User:Slazenger/PaperComparisons

The United States is one of the most widely diverse countries in the world. If you approached ten people and asked each one of them what their heritage is, you are guaranteed to get a variety of answers. Polish, Russian, Irish, Middle-Eastern, Eastern-European, Italian, Greek, Spanish, and plenty others would be commonplace. It is no secret how diverse America really is; the country has been known as a cultural melting pot for over a hundred years. Not all people carry the flames of their cultures, however. You will certainly find a mixed bag of answers in that regard. Some people are very proud to continue the cultures of their people in a new country while others will seek to assimilate and adopt the culture of their new home, rather than dwell upon their origins. Through two unique viewpoints provided by Barbara Ehrenreich and Julianne Malveaux we are able to see how culture and heritage do only server as reminders of our past, but they also define our future. In “Cultural Baggage”, Barbara Ehrenreich discusses how having no beliefs can in and of itself constitute a holding of specific beliefs. She reveals that in her earlier years when everyone was so proud to proclaim their heritage, she was afraid to do so. She felt her ancestors had oppressed her peers’ ancestors and this fact made her feel overcome with guilt and anxiety. Ehrenreich goes on to discuss how she feels like a complete amalgamation of cultural identities: Polish, Jewish, Irish and more, but with so many cultural identities defining her heritage she does not feel like she is a large enough percent of any of these cultures to constitute belonging to any one of them entirely. Towards the end of our short story our narrator shows muted excitement when asking her children if they believed in God and they replied “no”. Just like her ancestors did not believe in God neither did our narrator or her children. We can see that even holding no beliefs or not strongly identifying with beliefs or your cultural roots can still be an identity in itself; her beliefs are a belief of none and for that she is proud. Julianne Malveaux, on the other hand, in her article entitled “Still Hyphenated Americans” discusses the gross injustices that African-Americans are faced with. A quick glance at statistics should show the glaringly obvious lack of assistance that people of color receive in our country. When spending to help Caucasians in poverty increases, spending to help the inner-cities black population decreases. When funding for public school systems in sleepy suburbs increases, funding for public school systems in the inner-cities and at-risk areas go down. This inequality is evident across the board and leaves a disparity between races that is one of the most significant causes for tensions and an increased crime rate among minorities. Blacks are underrepresented in almost all facets of social policy and only recently, when our nation’s first ever black president was elected, has our government begun to make a focused attempt to ensure people of color are afforded the same opportunities that Caucasians receive. Increased scholarship money for black college applicants, a wider spectrum of health care coverage for black people, and even such policies like affirmative action allow black people a small footing to work their way up to the same social standing as white people and other people in our country. These two opinions were formed for very different reasons, yet both Ehrenreich and Malveaux have certain common beliefs and feelings, as well as some starkly contrasting ideas. Upon reading both of these articles, there is one very defining concept that shines through. Be proud of who you are. Ehrenreich, despite not having strong connections to her cultural roots, speaks of how she is proud to have a culture of “none.” Malveaux, however discusses the intense inequality black people in the United States face, and because of this, she finds Black History Month very important. Black History Month is a month that allows others to recognize the accomplishments and shaping that the black community has had on America. In the same way that both of our narrators are proud of their heritage, their “dedication” seems to be the dividing factor between them. Ehrenreich has a mildly concerned, yet surprisingly nonchalant, attitude towards her heritage. She is interested in learning more and being a part of something, but she could take it or leave it. Malveaux appears to be a lot more engaged and passionate about her heritage. She goes on what could easily be construed as a tirade about the importance of Black History Month, going so far as to specify statistics that show how common it is for members of the black community to get the proverbial “short end of the stick”. Although both have an interest in their heritage, their commitment and demeanor varies greatly between the two. In asserting my position, I easily identify with a culture of “none”. I am not a bleeding heart when it comes to continuing the culture of my ancestors. My ancestors, being from Poland, were exposed and raised in a time and place of great diversity. My grandfather was born in Poland, in the early nineteenth century. He was imprisoned in a concentration camp along with his brother during World War Two and both were lucky enough to escape. People would most likely criticize me and say “how can you not be invested in your culture? Your ancestors escaped from a concentration camp!”. The polarized view that many have of cultural identity would condemn me for my lack active exhibition of my cultural. At times it is almost as if my not following every single authentic Polish tradition means I don't recognize my roots. That is simply not true. My family comes from adversity and diversity, but I do not feel that adversity defines me and I feel as though every individual is touched by the diversity that exists within their past, their environment, and their upbringing.