Hispanic Heritage Month!
By Nahia Pino, Senior, iPreparatory Academy
By Nahia Pino, Senior, iPreparatory Academy
Credit: National Hispanic Heritage Month
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Hispanic Heritage calls for many to celebrate our culture, for each person to represent their motherland(s) and be proud. But, as a person raised in Miami, it can be difficult to harness my culture.
For me, it should be pretty simple. Both of my parents are Venezuelan, and I know plenty of other adult Venezuelans, but when I meet people who grew up there, my Venezuelan heritage feels disingenuous. They speak better Spanish than me, relay other slang phrases, know the history, and experience the cultural events. Having grown up in Miami, I feel that I missed out.
For me, it should be pretty simple. Both of my parents are Venezuelan, and I know plenty of other adult Venezuelans, but when I meet people who grew up there, my Venezuelan heritage feels disingenuous. They speak better Spanish than me, relay other slang phrases, know the history, and experience the cultural events. Having grown up in Miami, I feel that I missed out.
I’m not unique; as the world has become more globalized, many children live in cross cultural families with tangled family trees. According to Third Culture Kid World, this lifestyle was first studied by sociologist Dr. Ruth Hill Useem. In the 1950s she conducted studies on American children who were raised in India with families who were missionaries, educators, or embassy members. She observed the Frankensteinian culture: raised with American traditions at home but surrounded by Indian culture and society. She coined the term “third culture kid” to describe them. The ‘third culture’ is not meant to be understood literally as a separate culture, but instead it represents the mixture of lifestyles created by balancing the two separate identities.
These studies evolved over time. According to the World Family Education, the term became too specific so the umbrella term of ‘cross culture’ kids was created to expand to even more combinations. This can include interracial marriages, immigrants, international adoptees, and more. Among all of the diversity, however, there are some connections. For instance, many learn skills including social adaptability, multicultural awareness, and open mindedness, all of which are useful in the modern world. The trade off, however, tends to be the feeling of disconnectedness. With many competing ideologies, priorities, expectations, and cultures, cross culture kids often feel conflicted or overwhelmed.
These studies evolved over time. According to the World Family Education, the term became too specific so the umbrella term of ‘cross culture’ kids was created to expand to even more combinations. This can include interracial marriages, immigrants, international adoptees, and more. Among all of the diversity, however, there are some connections. For instance, many learn skills including social adaptability, multicultural awareness, and open mindedness, all of which are useful in the modern world. The trade off, however, tends to be the feeling of disconnectedness. With many competing ideologies, priorities, expectations, and cultures, cross culture kids often feel conflicted or overwhelmed.
So there it is. Wow. It should be easier for me to identify the cultures that have affected my life. I am obviously Venezuelan, but then, I am a child of the United States. I’d argue that I am Miamian.
Miami is uniquely diverse. Historically, the cultural influences come from generational South Floridians, Northern and Midwestern transplants, people from every country in Central and South America, and immigrants from every Caribbean nation. Nowadays, the area is overwhelmingly Hispanic, a 2013 Pew Research Report estimating about 70%. The same study estimates over half being Cuban, about 13% from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, and 32 percent are from other Central and South American countries. The data also found that 66 percent of Miami’s Latinos are foreign born. According to journalist at BBC Mundo Luis Fajardo, the presence of Latinos is due to economic incentives and the already present Latin market making it easier for people to immigrate and work in South Florida, creating a self perpetuating cycle. As a result, the surrounding dominant culture is a unique amalgamation of all of these groups. |
Therefore, my confusion over my culture may be a feature of being born and raised in the diverse and wonderful Miami. It is this combination that has shaped me and many others. So, when September and October, Hispanic Heritage month, arrives I am not the only one feeling confused.
But then, that’s probably the point. Hispanic is a blanket term for all descendants of Spanish Speaking, which is not one but many combined and intertwined cultures. The recognition of who we are and where our families came from is more important than our feelings of diaspora.
But then, that’s probably the point. Hispanic is a blanket term for all descendants of Spanish Speaking, which is not one but many combined and intertwined cultures. The recognition of who we are and where our families came from is more important than our feelings of diaspora.