Wow - I could so relate to the white 'race discussion' -- because I am white and I have struggled with the notion of "culture" or the lack there of. When my kids come home with a schoolwork assignment, in which they are asked to research and share something about their culture, I dreaded those because I never knew what to say. I still dont. A lack of "culture" has plagued me. Its like you constantly wondering "who am I?" -- And then I look at other cultures and get jealous and I admire them. Just this morning before I sat down to continue this training I had this thought: how terrible systemic racism is but at the same time a lof of marginalized groups have such strong identities and cultures that mean so much to them and their families. I would never want systemic racism and oppression to continue, just so these cultures can persist but I realized there is so much value in the how cultures and families are shaped by having had to endure systemic/institutionalized racism. I don't know if that makes sense. I want to be clear, I am fully against any human injustices. But there is such a notion of 'community' within non-white cultures that I long for. I am not too close with my own family. We have superficial traditions, that while they are special they only really connect us to some sort of hallmark holiday and how we've celebrated it, rather than any actual or true representation of "self", "family", or "identify". So for me that is upsetting. But I feel good knowing my long lived confusion and lack of self isn't something isolated to ME...its like, 'a thing'...so I feel "good" now that I have a better understanding where such a lack of cultural identify comes from, but still long for something deeper.
