 |
|||||
 |
Speak Your Mind About Issues Concerning Life In A Modern Multicultural
Society. Submit
your "voice" to us by filling out the questionnaire
and we'll consider your answers for publication in Urban Mozaik Magazine. Here's what some of our readers have to say... The voice of: P.J. Age: 38 Occupation: Freelance Journalist Birthplace: Montreal Residence: Madrid, Spain Mother’s birthplace: Torres de Carrizal, Spain Maternal grandfather: Torres de Carrizal Maternal grandmother: Torres de Carrizal Father’s birthplace: Stonehenge, Saskachewan Paternal grandfather: Constanza, Rumania Paternal grandmother: Constanza, Rumania Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? I have moved around a lot and I have always found that it's best to try and learn as much as you can about the country you're in. The more you learn, the more it changes you. You discover new ways of approaching the same subject. But there comes a point where you have to be able to add your voice, your way of being, to the surroundings. Would your parents object to your dating or marrying a person who was a different race than you? No. My father was Gypsy, my mother Caucasian. What do you think of affirmative action and racial quotas in the workplace? I hope that a more organic way of achieving racial quotas can be possible. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or the color of your skin? Tell us about it? No. Has anything, relating to race, happened lately that really bothered you? In the last four years Madrid and Barcelona has seen an explosion of immigration from Africa, The Magreb, and Latin America. What I find rather shocking is while there's a natural mix going on between the people (mixed race couples are rapidly becoming the norm in lower middle and middle class families; you see many musical bands that play mestizaje or cross cultural music), authority figures such as the police and club bouncers are out of control. In the last two weeks, the Barcelonan police beat a Afro-American trumpet player from the Barcelona Orchestra to the point where the orchestra had to cancel a North American tour; two bouncers killed an Ecuadorian immigrant and dumped his body into the harbor. It's shocking and extremely disheartening. Do you feel that you are in touch with your culture of origin? I don't really know what my culture is anymore. I lived in Canada for 20 years and a variety of other locations for seventeen. I have been in Spain for the last ten, but I don't really consider myself Spanish - nor Canadian for that matter. I always tell people that I'm a "chucho" (mutt). Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Why not, if you haven't? Yes, I have spent a fair amount of time in Rumania as well.. What percentage of your friends are able to speak a language other than English? Most, if not all. In brief, describe your idea of a perfect world. A perfect world does not exist on this planet. If it did, it would probably be boring. The voice of: J. Kirk Age: 28 Occupation: Marketing Birthplace: San Jose, California Residence: Chico, California Mother’s birthplace: Washington DC Maternal grandfather: Northern California Maternal grandmother: Australia Father’s birthplace: U.S. unknown Paternal grandfather: U.S. unknown Paternal grandmother: Saskatchewan Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? New immigrants to North America should maintain their cultural heritage and practices. At the same time they should learn to take advantage of the new cultural climate that works to their advantage such as; free speech, volunteerism, and cultural integration through participation. American people love to talk, so share your cultural background with others. Attend mainstream events as well as multicultural events, create a mixed group of friends and supporters. Would your parents object to your dating or marrying a person who was a different race than you? I think that my parents would have "hidden" concerns about me marrying, say, a Black man. They would have these concerns purely out of empathy, with the knowledge that multicultural relationships may come with special challenges. But ultimately it is my happiness that they are concerned with. What do you think of affirmative action and racial quotas in the workplace? I feel that affirmative action may be a necessary evil, in the sense that the controversy it causes often overshadows its true importance. Until all hiring managers can look at applicants equally, we need some artificial leverage. This needs to apply equally to promote women in management positions and comparitive worth as well. What do you think of signs on businesses that don't have any English on them? Cool! Maybe I will learn something new. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or the color of your skin? Tell us about it? Yes, but not because I look like a minority. My family is mixed with Anglo, Native American, and Hispanic. As a light skinned member of my family I have been offended by racial slurs and told that I was "thinned" out, in terms of pigmentation and blood quantum. I have of course been discriminated due to my sex. Over the past six months I have twiced been asked on the phone at work something akin to "I would just like to talk to a man, please." However, my opinion is that you can overcome discrimination, there are many paths: education, awareness, strong vocabulary, sensitivity, and personal integrity. Has anything, relating to race, happened lately that really bothered you? Yes, I have been dating someone of another race. He has several times referred to me using racially insensitive remarks. I feel it is rooted in his own self-hatred or prejudice, not mine. What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? Where were you when you ate it? Cow's Head at family reunion. Acorn Soup at tribal celebrations. Sushi in Berkeley. What
is your favorite ethnic food? Where
do you live and where have you traveled where the culture was the most
different from your own? I live in the US. Throughout Europe I found culture somewhat similar. I hope to travel somewhere much more exotic in my future. Do
you feel that you are in touch with your culture of origin? Send us your answers! Submit your "voice" to us by filling out the questionnaire and we'll consider your answers for publication in Urban Mozaik Magazine.
|
||||
 Illustration by Myron Macklin Many who know Myron Macklin know him as an artist’s artist. He had a natural progression from Saturday morning cartoons to comic books to the insightful world a illustration. He left his home town of Rocky Mount, N.C. to study graphic design and illustration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He says his most valuable lesson that he took home from college was ‘learning how to learn’. Myron is working on a book which he terms as an amalgam of interests he hopes to get published one day. More of his work can be found at www.dragonklan.com/macklin. |
|||||