Exposing myself to different religions, genders, races, sexual orientations, and ethnicities has helped to build characteristic in me to help make me the person I am today. Multiculturalism have empowered and encouraged me to recognize differences in me and helped me to understand my values. My cultural background summary will highlight the different sources that have contributed to my cultural background. I will also speculate on the extent to which my current identity has been molded by assimilation and acculturation.
African American culture derived from slavery and helped contribute significantly to the development of my culture known today as American culture. Included in the holidays are music, a Christian influence, food, and art. My grandmother decorated every holiday, cooked southern dishes, and the music never stopped up to and during that particular holiday. All of my thoughts regarding my childhood are surrounded by growing up with my grandmother during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. These memories encourage me to try to make holidays for my family just as memorable. These memories affect my beliefs and behavior.
In junior high school, I received more exposure to racism, crime, other religions, and cultures. I learned to interact and build friendships with other individuals of different ethnic backgrounds such as Latin Americans and Caucasians. My father remarried and he married a woman outside of our race and religion so I learned to become more open to diversity. Nevertheless, I attended Synagogues, ate matzah balls, and learned about Passover. During this time I was robbed of