My parents came to America from the USVI, specifically St. Thomas. People want me to identify as someone who understands black American culture, when in fact, I'm really just now learning it. Am I not an authentic black man because I don't have the specific roots, of many blacks in America? Am I something other than a black man who grew up in America because I lived my formative years in Bangor, ME and Rome NY? I am a person made up of so many different people groups. I grew up with Italians, Poles, Irish, and French Canadians, in addition to the caribbean heritage my parents instilled in me. My old country is this country and perhaps St. Thomas. I want my children to know and appreciate where my family came from but not to obsess about it. As I've gotten older I'm learning to appreciate it more and hope to share that appreciation with my family. I've lived and visited so many parts of our great country and believe my authenticity comes from being an American, that perhaps encompasses too much, but that's how I feel.
I find my family history fascinating, and while my ancestors' lives are not my life, I often wonder about the flow of history breaking on the shores of today. I'm not of the cultures of the old countries but I'm a conglomeration of various cultures into a Southern American Catholic identity. That is my authentic self.
My parents came to America from the USVI, specifically St. Thomas. People want me to identify as someone who understands black American culture, when in fact, I'm really just now learning it. Am I not an authentic black man because I don't have the specific roots, of many blacks in America? Am I something other than a black man who grew up in America because I lived my formative years in Bangor, ME and Rome NY? I am a person made up of so many different people groups. I grew up with Italians, Poles, Irish, and French Canadians, in addition to the caribbean heritage my parents instilled in me. My old country is this country and perhaps St. Thomas. I want my children to know and appreciate where my family came from but not to obsess about it. As I've gotten older I'm learning to appreciate it more and hope to share that appreciation with my family. I've lived and visited so many parts of our great country and believe my authenticity comes from being an American, that perhaps encompasses too much, but that's how I feel.
I find my family history fascinating, and while my ancestors' lives are not my life, I often wonder about the flow of history breaking on the shores of today. I'm not of the cultures of the old countries but I'm a conglomeration of various cultures into a Southern American Catholic identity. That is my authentic self.