Embracing Identity: An African-American Males Cultural Journey

Abstract

[Name] [University] Intro to Human Communication 21/04/2024 Spring Break: Intercultural Communication Cultural Self-Assessment As an African-American male, I believe that the intersectionality of identity that revolves around race, gender, nationality, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and nationality significantly shapes my experiences, perceptions and interactions with the world. These facets intertwine to form a complex cultural profile that influences every aspect of my life as an African-American male. Based on my gender and ethnicity, I have grown believing that being who I am is not a privilege but rather a punishment as the society views us as outcasts of the American society. I have always assumed the fact that being white is a privilege as I have always seen the color favoring many as it presses us on a corner. However, I have managed to outgrow this old perception and assumption and have embraced the humane nature of defining humans regardless of color or race. I am currently a very proud African-American male who can beat all odds to prove that color does not justify the potentials of a human. I believe that I can do all things and I can achieve anything in life provided I work hard for it as this is what our forefathers among other public figures within my culture have done to acquire respect and dignity they deserved as humans. I remember a lot of stories from my childhood that has played a significant role in shaping my cultural identity. Interestingly, all my childhood stories revolved around the need for resilience, overcoming adversity and the importance of community. As an African-American family, my father used to take me and my elder brother for a garden walk every rush hour and all he did was narrating to us stories of political figures like Martin Luther King Jr,Malcolm X and Fredrick Doughlas. When narrating the experiences of these great men, my father aimed at inspiring me and my brother on the need to remain strong and be ready to fight any obstacle that comes along our paths for the betterment of our family and our community in general. I vividly remember how he emphasized on Fredrick Douglass courageous nature while fighting for equal treatment for the African American during the civil rights movement era. He always gave us his story with a smile promising us that working for a mutual course in the context of humiliation or in times of goodness is the key to success. Such stories helped define my cultural identity as I strongly believe on the need to strive for the good of all regardless of the situation at hand. Rituals within African-American communities...