“...You can jump between worlds with the same ease that you slide on your nightgown every evening.” (Hyppolite 102-103) There are many ways for someone to be from two cultures. Your environment and the people you surround yourself with can influence and shape you, and you may learn new things and adopt a different culture over time. After seeing the movie Somewhere Between and reading over the essay “Dyaspora”, we discussed the issues of heritage and culture in class, and it further broadened my knowledge on the idea of being multicultural. In a society that is ever-changing, interracial marriage, global adoption, and emigration are on the rise- making it possible for someone to be from more than one culture.
Finding one’s identity may be difficult …show more content…
The essay “Dyaspora”, by Joanne Hyppolite, concentrates on the author’s early life and her experiences in discovering her identity as a Haitian American. In the essay Dyaspora, it speaks of a Haitian girl that was born in Haiti, but brought up in a totally different environment. Because she was brought up in Boston, Massachusetts, she didn’t have the same experiences and upbringing as other Haitian children that were born and raised in Haiti. As the author states, “Outside of our house, you are forced to sink or swim in American waters.” (Hyppolite 59) Although she struggled to belong to both cultures at first, she began to settle into it over time. She changed her ways in order to fit in with the other kids and slowly adopted the American culture, discovering things that she’s never known. “You make green hats in art class every St. Patrick’s day and watch Irish step-dancing shows year after year after year. You discover books and reading and this is what you do when you take the bus home, just you and your white schoolmates. You lose your accent.” (Hyppolite 81-84) However, despite embracing a new culture, she is still Haitian. While her younger sister begins to deny that she is Haitian, Hyppolite is proud of her culture and owns up to it, rather passing as just an American. This illustrates that you can definitely be from two cultures. Rather than choosing one over the other, the two cultures can coexist, in a sense. “Through your writing they will see you, dyaspora child, the connections and disconnections that have made you the mosaic that you are.” (Hyppolite
Finding one’s identity may be difficult …show more content…
The essay “Dyaspora”, by Joanne Hyppolite, concentrates on the author’s early life and her experiences in discovering her identity as a Haitian American. In the essay Dyaspora, it speaks of a Haitian girl that was born in Haiti, but brought up in a totally different environment. Because she was brought up in Boston, Massachusetts, she didn’t have the same experiences and upbringing as other Haitian children that were born and raised in Haiti. As the author states, “Outside of our house, you are forced to sink or swim in American waters.” (Hyppolite 59) Although she struggled to belong to both cultures at first, she began to settle into it over time. She changed her ways in order to fit in with the other kids and slowly adopted the American culture, discovering things that she’s never known. “You make green hats in art class every St. Patrick’s day and watch Irish step-dancing shows year after year after year. You discover books and reading and this is what you do when you take the bus home, just you and your white schoolmates. You lose your accent.” (Hyppolite 81-84) However, despite embracing a new culture, she is still Haitian. While her younger sister begins to deny that she is Haitian, Hyppolite is proud of her culture and owns up to it, rather passing as just an American. This illustrates that you can definitely be from two cultures. Rather than choosing one over the other, the two cultures can coexist, in a sense. “Through your writing they will see you, dyaspora child, the connections and disconnections that have made you the mosaic that you are.” (Hyppolite