On the Eve of the Fourth of July, How do You Identify Yourself?

Hi, Julie here. I can’t believe how fast the time is flying by–neither Leo or I have had much time to write lately, and now here it is July already. I have had a couple of interesting conversations lately that have taken me a little a back and made me sort of stop and think.  I am so immersed in diversity, diversity issues, problems, articles, books, etc., that I was so surprised recently to hear from two different friends that they don’t relate to diversity in the same way I do. Not that they would be so involved in it like we are, afterall, this is not only our passion but our business, but more personally, in who they are.My whole life, my family celebrated every part of our diverse make-up. Yeah, you could look at me–as pale white as they come, blue eyes and red hair and say what diversity? But I don’t believe that diversity is only about color or race. I can relate in a number of ways–I am overweight and know I have experienced discrimination based on that, I am physically challenged with multiple illnesses which I know has also affected how others treat me at times, I am married to a man of a different ethnicity, so we are considered a mixed-race marriage, etc.

But I was also raised to appreciate every part of our ethnic heritage.  We are Scandinavian (both Norwegian and Swedish), Basque, Native American (Cherokee), Scotch-Irish, a little English, and Syrian.  My father definitely looks like the 100% Norwegian Viking that he is– very tall, blue-eyed, has a beard–and in my mother you would mainly see Native American (even though she is also half Swedish, and a little of the others mentioned above).

We celebrated many diverse holidays in our house growing up, from St. Patricks Day to Sit de Mai to Christmas and many more in between. My mother loved having pictures and knick knacks all over our house representing her Native American culture, we went to visit the reservations, watched tribal dances, and visited historic sites. We ate all kinds of different ethnic foods in our house, and I loved the variety from Scadinavian cookies to Mexican food (which we still have every year at Christmas, a tradition started by my grandmother).  We cherished every holiday, my mother always decorated and put on the appropriate music and it was FUN!  If you asked me to identify myself, I would tell you all those cultures I mentioned above. Does that make me any less an American? Of course not. Of course I say I am an American, especially if someone asked me what country I am from. When I travel overseas, of course I am an American.  When I traveled behind the “Iron Curtain” in the early 80’s, I was never so happy as when I saw the American flag hanging from the consulate, and all of the freedoms it represents. 

But I don’t forget where my ancestors came from. What they went through to get here. And what they went through when they were here. Or what my Native American/American Indian ancestors went through. I embrace all aspects of what makes me who I am. I love this country and I am so happy to live in a place that lets me freely express who I am.  I respect what our fore fathers had to go through to make this country what it is today. I respect every soldier out there who fights to allow us to keep our freedoms that so many of us take for granted every day. I am an American and proud of it.

But I am also a mixture of every ancestor who went before me and I will not forget them. I am priviliged to live in a country where I can acknowledge all aspects of who I am.   I feel badly for my friends who only identify themselves as white women from the states of Minnesota and Nebraska, United States of America. I think they are missing out on the richness of their cultural diversity. The melting pot didn’t work. Every culture did not assimilate into one ugly-colored mass like when you mix a bunch of paint colors together, and not all were welcome to assimilate.  I think President Carter said it best: ” “We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”

I am very fortunate to come from a family that likes to celebrate our cultural heritage, holidays, foods,  and loves the 4th of July! Thanks Mom & Dad!

 What about you out there? I wish every American, no matter your background, a very Happy 4th of July!