“Every man’s ability may be strengthened or increased by culture.” – John Abbot**
“Why do Black people need their own magazines? What’s wrong with the magazines the rest of us read, Cynthia?”
“The Divine Nine? Why do African Americans have to have separate sororities and fraternities?”
These are just some of the questions that have been posed to me in honest conversations with coworkers with whom I had forged rather close relationships some years ago. I was just beginning to spend more and more of my work hours dedicated to diversity and inclusion, so inquiring minds were on the rise on a number of issues.
When issues of diversity and inclusion or problems related to social unrest and discrimination arise, so does the need for increased understanding and dialogue. Questions arise and we can only hope the conversation increases. I have had the privilege and benefit of having a number of sincere, honest relationships that allow that frank dialogue, which can hopefully lead to that increased understanding and growth. At best the discussions increase, at a minimum, the stereotypes and erred thinking decreases. So here’s another tool of understanding for your leadership arsenal.
When these questions were posed, the non-verbal aspects of the communication told me more than what was being stated verbally, of course. The statements were therefore loaded with curiosity (why do you need that?), suspicion (is that really necessary?), disagreement (you don’t need to be different), need (please help me understand this way of thinking). I was new at expressing these thoughts… not new at the thoughts, but new at articulating them to those outside of the African American community. This lack of experience in the dialogue was not due to an unwillingness to share but to a typically uninterested community of individuals outside of my own, who never noticed such differences existed.
How Do You Not See the Difference?
When we live in homogenous neighborhoods, work in homogenous work environments and socialize in homogenous clusters, no matter what race or ethnicity, we tend to be ignorant of the various nuances that exist outside of our immediate world. If one is not a person of color, add to that, shopping at stores, banking at banks, receiving medical care at facilities and attending worship at houses of worship where everyone looks like you, talks like you and pretty much shares the majority of your cultural norms.
With this being one’s reality, there is little or no realized need to know what anyone else is doing. On the contrary there is a naïve assumption that everyone does what you do, believes what you believe and experiences life the way you experience life. Anything else is naturally assumed to be a deviation from the norm. In the homogenous mind, the homogeneous life is the norm. Anything else is a deviation. A deviation is by definition unconventionality, abnormality, deviant.
Ethnocentrism Is Not the Foundation of Our Differences
Ethnocentrism is often thought of as the underlying rationale and foundational belief of those who embrace their own culture, race or ethnicity. This is not correct. Though some, may on occasion, utilize the term with positive intentions I wouldn’t advise it. It can cause too much confusion. The actual meaning of the term refers to the belief that one’s own culture is superior to that of others and that others’ are therefore inferior in the practice of their respective values. It is discriminating against others because of their ethnicity and believing they are substandard in comparison to one’s own.
An example would be the belief that foods eaten by other cultures is nasty or weird but the foods that one’s own culture eats are normal and good. Thus anyone who eats according to the norm, is acceptable. I have literally, witnessed people peering into the lunch bowl of coworkers of varying ethnic groups, asking them “What is that?” or “What are you eating now?” or “Eeeew, you eat that?” I found myself feeling compelled to say something contradictory to such statements, like, “Oh that looks good!” or “My (Mother/aunt/uncle) makes something similar…” It was my non combative way, of challenging the ethnocentric foolishness that had just oozed out of the other person’s mouth!
It was in this type of scenario that I actually learned that African Americans are not the only culture that eats ox tails! For the record, Jamaicans, Chinese and West Africans among others also enjoy it in soups or other recipes. So there are benefits to sharing in the positive sharing of cultural norms. We just have to learn not to act as if our own cultural behaviors are the litmus test for everyone elses.
Ethnic Pride is Not Abnormal or Deviant
Ethnic pride, however, is not racism or ethnocentrism. It is having a sincere and positive love and respect for one’s own ethnicity. It is a sense of pride in one’s own culture, values and history. It does not negate the existence or positive attributes of others. It does, however, lift up and empower through the appreciation of the strengths and accomplishments of its people.
Such empowerment has a positive impact on the physiological as well as the psychological well-being of children and adults. Studies have been conducted to show the value and efficacy of building ethnic pride and improving racial identity and self-esteem in African Americans and Latino populations.
A study conducted by Jelani Mandara, Noni K Gaylord-Harden, Maryse H Richards, Brian L RagsdaleIt, concluded that racial identity may be just as important as self-esteem in the positive mental health of African American adolescents. In another study, ethnic pride and greater acculturation had identifiably direct and indirect effect on less cigarette smoking and alcohol use among Latino Adolescents. Though additional research could be done, ultimately, the research that has been done shows the important role that ethnic pride plays in physical, psychological, and academic health and success.
The impact of individual, social and cultural identity are very important factors in the development of youth and in the healthy formation of adults. While I did not always appreciate what my parents were instilling in me, I can relate to the value it created as I often reach back into the memories and psychological archives to sometimes explain why I view the world the way I do. It has often provided the strength necessary to get through many of life’s challenges and continues to feed the necessary fortitude required to keep moving forward.
Adolescent development expert Adriana Umaña-Taylor examined the impact of developing ethnic and racial identity through the Harvard School of Education Identity Project. The curriculum was co-developed with students to equip teens of any ethnic or racial group (white, black, Latino, Asian, Native American or Middle Eastern) with tools and approaches to explore their ethnic-racial identity.
Students do not only focus on family trees or the biology of individuals in the family for example but in one of eight lessons, create a family tree that traces where their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were born and how they culturally identify. A primary goal in this activity is for students to discuss amongst each other, how they believe they have been raised and socialized. Other activities are designed to examine and explore heritage and what that symbolizes for them personally.
A year later, researchers found the participants of the project had lower depressive symptoms, better grades, a higher sense of global identity cohesion and higher self-esteem. These outcomes came as a result of building stronger ethnic-racial identity; not ethnocentrism but ethnic-racial identity. This building up works contrary to the tearing down of individuals that occurs through racism and discrimination.
This is why it is important that each of us understands the value of creating these strengths and raising the awareness of cultural value and contribution, as well as ethnic identity and pride in children, teens and adults. This is not just the role of parents but it is a shared responsibility with educators, church and community leaders, and should be continued with corporate and business leaders. It takes a village.
Closing Thoughts
In answer to the questions posed by my friend and coworker:
“Why do Black people need their own magazines? What’s wrong with the magazines the rest of us read, Cynthia?”
“The Divine Nine? Why do African Americans have to have separate sororities and fraternities?”
The answer to both is this: Our society has yet to recognize the value of like-minded individuals and cultures, outside of mainstream culture, gathering together to share, to celebrate, to learn and to grow together on a foundation of common strengths, understandings and experiences. Individuals, groups and cultures are designed to share in such activities regularly as part of a healthy formation. This form of cohesion, development and support lends itself to greater achievement and success while working to counteract the effects of marginalization, discrimination and defeat for multiple populations in society. Reading magazines that target audiences with a shared cultural background, participating in community building with students of similar goals and backgrounds through sororities and fraternities are just some of the ways that we can intentionally build and rebuild, and strengthen ourselves and each other as a nation of people. Regardless of what race or ethnicity from which we descend, it takes a village!