What makes a multicultural family unique? Who are we and what do we look like? These are the questions and the answers are endless. Being multicultural is more than attempting diversity…it is a lifestyle, an appreciation and a celebration of diversity. Multicultural families choose to combine our heritages…and in the process, form deeper bonds within a multitude of cultures. Multiculturalism is beautiful and it lives with us in our heart and soul. In appreciation for all the amazingly diverse families out there, a little piece of the blogosphere has joined together to share their thoughts on family, diversity, multiculturalism and so much more. Please enjoy these fabulous posts and feel free to contribute your own in the comments. ♥
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#1
Empatheia “Tolerance and Respect”
I encourage tolerance for differences of opinion and teach my children and my students to listen to and reflect on a variety of viewpoints….We teach them to do more than to tolerate differences–we teach them to respect differences.
She said that her daughter was over there on the playground with mine. She said they were playing together and that it was good for her daughter. “She’s getting in some multicultural time.”
Find Jen on Twitter
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#2
Ezzy Guerrero-Languzzi “Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez”
Rodriguez’s story is one threaded with guilt, regret, and longing for his Mexican culture, language, his private (home) life. The one he had no choice, but to give-up, in order to assume his place in public society.
Whoever said we couldn’t hold onto our individual ancestry, culture, language, and be members of public society? Does it have to be all-or-nothing? I certainly don’t, nor will I accept it.
Find Ezzy on Twitter
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#3
Florecita Growing Up “Privilege and Journalism”
According to his mom one of the white team students found a white pillow case and put it on his head and started chanting white power as a joke. He then proceeded to run around waiving his hands in “Heil Hitler” salutes.
Because of the privilege of the student and the power that the writer had in bringing out this privilege it transformed the incident from being an instance of racial bullying and intimidation into “boys being boys” or child’s play.
Find Flor on Facebook and Twitter
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#4
Hapa Mama “Why Multiracials Need Bone Marrow Donors”
Did you know that mixed-race people have especially difficult odds of finding a bone marrow donor in the event of leukemia or rare blood diseases?
The odds are even smaller for a Hapa person, who will probably need a donor who is specifically of the same ethnic blend: ie. my children would need a donor who is also Taiwanese-English-Irish, not just say, Asian and white.
Find Grace on Facebook and Twitter
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#5
Hybrid Rasta Mama “NativeAfrItalPuertoLankin”
My skin color and facial features are that of a Northern Italian. AKA – I’m white. My husband has some of the darkest skin I have personally seen but that is where the African ends. His build and facial features are that of a Sri Lankin. My daughter is gorgeous. For real. I’m not even going to be modest here. NativeAfrItalPuertoLankin in the perfect mix.
We have struggles as a multicultural family…They have all come to love him but boy was there some door locking going on when we first moved in. He is still hesitant to go certain places without me. That makes me sad and disappointed in humanity.
Find Jennifer on Facebook
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#6
Kensington Kitchen “Fried Rice: The Ultimate Multicultural Food”
As a child of a multicultural family, fried rice holds a special place in my heart. While keeping the flavors and ingredients of my own families’ food near and dear, it provides the ultimate canvas for experimenting with flavors and ingredients from other countries and cultures.
Today, I keep the multicultural fried rice tradition alive in my Pakistani-Polish-Mexican neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY.
Find Marni on Facebook and Twitter
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#7
Let’s Take the Metro “I Am a Racist”
…I learned how much psychology majors are sheltered to the work of other nations and how little they are prepared to work with anyone of a different race.
My mother taught me to be tolerant of all people. Church taught me to be tolerant of all people. Society taught me to be racist. And it probably taught you too.
Find Amanda on Facebook
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#8
Maroc Mama “Feeding a Multicultural Family”
I certainly could have scoffed at MarocBaba’s requests for food he was familiar with and insisted on making only what I was comfortable with but I’m so glad I chose to embrace it. Now not only is my husband thrilled to have food from home, but our kids are as comfortable eating a pizza as they are a dinner of lentils or breakfast of Moroccan oatmeal.
My suggestions for anyone raising kids in a multicultural home…
Find Amanda on Facebook and Twitter
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#9
Me and the Mexican “Open Heart and an Open Mind”
I’ve visited Mexico several times with my husband. We didn’t go to Cancun or somewhere you’d go on vacation.. We went to “el rancho” where my husband grew up. I got to experience “the real” Mexico!
My eyes from that point on were more open than ever! I know those trips to Mexico changed me. What a great experience to see how others live and how things work in other countries. Although we speak different languages, deep down we are all the same.
Find Tara on Facebook and Twitter
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#10
Multiculturalism Rocks “Bilingual PB Review: No Time For Monsters/No Hay Tiempo Para Monstruous”
…an English/Spanish bilingual story easy to read over and over with children, with smile and giggles.
In my humble opinion, this was a great investment, as it puts the spotlight on bilingual books and offers fun opportunity to practice English or Spanish for the non-natives. I hope that you’ll check it out!
Find Nathalie on Facebook and Twitter
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#11
Rockin’ Momma Blog “Why Gringos Celebrate Cinco de Mayo”
It’s that time of year! Just like on St Patrick’s day when everyone is Irish (even though St Patrick wasn’t) the fifth of May or Cinco de Mayo.. Everyone’s Mexican!
What a way to celebrate … wait.. what are we celebrating? Is it…
Mexican Independence day? Nope
Mexican Revolution? Nope
Mexican flag day? Nope
Mexicans day? ha ha.
Find Tanya on Facebook and Twitter
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#12
Tara Kamiya “Which culture runs your household”
If you would like something to eat, I will probably unconsciously hand you chopsticks first, but I am not Asian. I am 50% of a bi-cultural and bi-racial household and I am African American.
I’ve found that many multi-cultural households tend to lean towards one culture. My story is no different.
Find Tara on Twitter
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#13
The Epic Adventures of a Modern Mom “Who is Your Mama”
Imagine my surprise when she asked me “who’s their mom?” “Pardon me?” I replied. Then she repeated, “Her hair is so straight, who’s her mom?”
They are my kids. So we don’t look exactly the same, welcome to the 21st century; we’re an interracial family and this is what we look like.
Find Charlene on Twitter
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#14
The Vaca Loca “Going with your gut”
I’m originally from Kentucky, and besides Speedy Gonzalez and The Three Amigos, I didn’t grow up hearing much Spanish spoken. I started taking Spanish in high school, and it was there that the universe started opening little windows for me and laying out paths that would ultimately lead me to where I am today — married to a man from Mexico and trying to raise a bilingual baby.
So what does the daily grind feel like anyway? Well, a little something like this….
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#15
This Nest “Setting the Record Straight”
There are some of you that think because we share a similar European ancestory (and a lack of melanin) that I should exclusively belong to you…I am not less feminine or more trashy because the hand I will hold throughout my life is darker than mine, but if that’s what you need to say to yourself in order to gain some sort of peace about the fact that I didn’t choose you…
I, we, owe no apologies to another human being for the choice we made to have a life together.
Find Donna on Facebook and Twitter
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#16
Untrained Hair Mom “Life Outside Hair: Our Story”
As most of you know my daughter, D, is biracial, mixed with Caucasian and African American…We love her hair, the journey we’re on to properly care for it and all the other “hair moms” and kids we’ve met through it.
As adults and parents we (should) know the importance of these three things and convey them to our children. So they all can learn to love themselves and appreciate every aspect of who they are.
Find Brook on Facebook
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#17
Yvonne in LA “We’re Mexican, Really”
My 1st grader and I had an interesting conversation recently. He held up an indigenous Mexican mask he made at school and said, “Look at me. I’m Mexican.” I looked at my son and said, “You don’t need to wear a mask to be Mexican. You are Mexican! All the time.”
It would probably help him identify with being Latino if I or he or his brother looked the slightest bit Mexican, but we don’t.
Find Yvonne on Facebook and Twitter
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Feeling inspired? If you’ve written a related post and would like to share it here with your multicultural familia, feel free to leave it in the comments!
Thank you to all the bloggers who participated in the Multicultural Awareness Blog Carnival! Your insights and experiences are truly appreciated! =)
© 2011 – 2012, Chantilly Patiño. All rights reserved.
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[...] the scenes…something for all the diverse multicultural/multiracial families out there. The Multicultural Awareness Blog Carnival is a way for us to find more integrated and multicultural families to connect with and I’m [...]