Experiential Writing: Opposing Perspectives On Cultural Identity

My initial to the Experiential Writing Assignment was a positive one; after reading the instructions, I felt that this assignment would provide students an opportunity to see what cultural values are significant to our classmates. Not only does this offer students the chance to expand our perspectives on cultural identity, it also allows us to become more accquainted with our classmates in meaningful ways. The group that I gained the most insight on is African American women. I support the advancement of all individuals regardless of skin color, gender, gender identity, etc., but I really appreciated the dialogue between the African American ladies on the discussion board. Many of them stated that when trying to express their opinions, or even when discussing an idea passionately, they are often accused of being “aggressive”, “ghetto”, “angry”, etc. Stereotypes such as these should no longer exist; …show more content…
She goes on to say that she grew up with examples of strong, successful black women that taught her to never confrom. Although this statement may not be all that suprising, I do think it is worth talking about. Because of the help from such powerful figures in her life, this student’s dialogue exemplifies just how massively beneficial a collectivistic framework that involves the family and extended family can be. When comparing cultural groups, I found similarities between the Christian community and the African American women community. Both expressed a sense of focus on relationships and collective ideas. What is most similar, though, between all groups is the fact that they face discrimination and prejudice. Although we often get tangled up in the discussion of race, it is important to remember that we are all imperfect humans who should support each other’s endeavors as we want others to support