The ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures is cultural competence. “Culture” is a term that goes beyond just race or ethnicity. It can also refer to such characteristics as …disability, religion, income level, education, or profession (SAMHSA.gov, 2016).” Competency is defined as the capacity to function effectively (Merriam-Webster, n.d.).
I could trace my cultural heritage back to Africa. However, as a descendant of slaves, I cannot pinpoint what part of Africa I came from. Overall, my cultural identity comes from the idea or notion that we have developed an African American culture by fusing imported slave and American culture together to fit our experience of life in America (Ritter, 2017). Therefore, my cultural
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However, as African Americans the biggest taboo we face is mental illness. According to the National Association for Mental Illness, mental health conditions are perceived by African Americans as a personal weakness or a punishment from God ( National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2018). Due to shame and stigma, African Americans are reluctant to discuss mental health issues let alone seek treatment related to such conditions. Among the African American families that I know many have at least one ‘crazy relative’ that no one speaks about except to reference how you will end of like them if you don’t stay right with …show more content…
“The assumption is that anyone with a legitimate problem would come to the other person directly. A lack of response to a general accusation or allegation by someone is viewed as an indication of innocence” (Zur, 2018).
African Americans often hold a fatalistic worldview believing that their health is in god’s hands. Many African Americans belong to churches and will seek the care of the church to assist with the healing that God will grant if you are deemed worthy. Prayer and ‘healing hands’ are a few remedies used by my culture. We are present oriented and can be rather relaxed about time. Thus, may be late for appointments (Ritter, 2017). Time is viewed as circular. In my family, we will set a time for an event with the expectation that the guests will show up
There are many open wounds in the African-American community that have not healed what so ever. Disintegration of family structures in the African-American community has been a persistent problem for far too long. High out of wedlock birth rates, absent fathers, and the lack of a family support network for many young African-Americans have led to serious problems in America's urban areas. The persistence of serious social problems in inner-city areas has led to a tragic perpetuation of racial prejudice as well. African Americans still face a litany of problems in the 21st century today.
In like matter, Mark shared about his faith. African Americans looked to God when facing oppression. Mike describes in the interview how the African Americans cope with problems are shaped by cultural norms. The coping mechanism for African Americans is to keep the problems in the house and not to seek outside sources. Today, mental health professionals have become aware of how spirituality can enhance resilience (McGoldrick, et al., 2010).
obsessively revered and imitated African-American blues and rock musicians. This type of musical inspiration isn’t inherently bad—it’s practically unavoidable (Zimmerman 2014).” Are African American’s appropriating African Culture? During, the British colonization of American they were met with a number of conflicts.
Many black people don’t educate themselves about mental illness. 63 percent of African Americans believe that depression is a personal weakness, this is significantly higher than the overall survey average of 54 percent, according to a MHA commissioned a national survey on clinical depression. 56 percent believed that depression was a normal part of aging. Black people have historically normalized their own suffering. During slavery, mental health resulted in a more vicious lifestyle which included frequent whippings, beatings and more abusive
As a pastor and an African American I wanted to offer them absolution just to ease their pain. Instead of doing that on a one-on-one basis I decided to address this issue in this particular blog post. William Shakespeare described guilt in Macbeth as “life’s fitful fever.” And the wise King Solomon, gives a solution to guilt’s grasp in this way “Love and faithfulness reconcile
Jonathan Metts Incest and Abuse in African American Households Despite centuries of change in African American society, inecst and physical abuse continue to be a prevalent problem in many black households. The number of lives and families affected by these types of abuse is truly astounding and appalling. Perhaps the most appalling element of these situations is the fact that it continues to occur frequently today.
They would be able to see past the color of someone’s skin, and be able to assess who that person is by how they act, instead of judging them by the color of their skin. Ignorance on this issue should be avoided at all costs. In communities where there are a higher concentration of African-Americans it is common to find homes where either the father or the mother is no longer in the picture. In the Canedy family’s case, Jordan lost his father when he was six months old. Growing up without one of the parents in the home is difficult on the development of the child.
The Impact of Culture and Gender Roles Heather Richardson-Barker Drexel University Society has clearly defined boundaries between what is considered to be male or female. The development of an individual’s gender role is formed by interactions with those in close proximity. Society constantly tells us how we should look, act and live based on gender, as well as the influence of family, friends and the media have a tremendous impact on how these roles are formed and the expected behavior of each gender role. The term Gender, as defined by the United Nations, includes the psychological, social, cultural, and behavioral characteristics associated with being female or male. It further defines acceptable
My understanding of my ethnic culture is African American once was an oppressed group of people in the United States of America. African Americans were enslaved by Caucasian Americans and was treated as property. During the times of oppression, African American was not prohibited to read or write, to maintain stable family relationship and to have human rights. This traditions of the African American culture are emplace so the generations of African American can experience the rights other African Americans were
Discussion Questions Part two The Concept of Double Consciousness as Described by Du Bois For many years until only about a few years ago, African Americans have had many difficult experiences as they have searched for their true cultural identity in the American society. The common method of identification of African Americans was their black skin color, hence the name Negros, blacks, and colored people. The African Americans were poor, and discriminated by the rich white people that forced them to adopt a new cultural identity and to be assimilated by the dominant culture while at the same time struggling to maintain their original cultural identity.
(NAMI p. 3) Furthermore, Cultural Trauma probes the internal conflicts over the form and meaning of representation and culture in successive generations of black Americans after slavery. (Washington p.2). Black identity stemmed from cultural trauma during slavery. “African American”
African Americans, past and present, feel disillusioned by their unfortunate
This lack of knowledge leads many to believe that a mental health condition is a personal weakness or some sort of punishment from God. African Americans may be reluctant to discuss mental health issues and seek treatment because of the shame and stigma associated with such conditions.” Growing up in a home with a mother who suffers from severe mental illness I noticed that my family would avoid conversations
My cultural identity can be identified by my age, the food I eat, and the music I listen to. My favorite foods define who I am because, Louisiana has very different types food. Crawfish, Gumbo, Alligator, and Boudin are examples of some of the foods i like. A lot of people, like me, put Tony Chachere’s on their food. Just something as simple as liking spicy foods can make your culture different.
The background of my cultural identity I am an African American female but that isn’t all there is to know me for. I am an African American girl who is very interactive with my religion and also my culture. Cultural identity can be hard to explain because some people don’t know what’s really in their culture and they fail to see , and understand it. I know what my cultural identity is because of my ethiopian flag, the baked macaroni, and the movie the lion king.