Cultural competency supports the development of functional connections in diverse societal environments. People coexist with individuals from diverse backgrounds, increasing the likelihood of misunderstandings, wounded emotions, and bias (Meyer & Wynn, 2018). In communication, intercultural interaction is the exchange between individuals from various cultural backgrounds. Intercultural competence is intricately tied to compassion, listening, and critical thinking characterized by tolerance of ambiguity. This research paper is on intercultural participant observation of the African American community. In the research, the primary intercultural interaction is through the local community, particularly the religious groups. The study involves a visit to a local religious organization to observe the behavior of the African-American people and their interaction in the setting.
The African American community is selected owing to the expanding Black population in the United States and the increasing diversity in America. The community has recently gained attention due to the population growth in the United States and its popularity in national politics and civil actions. In 2019, around 14 percent of the country’s population, or 46.8 million individuals, self-identified as Black (Bethea, 2021, p.2). The community is interesting owing to its drastic population growth of 29 percent from 2000 to 2021 (Bethea, 2021, p.3). Studies have shown that African Americans are a heterogeneous community with many ethnic origins. In professional and religious environments, competent intercultural interaction permits courteous and productive interactions amongst people.
Relationship to the Subject
The religious setting, particularly the church, is selected as it has a history as a place of refuge for the African American communities. Throughout the civil rights struggle, the significance of the religious organizations within the African American population increased (Yang et al., 2019). People from all sectors of life recognized the church as a place where needs were satisfied, and difficulties were resolved after all other options had been explored (Nguyen, 2018). This setting is particularly interesting to me since it occupies a significant place in the community. I have come to know many African Americans with multiple backgrounds and identities, therefore, the choice for the research fell on this community and settings.
Plan to Study the Community
The research involves observations over four weeks to capture the experiences and conversations during the intercultural interaction sessions inside and outside the religious activities. The plan consists in conducting at least five interview and observation sessions with the local community leaders and members of the leadership teams at least two times per week. The interaction will be based on the observation of participant behavior patterns during their weekend routine.
Participant Observation Plan
The approach for participant observation includes creating relationships with local community leaders. It is expected that they will know only basic information about the assignment and research. This will help to facilitate their willingness to engage in the interviews and, at the same time, keep the non-academic atmosphere. Some of the interview questions will include “What experience in America do you view as the most beneficial?”, “How would you assess the religious diversity in the community?”, or “What is the role of local leadership in the functioning of a community?”. The research design reflects the need to demonstrate intercultural competence with the community. Planned observations as a researcher entail attempting to blend in with the community members and will be varied according to the situation. Likewise, the participant observation strategy requires the documentation of observations and data based on the routines in the setting.
Additionally, the notes will be recorded as a personal journal in written notes and photos. Consent will be sought before engaging the community members in photo sessions. The data collection design will be based on a knowledge of the various biases that might lead to misunderstandings about the exclusion of subjectivity from the data gathering procedure. The observation plan will account for evaluating data using the thematic analysis methodology, which entails categorizing data according to recurring themes discovered in interviews or other qualitative data collecting methods.
The components and the logic of the plan and research make the possible outcomes optimistic. It is expected that the church members will be receptive and honestly participate in the study, which should expose their Christian philosophy of life. The various questions and the different segments of the community approach will lead to the deeper intercultural competence of the community.
Research Plan
Conclusion
Cultural competency is necessary for comprehending and connecting individuals from different cultures. To possess intercultural competency, one must fundamentally understand several cultures. Cultural competence entails a desire to learn about the cultural practices and worldviews of others, as well as a positive outlook on cultural diversity. This research selected the African American community in their religious context owing to their growing population and the diversity that characterized the community. The African American population is very diversified. Variations are based on geographical, urban/rural, age, education, and socioeconomic variables. The diverse experiences, language, and culture of the community contribute to the variety of African Americans in the United States.
The choice of the African American community was made in light of the country’s expanding black population as well as its expanding diversity. African Americans come from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds. During different sessions of intercultural contact, which took place over the course of the study’s four-week duration, observations and dialogues were recorded. Regular meetings with members of the steering groups and local community leaders included interviews and observation sessions. The community’s display of intercultural competency has confirmed its viability and increased participation in events. The observation plan takes into account the analysis of data using a thematic analysis approach, which entails grouping data into categories based on recurrent themes discovered through qualitative data gathering techniques such as interviews.
The study conducted was instrumental to employ intercultural competencies and at the same get deeper understanding of one of the most heterogeneous communities in the US. All people should eventually realize the importance of intercultural awareness while engaging with members of other groups. As the study shown, effective communication is the key to success. In a perfect world, we would be as at ease and successful dealing with members of other groups and cultures as we are with those from our own. An effective practical definition of intercultural competency might be found in this. It is clear that everyone has to achieve intercultural competency, regardless of gender, age, or other factors. Whether they relate to a single tiny community, or the entire nation, diversity and cultural variations are pervasive and important aspects. The fundamental components of intercultural competences’ success include effective communication, teamwork, and awareness. The study proved to be vital in assessing and analyzing the chosen community and its repercussions.
References
Bethea, O. C. (2021). The unmaking of “Black Bill Gates”: How the US patent system failed African-American inventors. University of Pennsylvania Law Review Online, 170(1), 2-17. Web.
Meyer, E. G., & Wynn, G. H. (2018). The importance of US military and cultural competence. Military and Veteran Mental Health, 1(1), 15-33. Web.
Nguyen, A. W. (2018). African American elders, mental health, and the role of the church.Generations, 42(2), 61-67. Web.
Yang, Y., Cai, Q., Shu, X. O., Steinwandel, M. D., Blot, W. J., Zheng, W., & Long, J. (2019). Prospective study of the oral microbiome and colorectal cancer risk in low‐income and African American populations.International Journal of Cancer, 144(10), 2381-2389. Web.