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: Darla Age: 33 Occupation: Manager Business Affairs / Int'l Coproductions Birthplace: Montego Bay, Jamaica Residence: Toronto, Canada Mother’s birthplace: Montego Bay, Jamaica Maternal grandfather: China Maternal grandmother: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Father’s birthplace: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Paternal grandfather: India Paternal grandmother: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? I'm not sure if assimilation is the term I would use. I come from a family, like so many Jamaicans, that have a varied cultural background. The positive aspects of each culture have been melded into what many define as "Jamaican". Since living in Canada, I haven't felt any need to change these core values or traditions but that being said, I am conscious that this is a different country and society. I'm free to be myself which may indeed be a product of "assimilation" but I simply define as growth. Would your parents object to your dating or marrying a person who was a different race than you? Not at all. As you can see from my profile, we are indeed a family of many colors and backgrounds. Included in my family are Irish and German Great Grandfathers. Our family has benefited greatly from an expanded way of seeing the world. I have always been encouraged to find my own path - that includes matters of the heart. What do you think of affirmative action and racial quotas in the workplace? On one hand I'd like to think that the most qualified person should be hired especially since there are so many intelligent and well trained minorities. However, this is a naive position given that racism does exist. You never know if the person hiring had a bad experience or has another agenda. So, in the grand picture, I do believe in affirmative action because I hope it gives minorities a chance they might not otherwise get. What do you think of signs on businesses that don't have any English on them? In an English speaking country why should this exist? At the very least respect the country that sustains you and try to meet it half way. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or the color of your skin? Tell us about it? I've had situations where co-workers have kept their distance but I'm not sure if this is entirely based on my skin color or because I make it clear that I expect to be treated with a certain level of respect. Has anything, relating to race, happened lately that really bothered you? Truthfully, my biggest complaint is race on race racism. It really bothers me when I go into a store or restaurant and Black staff seem to avoid me. I also don't like seeing Blacks doing things that don't leave a good impression but then turn around and complain about poor treatment. Many situations are justified but just as many are not. I have great respect for those who not only speak up but put words into action. It's just too bad that we don't work together and give each other due respect and caring. What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? Where were you when you ate it? Boiled ox tongue as a traditional delicacy at a friends wedding. What is your favorite ethnic food? Ackee and dumpling. Where do you live and where have you traveled where the culture was the most different from your own? I live in Toronto and have travelled extensively through Europe. I think Nice, France is the only place I'd say I was caught off guard culturally. It's a lovely place but the people had an aloofness that I found difficult to penetrate. A simple action can take on a whole new meaning. For instance, I like walking down the street and if I've seen someone a number of times, I'll say hello - sometimes a simple hello can say more than you intended. Do you feel that you are in touch with your culture of origin? Yes I am. Strength and courage are our cornerstones. Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Why not, if you haven't? No. The world is my home and the home of my ancestors. I take all the knowledge they gave to me and understand that if I journey back to the places they came from it is not necessarily the places they knew. I suppose if I didn't feel as grounded the need to go back to the homeland would be a good venture - but my history is in me. What percentage of your friends are able to speak a language other than English? Almost all. Do you or did you ever wish that you were of another race? If so, why? Not really, I enjoy being me. I did wish a few times I was a man and not a woman - I don't like getting bitchy just to be heard. Are you physically attracted to people of a different race? If so, why do you think you are? Yes. Looks are good but character is much more appealing. It's all about connecting on a personal level. Often race only plays a small part. The voice of: Deborah Subotnik Simon Age: 58 Occupation: Registered Nurse Birthplace: New Jersey Residence: North Carolina Mother’s birthplace: New Jersey Maternal grandfather: Russia Maternal grandmother: Russia Father’s birthplace: New Jersey Paternal grandfather: Russia Paternal grandmother: Russia Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? Depends on what you mean by assimilate. Our family is very multicultural. My husband is from the Caribbean and I love the cultural entities his family has brought to mine, Russian Jews who arrived in the late 1890's. People said my children "wouldn't fit in anywhere" but I thought of them as bridge children and they fit in EVERYWHERE! My 13 year old daughter is bilingual (Spanish) as well and we sprinkle our speech with Creole/Dialect and Yiddish. Would your parents object to your dating or marrying a person who was a different race than you? Well, I am married to a man of African descent. My parents were deceased so I don't know. My brother said they would not, my sister wasn't sure. I think they would have judged him as an individual and agreed! What do you think of affirmative action and racial quotas in the workplace? They have their good and bad points. In a sense, they perpetuate the idea of racial profiling, on the other hand America is long overdue to provide a truly equal opporunity to all. My husband and his two brothers, all university graduates, have all been stopped for DWB (driving while Black) and my son was stopped at UNC Chapel Hill because his friend had dread locks and they thought my son's (expensive) car "might have been stolen." What do you think of signs on businesses that don't have any English on them? I think that I am going to have the same experience non-English speakers have at other stores! It can be fun and a challange, but I spent a lot of time in the Netherlands and found thinking in another language is WORK and very tiring. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or the color of your skin? Tell us about it? Yes. Sometimes my husband and I have to "prethink" certain activities. If we are coming from overseas, especially the Caribbean, we get through customs faster if I go with the luggage and he goes with the kids...otherwise we get the drug search. I have frequently been "warned" that a Black man "is following me." We were on a cruise and two ladies thought my husband might be a "purse snatcher." We had paid $4000 for the trip and he was in a tuxedo (NOT Rented!) Where would he run with the purses? To a dingy tied along side? Finally, on the same upscale cruise they had a trivia contest. All the teams consisted of four people. I arrived late and the only open team was all Black. I was asked if I "minded" joining that team. Guess what!?! We wasted the others. Has anything, relating to race, happened lately that really bothered you? My husband was trying to make a deposit into my account at a local bank and the teller thought he was trying to "pass a bad check." Who tries to deposit bad checks? It caused such an uproar, I have volunteered to teach a cultural awareness class at that bank. What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? Where were you when you ate it? Cat in Texas and armadillo in Louisana. Not wishing to offend my hosts (I was a public health nurse), I ate it! What is your favorite ethnic food? MMMmmmmmm. I love to eat, but probably any Asian cuisine. Where do you live and where have you traveled where the culture was the most different from your own? Right now in North Carolina. I've travelled a lot. Actually most cultures are basically the same, especially among educated middle class people. When you get into poor neighborhoods or rural villages the differences are more apparent. In the Middle East, women are"sheltered" in public, but in the home they are very strong and often rule their husbands and sons. Do you feel that you are in touch with your culture of origin? Oh, yes. I was raised a very traditional Jew and have a good home library. We still say a Matzhe (Blessing) over the food in Hebrew daily. I love Yiddish songs and Russian music in general. I love my maiden name (Subotnik) which means holiday observer in Russian. I am not as religious as I was as a child and of course, my husband was raised a Christian. He says he is Jewish by osmosis! My son married a Baptist. I am a supporter of Israel. Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Why not, if you haven't? Most everything was lost in the Holocaust. I have trouble visiting those sites. I got so claustrophobic in the Anne Frank house I had to leave and I could smell burnt human flesh at Dachau. What percentage of your friends are able to speak a language other than English? 50-60% In brief, describe your idea of a perfect world. "Imagine all the people living life in Peace........" Do you or did you ever wish that you were of another race? If so, why? No, I like being Jewish, but my niece who is 1/2 Antiguan and 1/2 Jamacian thinks I secretly want to be Black. Do you feel uncomfortable if you are a minority in a room full of people who are all of one race? Not any more. The first time I met all my inlaws, boy did I feel WHITE! Are you physically attracted to people of a different race? If so, why do you think you are? No, although I like exotic people, I could have married anyone and had a diverse group of friends (male and female). I still do. My husband was the only Black male I dated, although I have Black male friends. 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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.