BASED on your answers in the assignment:
COMMENT:
1) was it the first time you considered the notion that you belong to a TRIBE? How did it feel?
2) leaving aside the word "tribe," what is the most important factor that makes YOU a member of a larger group -- whether you want to or not: looks, language, ethnic origin, religion, cultural practices, what else?
Keep the two items separate. Quantity: not too much but not too little either: paragraph-long answers are best. Make sure your answers are YOUR answers. They must come from your experience. No platitudes and no boilerplate.
REPLY:
Choose a comment either for stylistic reasons (well written) or for originality: tell your classmate why you chose it and what YOU LEARNED from her/his comment.
The first time I believed that I belong to a tribe was when I went to visit my family back in Jamaica. I was hanging with my older siblings, and cousins and we started to talk about if I was Jamaican at all jokingly. But I argued that I am and they decided to test me about the parishes, food, language, and music. Surprisingly to them I answered nearly all of the questions they threw at me and they all gave me a pass. It made me feel happy and welcomed especially since I grew up with the culture in my home.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest factor I would say is ethnic origins. Similar to what I said above I believe it comes down to the knowledge and understanding of a group for you to be considered part of it.
I agree with your statement and also find it relatable to my own encounters with my family back home. I am also from Jamaica and I know from personal experience that they try to trip you up with trivial questions relating to the practices. I feel as though they believe that because you live here in New York that you're kind of out of sync with the culture.
DeleteTo me a tribe is like a family, a group of people who have similar interests and give you a sense of belonging. The first time I felt as if I was a part of a tribe was when I moved to a new neighborhood which is predominently Italian and everyone shares a culture. It felt great knowing that you can now have an immediate family and a large extended family.
ReplyDeleteThe most important factor that makes me in a larger group would be traditions. My family is all about traditions and following them every year. There are many traditions that I introduced to my friends, so now both my family and my friends follow the same traditions which are meant to be carried from generation to generation.
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DeleteTraditions are great! My step-dads side of the family has many traditions which have spread and now my family is trying to start our own new generation of family traditions. Currently we have three Christmas themed traditions, the holiday fire-pit cookout, the white elephant, and the half-christmas ugly-sweater party. We like them so far but we'll see if we can make them last as long as your traditions.
DeleteI feel the same way. My family due to our Caribbean background we have certain customs that happen throughout the year. I mean, most families have get togethers during the holidays, but the types of food is what makes us different from each other. I see pictures on social media all the time about the type of food or certain stories that are told around these holiday times, and I notice how my foods and stories will differ from most. I always appreciate the difference between each of our peers.
DeleteI feel the same way. My family due to our Caribbean background we have certain customs that happen throughout the year. I mean, most families have get togethers during the holidays, but the types of food is what makes us different from each other. I see pictures on social media all the time about the type of food or certain stories that are told around these holiday times, and I notice how my foods and stories will differ from most. I always appreciate the difference between each of our peers.
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ReplyDeleteI don’t know if I have ever felt a defining moment where I felt part of a tribe. I feel that being part of a tribe sets boundaries on you and your culture and I have never really enjoyed that so possibly that is why I do not look to associate myself with a tribe and have never had a moment where I felt I was part of one. If I had to identify myself with a tribe it would be my immediate family as some of the test we learned about relate to my connection with them. You feel the need to defend your family if anyone speaks poorly about them or dose not understand something about them.
Something that makes you part of a larger group is indeed your culture, language, ethnic background but I think its ultimately your views on the future and how you want to act as a person. And how you act towards other people.
The first time I felt like I belonged to a tribe was when I was about 8 years old and I first came to this country. Since I lived in Mexico I never felt any different regarding a sense of belonging anywhere but once you are out of your country and enter a new world of different cultures and customs, you pay more attention as to who you feel comfortable with and who has the same culture as you. It felt weird at first and uncomfortable realizing that I didn't know the new culture and that I could only identify myself with Mexican people or the people that at least spoke the same language as i did. Once I got used to the American customs I realized I could feel at home here even if I did not live in Mexico anymore.
ReplyDeleteSome important factors that make me part of a large group would be my nationality and the language I speak. Being Mexican puts me in a group where everywhere I go I can find people from my country and form some type of bond or a sense of comfort. Speaking Spanish also makes me part of a large group because everyday more and more people in this country are speaking Spanish and it makes me feel happy that more people are either learning or already speak my native language.
I didn't even think about people who come here from different countries. I recognized that people should feel like a part of a tribe if it gives them comfort, but I didn't even take into consideration that moving displaces you from your comfort zone and you actually have to recognize your shared experiences and culture with other people.
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ReplyDeleteThe first time I considered myself part of a tribe was the first year I was allowed to help out in making homemade tomato sauce. I felt apart of a long lasting Italian tradition that has been past down for many years. I felt proud and eager to learn, so I too can pass down this tradition to my children and grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteThe most important factors that makes me apart of a larger group are the language and the cultural practices. I think that being able to communicate and share traditions are what makes a person apart of a tribe. For example, gathering around the table on Sunday with the whole family having Sunday sauce and speaking the same language makes me feel apart of a larger group.
I to have the same memories of helping prepare Sunday diner and it is a warm feeling to know that you are part of something and that others want you to be part of that same thing. That I would say is the most positive social benefit of being part of a "tribe".
DeleteNot necessarily a tribe, but belonging to a part of a group beyond my surroundings. Meaning, not just the people I encounter on a daily basis whether it be co-workers and friends, but conversations I have with my family who are part of my cultural background. My dad makes certain references pertaining to our Jamaican ancestry that I know my friends wouldn’t be able to understand, and language is a big part of it.
ReplyDeleteLanguage I would have to say is the biggest association; when it comes to understanding collectively the tone, how we speak, etc. I see it not only in my household, but when I’m around other families as well. It’s like an inside joke; the exclusive insight among a group of people, you just have to know the meaning behind the statement before you can actually interpret it and get the full effect.
I understand exactly what you are talking about. Language is a huge part of a tribe and how one interprets it can be crucial to really getting that feeling of comfort. I really like what you wrote about your friends not being able to understand some of your Jamaican customs, because i can relate to that. My friends also don't really understand my Mexican customs as I would want them to.
DeleteI think growing up as a little kid, you notice that you are different and that's when you realize that you are part of a tribe well at least that's how it was for me. Going to a predominately caucasian with only a handful of african americans that's when I realized that I was apart of tribe. As a child, you notice a lot things like the way people talk, dress, act, physical appears and you're just so curious to know why are we so different. I felt like I was different but when you're a child different feels like a bad thing compared to you being older and knowing that different is ok. There is nothing wrong with being different.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important factor that makes me a member of a larger is my thought process, my perspective on things, I don't ever like to look at things from one point of view. You have to look at the situation from every point of view, not just yours. I think my cultural beliefs plays apart in this because I knew that people wouldn't understand my beliefs and traditions. They were always be like really or seriously so with that always happening to me, I told and train myself to look at other people cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, just any point of view they are coming from.
I agree with your points about feeling different making you feel like part of a tribe. Part of the thing that makes me feel a certain affiliation with the mixed community is because I never felt completely accepted by the black or white community.
DeleteYes growing up certain times you are told and forced into a tribe you may not agree with. Feeling different and being able to choose your own tribe as you get older is a great thing. Being different is very unique especially in the reading Professor mentioned he has 2 Chinese daughters who he raised in his Italian household and I am sure they are happy as can be. Some times being different will also give you that sense of belonging.
DeleteI like what you wrote in your second paragraph. I agree with every line. I also train myself to be open minded and look at other people's cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, just to see other's point of view on things. Thought process has to be one of the most important factors.
DeleteI think growing up and feeling different definitely makes a person feel like part of a tribe. I remember in the cafeteria when all my friends around me would bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and my mom packed me left over pasta or mortadella sandwiches. I knew that I was different from my friends and was part of a different "tribe."
DeleteI think, without realizing it, I’ve always felt like I’ve been apart of a “tribe.” I’m mixed race and have always felt a sense of connectedness with people of a similar ethnic make up. Whether a conscious thing or not, feeling like there are other people out there who might look similar to you, grew up in an environment with parents of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and might have experienced some of the same challenges as you, is comforting.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest contributing factor to feeling part of a larger group would be ethnic origin, with cultural practices being a close second. I believe having the same origin makes people feel naturally connected, but I also feel as though cultural traditions also make people align with certain groups. In a philosophy course I’ve taken, I learned that some people actually define their identity based on the environment they grew up in (a black child growing up in a white household/neighborhood identifies more with the white community and vice versa, etc) so I would argue this must come as a close second in terms of identity.
Your comment was very interesting, especially the part of a black child growing up in a white household or neighborhood, it really made me think, and you are completely right. I never saw it that way. I'm Arab but I only moved her four years ago, and when I meet Arabs who were born and raised here in the US, they have a sense of pride of their background but they also have a sense of pride for the people they grew up with, and I truly think it's beautiful, how people overlook the outside and just connect with likeminded people.
DeleteI still don't feel like I am part of a tribe. I don't root for Ireland or Germany in the Olympics, I don't care any more about my heritage's culture or history than other cultures and histories. I understand why one would want to feel a sense of belonging, but as someone who recognizes my place in society today, I don't feel like I particularly have to. I had an aunt who kept telling me about Irish slaves in the US and after doing some research, I saw that Irish slavery was barely a thing and certainly did not seem to be as dramatic as my aunt played it up to be. I think she's trying to force a sense of belonging by making up a shared tragedy.
ReplyDeleteI feel part of a larger group as a member of the United States, or more specifically as a person living on Long Island. I share the English language and a similar accent to those born around here. I was raised in a Catholic household, as many are in the suburbs of Long Island, even though I do not practice my religion, I still have had a shared experience. And I can't dislike Billy Joel, as hard as I try. Furthermore, to put it bluntly, I am White and I grew up in a town that is literally 92% White. I don't feel a sense of belonging here, but I definitely am a product of the area.
Its is hard to say exactly which tribe I belong to genetically and I don't like going there, breaking myself down. I like different parts of all my ancestors cultures and dislike many parts as well. I do belong to a tribe though. I grew up in Fairport. A small village in upstate New York that is a little cultish or Pleasantville like sometimes. However I truly fell in love with the place, without realizing it, like many others. Moving away from Fairport and coming to the city the test I needed to discover my tribe. Acquaintances from home that i knew lived in the city quickly became my closest friends. We shared a lot of weird mannerisms, slang, likes and dislikes. We fit. Working in the service industry as well I discovered that people visiting the city from Upstate would brighten and ask me all sorts of questions if they learned where I was from.
ReplyDeleteIt feels good to have a group of people to belong to and a place to return to. The shared values and characteristics are a comfort, that you don't notice are missing until you see them again after a long time. The most important factor for me is culture and quirks of the community and the comfortability it generates. I often meet people who grew up on completely different sides of the globe who I know are a part of a tribe very similar to mine.
This was the first time that I considered the notion of belonging to a "tribe." I say this, and I add quotations to the word, because I've always had negative connotations when I think about the word tribe. Considering that I am a part one, it made me feel somewhat disconnected from the rest of the world, something that I already feel because my "tribe" is seen as a minority, and to some, it's also seen as something negative (the fact that I'm Arab and Muslim). When I put myself in a "tribe," I think it just amplifies that idea, that I am in fact different, and I belong to something that is different. It is another feeling if I said I belonged to a culture, or a society, THAT makes me proud. I am very proud that I am Arab and I am proud of and have a sense of connection with other Arabs. But the word tribe just makes me feel like I am disconnected from the real, melting-pot of the world.
ReplyDeleteThe most important factor that makes me a part of a larger group is indeed my ethnic background and my religion, and most importantly, my native tongue.
I never took my background, ethnicity or looks as part of a tribe in my life. "Group" and tribe to me aren't interchangeable so I dont think of them in the same sentence. If I was to categorize myself in a certain "tribe" I would group myself with people who identify as Caribbean Americans. We have a cultural understanding. The big difference in culture between Grenada and certain parts of the United States might make one feel overwhelmed at first. As the first generation from a family of immigrants I see what my parents had to go through in order to get where I am. The struggle between Caribbean families and how they raised themselves in America are very similar. To working hard as a child in order to develop work ethic to make a better life for their future generation proves what a "tribe" should be about. The building of a community when it is being threatened to tumble.
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