employers in favor of Hispanic applicants when we are looking for a job (even though sometimes we speak and write Spanish better than most Hispanics do and that skill is important); our legitimate point of view is often marginalized if not totally excluded or derided as “insane”. Furthermore our group and what made it (and the country we founded America) so successful to the point that millions of Hispanics flocked here
is more important for Hispanics to emulate and learn from and adapt to than
the other way around. As a conservative republican I feelliberated in saying that we can never kiss enough hispanic backside and expect to be loved. Hispanics will always gravitate to the democrat party because most Hispanics are creatures of their poor home countries and their left wing outlooks that are based on the premise of government existing as a big sugar daddy that must help the poor. This premise is taking America down to third world status.
From Bill-a proud 100% American who lives in Peru.
Mr. Mcintosh,
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
You hold quite the position on matters of race, culture and fairness. A few of your passages that stood out are:
“White Minority”
“…don’t reproduce like Hispanics do…”
“…often passed over by employers in favor of Hispanic applicants…”
“…creatures of their poor home countries and their left wing outlooks…”
Mr. Mcintosh, normally, where you currently live is not a focal point of what we discuss here at Born Bicultural USA. However, to better understand your worldview, where you live may play a role in understanding your context. Your blog entry states, “100% American who lives in Peru,” yet your LinkedIn profile declares you live in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Which is it? The answer may help us understand your perspective a bit better.
Also, when you write, “100% American,” what criteria do you use to assign someone 100% American status?
The point of this blog is to learn by sharing. You shared plenty, Mr. Mcintosh and we’re learning a good deal about the attitudes and perspectives that are clearly present in America.
Sincerely,
Alberto Padron
Born Bicultural USA