Introduction
Cultural identity is the distinctiveness of a group or culture, often based on shared customs, beliefs, and traditions. It is the degree to which a person identifies with a particular culture. Individuality is usually acknowledged as predetermined by several sociological factors such as place of birth, membership in social units (such as family or peer groups), ethnic affiliation, education, profession, and style of life. Cultural biases are judgments or prejudices that tend to favor one particular point of view over another. Conversely, racial discrimination is the treatment of an individual or group of individuals differently based on their racial or ethnic identity. A racial stereotype is an over-generalized belief about a certain race. Cultural diversity and exposure are the best ways to understand different individuals for better social interaction and role fulfillment as a behavioral health paraprofessional.
My Cultural Identity Description
Regarding cultural identity, I am African American, which means people of African descent who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. As an African American, my cultural identity is deeply rooted in the history and experiences of my ancestors. African American culture is rich and dynamic, with influences from around the world (Rusert, 2017). I am proud to be related to the community that has resiliently fought for our rights and empowerment in the face of discrimination and oppression. From music and art to food and fashion, we have unique ways of expressing ourselves and our shared experiences as a people. Our culture is similarly about family, community, and connection (Rusert, 2017). For me, being African American means being part of a long lineage of powerful women and men who have shaped our country and continue to fight for justice. It is a privilege to carry their legacy forward in my own life.
Discrimination Encountered
The discrimination that I have experienced as an African American essentially boils down to three things. They include being considered a criminal, being seen as unintelligent, and being thought of as poorer (Chang & Kleiner, 2003). As far as the criminal aspect goes, I constantly felt like I was being watched and judged by my white classmates. I never took it kindly since I was always the first suspect if anything got lost in our classroom. In my entire class, we were only three African American students.
One evening, Mary, our class monitor, lost her pencil, but out of the thirty students, we were the suspects, and the class teacher threatened to punish us for failing to return the pencil. They perceived us to be thieves because they believed that Africans were poor and could not purchase stationeries for themselves, and therefore, stealing was the only way to acquire things (Chang & Kleiner, 2003). Moreover, whenever the teacher punished the three of us, the white students would always shout “criminals.” Even when I did nothing wrong, I still felt guilty and anxious because of the way they were looking at me. Concerning intelligence, they believed that I was foolish since when I first came to America, I had a heavy African accent and thus struggled to be understood.
Cultural Identity as Personal Strength in Behavioral Health Field
There are two ways in which my cultural identity can be a source of personal strength and influence as I work in the behavioral health field. First, my culture provides me with a sense of shared values and meanings that can give me a strong sense of purpose and identity. Second, my culture gives me social support systems that offer emotional security and encouragement. Shared values and meanings: in Africa, we believe that the word ‘Thank you’ is the greatest blessing that one can receive from anyone. Following this fact, I always try my best to be good to my patients so that they can appreciate me. Similarly, encouragement and emotional security are a result of my culture-recognized work songs that always inspire me not to lose hope in helping the sick.
How Contacting Whites Impact My Roles
As a behavioral health paraprofessional, having little contact with white Americans has impacted my role in providing support to individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues. First and foremost, it has taught me the importance of cultural competency and comprehending different world views (Scribner et al., 2020). Previously I easily got offended by the racial-discriminative statements and vulgar vocabularies, thereby failing in my role as a behavioral health paraprofessional. Then I realized that to provide quality care, I must be able to understand where my client is coming from and how their background may impact their current mental state. Based on this racial exposure, I have been able to cognize white patients better. Currently, I do not react negatively to racially biased comments from white Americans because I understand that they are based on racial stereotypes. This has reduced my conflict chances with white American patients enabling me to fulfill my role as a health professional better.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cultural identity has more to do with shared beliefs, traditions, and customs. Many white students believe that African American students are unintelligent, following the fact that they speak the English language with an African accent. Similarly, they accuse African Americans of being connected with stealing crimes because they perceive all Africans are poor and thus can only steal to possess property. As I work in the field of the behavioral health field, cultural identity has been my strength through shared values and meanings and motivation, and emotional security. Interacting with white Americans as a behavioral health paraprofessional has impacted my role by widening my understanding of other cultures.
References
Chang, S. H., & Kleiner, B. H. (2003). Common racial stereotypes. Equal Opportunities International.
Rusert, B. (2017). Fugitive science: Empiricism and freedom in early African American culture (Vol. 10). NYU Press.
Scribner, S. S., Poirier, R. F., Orson, W., Jackson-Beavers, R., Rice, B. T., Wilson, K., & Hong, B. A. (2020). Bridges to care and recovery: Addressing behavioral health and mental health needs through the faith community. Journal of Religion and Health, 59(4), 1946-1957. Web.