Cultural Essay

Journey of an Ethnic Orphan:
Cultural Essay
Over the past 100 years my family has come from many places of origin Lebanon, Spain, Ireland, Russia, Germany and many others. over the past century there’s been a breakdown and separation amongst the family and its traditions that we used to have.   There’s so much left to my imagination regarding my culture and ethnicity, but there is some that I am aware of from questioning people such as my mother, father, grandmother and other extended family members.   Being an ethnic orphan is basically saying that whatever traditions and sense of culture we may have had in the past is very vague for the most part because of assimilation and geographical relocation. Although much is left to the imagination there are some things that I am aware of about my family’s culture and much that has been created for the purpose of keeping our family together.   The issues concerning culture and ethnicity that will be discussed are:
1. Why there has been a breakdown of culture.
2. Religion   and its place in the family.
3. Importance of family.
4. Values based on life experience.
5. Special problems that have contributed to the breakdown of family.
Why there has been a breakdown of culture.
When my ancestors first came to America it was for the main purpose of establishing a better life, looking for the necessary alterations to create the best possible chances for success.   With this idea for change, it was discovered the best successes were to come by fitting in as best as possible with the American people. When my great, great grandfather Amir Abu-Hamra came to this country he was of mixed backgrounds; Lebanese, Irish and Spanish. It was assumed that if he wanted the best opportunities for success he needed to change his identity to fit in.   This metamorphosis started with his last name Abu-Hamra. With its foreign sound and origin it was best felt to Americanize it.   In dropping the Abu and adding an H to the end of Hamra, it sounded...