the word
Put the Pen to the Paper!
THEY WILL KEEP IT GOING: HOW CULTURE CARRIES INTO THE NEXT GENERATION
“Teach them well.”
pass it on to them
When you are young, and come from certain cultural backgrounds, parents like to instill at an early age cultural awareness to children. An identity that have kept a group of people alive for a very long time. And all the parent want to really do is make sure the longevity of that cultural appreciation and love is maintained. So the next generation is always the key to making sure that culture is sustained. Otherwise, it is very easy to lose that identity and then what you have is hundreds, if not thousands of years of heritage gone forever. And always remember, the people in power can always have the ability to rewrite history once it is lost.
blended cultures
What happens once the next generation blends in with another group of people? Then what you have is the choice to either forgo one of the cultures or try practicing both. And the one that is the more dominant seems to always take over and replace the other. Or in the case of immigrants coming to America, they are seeing there cultures diminish because the American culture is more of what they live. Now what you have is the identity of the group lost so that the kid can have a better life in this country. The only thing is, are you prepared to sacrifice identity for a better career? Because that could potentially happen once the kid is brought to this country.
they care when we care
If parents are not interested in the identity of the kid, what will the kid do about it? And the answer is nothing. The culture is only as important as the parent that take the time out to teach them. Because it’s very rare that the kid will reach out and want to get to know about their culture without the parent expressing much interest. Children don’t just ask their parents where they come from. Children just grow in a society in which they live. So the priority must come from the ones that are raising them.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
CULTURE CRITICS: PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE
“Not my cup of tea.”
those who have no interest
A lot of people have no interest in pushing culture forward, and they could care less what happens to the culture. But when these same individuals really do want a say in what the culture does, then t becomes a problem. Because if you have no interest and don’t care for it, then what’s it to them if it ultimately fails. So we cannot allow these types of people to get their hands on the culture. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but they should not have a seat at the table. But who are these people and how do we spot these types of people? Well, it can be difficult because sometimes these people come in disguise.
listen close to the critique
People don’t always just come out and say I don’t like this cultural thing or this thing. Sometimes people have a critique where they try to circumvent. They create some type of work around so they don’t have to outwardly say what they don’t like. So you have to have the objective ear to understand what it is they are saying to you. For example, some people may try to say they don’t like your culture because it far too rowdy. But then the music they listen to is just a gritty. Then what they do is create some type of work around to deflect away from the conversation so they don’t have to deal with what you asked them. But sometimes it’s harder, but make sure when you listen, don’t be too biased. Be able to decipher between objective opinion and plain out hate.
do they matter
We have to think long and hard if these people who hate truly matter to us. Because if they are aiding the culture, and have no impact, why do we care. We shouldn’t unless the culture is weak in the first place. But what we should do is act as if they don’t exist. Because rest assured you have no impact on their culture.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
SOMEONE’S GOTTA GO: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE SEE THEIR CULTURE DYING
“When one must go.”
making room means one must go
We all would like to think that we live in a world where we can all live harmoniously. But the reality is, is that it goes against everything we are as creatures on this planet. There have to come a time, where decisions are going to be made and it is going to affect some people. Well, what happens when you belong to a group of people where that could really hurt you? Meaning, an environment is fine until people on one or multiple sides feel slighted. That feeling like your culture is diminishing, then there will be problems. And you’re probably wondering how something like that could happen, but it’s reality. It could turn into a reality without even trying.
it’s a numbers game
Let’s say 10 million live in a city that is only capable of housing 5 million. And on top of that, 5 groups of people of different cultures. Then the city has a decision to make as it pertains to start scaling back the numbers. And if the city is unable to build outward, then steps are taken to lighten the load. Will it observing which culture matters? No so much so, but it will involve finances, education, crime, and poverty levels to name a few. As people get weened-out, someone’s group will suffer the most. And that group will be risk of losing the identity of themselves. But it’s all about the numbers. Someone will be effected on a great scale once you take into consideration these non-social factors. And there will be complaint, but what can you do. You may risk on the other end forcing out the group contributing the most, to appease the group lagging behind.
can we save ’em
The reality is, you can, but it is up to the group’s next generation to do so. Because it’s only important to that group, the preservation of that group. So if there is anyone that needs saving, it has to come from that group of people. Never depend on another group for the preservation of your group. Because the only important existence of humanity is the continuation of it, not a specific group of people.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
RAPE CULTURE: ON WHAT LEVEL DOES IT EXIST
“Is it condoned or not?”
when did it start
America is a country where we have all these buzz words that get people to react in a visceral manner. And one word stands out in today’s society and that is rape culture. Now, do I think we have a culture that is based around the subjugation of women. No, I don’t think we do. And simply because the victimization of a person is not in existence when the person is a “willing” participant. Notice when I said willing participant, I am referring to aspects of our entertainment. We have a culture of young men and women engaging in activity that is deemed to soon for their engagement. But do I think we just except rape as part of our culture, no.
wait, that’s rape
You would be surprised what constitutes for rape in our society today. I, for the longest thought that forcible rape was the real. No, there are many different forms. There is the underage, which another rape I am aware of, but there is this new form, called, “I made a mistake,” rape. Comedian Aziz Ansari was someone accused of assault, but in the description of the situation, you come to realize that it was just a bad date. But people were ready to destroy based on the woman’s description. And to me, that’s scary knowing that a bad date, or her mistake in sleeping with you can be flipped into rape. This is a shift in our culture because now with that kind of ambiguity, it’s scary for both parties.
the movements that spark it all
For the past year, there have been celebrity after celebrity getting into trouble for their sexual misconduct. And that meltdown has sparked a rallying cry, “Times Up,” “Me Too.” The time up for dealing with sexual assault and violence against women and me too expressing it has happened to me as a woman as well. And from these movements the culture of how we interact as men and women shift. Now, is everything all good, meaning, will this movement work in favor of women or ultimately collapse. Now, since we are in real time living, we don’t anything but the good. But a movement, even one used to promote ones well-being can be flipped and used as a tool to do harm.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
BELIEF IS ACTIVE: HOW WE LEARNED TO WORSHIP AS PEOPLE
“God culture.”
how we came to belief
As humans evolved we came to understand there must be some form of force that is greater than I, that keeps us all in alignment. And in that moment we designed a culture around our belief systems. We have forever wondered why we are here on Earth. No other planet in our reachable distance can life sustain like here on Earth. So we have for the longest felt there must be some type of divinity connected to living on Earth. So where did our beliefs initially come from? Do we have it as a human, or is there something that placed our belief in us? Whatever the reason, we have for thousands of years built our cultures around the idea that our beliefs are active.
methods of worship
Anthropologist still today unearth sites where early humans have used spots to praise some form of God. It must have been a little more majestic, but today there is nothing mroe than just a large group of rocks, stones, and dried out mud. But at the time, there were much larger monuments that were indoor and outdoor venues. We preserve things today, but in the past not so much so. Reason being is that we never thought that life would change from that existence we were living. So you get a chance to see how people built structures, and designs that served as a grounds for prayer. The designs in itself represented the belief, where some places aligned itself with the stars in the sky or even the seasons.
devolving beliefs
As more and more time progress, the idea of our beliefs system shift form higher power, to the idea that this is it. And it (past beliefs) becomes part of the culture that we study today for the future. Humans are an evolving creature and are knowing more and more because our minds are expanding. Who knows what our culture will be based around in hundred or even 1,000 more years. But it will not be the present belief that we have today.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
COMING TO FRUITION: HOW HUMANS CREATED CULTURE
“We have for more than pride.”
the evolution of us having it
Throughout human history, of building civilizations we have consistently contributed to our worldwide culture. But in the beginning of time, we were unaware that we were even creating culture. That’s right, the human brain had not fully evolved, and we were just creating things we needed out of necessity. We might create a eating utensil, then someone else somewhere else might create one as well. Then over time we go back as anthropologist and see how different groups created what they built. That is how we are able to see how the evolution of culture had taken hold. Then once we started developing language we gave it a name that can be translated eventually into many languages.
i’m hungry, i need shelter, i need clothes
If you’re curious as to why we need culture. Well, we don’t need culture, it just sort of came out of needs. If you lived in Africa, your culture is going to seem a lot more primitive than Europe because of a few factors. Clothing is more of a need in Europe because of climate and more scarce resources. Africa is thee most abundant resource place on Earth. And when food needed, during the distant past there were oasis of plants, wildlife may not have always been the first choice. Given where you live, your culture might have also been shaped by the resources around to build a shelter.
interconnected species
The fact that we were evolving and creating our own tribes and identities, goes to show that we are the make up for what was supposed to be culture in the world. Meaning, if I am in Africa, someone else in Europe, someone else in Asia, and we are creating shelter, clothes, figuring out food for self, then the DNA makeup of people was set in us to do so. We just needed a situation where need came into play, then we created culture from that need. And from need we built off of something to further embrace and gave ourselves a sense of belonging.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
OH SO PRIDEFUL: THE GREATNESS IN HAVING PRIDE FOR ONES CULTURE
“We’re all cut from something great.”
ones own identity
We all like to think that we are the same. But the reality is, throughout human history we have built these various civilizations in the world. And with that a great culture have come from them. And there is this great pride that comes out of having an identity that stems from ones self. And today we live in a society where pride in self can be misconstrued to mean something else when you start to say cultural pride. You are quickly labeled separatist or racist, but we have to put things in its proper context. When you say ethnic and cultural pride are you talking regards to destroying another person’s to prop yours up. That is a form of racism, but are you just proud of the cultural leaps your group have accomplished.
when it’s gone
Coming from a group of people who have lost and identity, you know how important it is to have some form of recognition. When I look at groups from around the world, I often go, “Wow, I must be nice to have a cultural identifier that defines your group. Coming from America, I am African American, and we lost an identity due to slavery. No names, no real homeland, but only the names of another culture that we don’t belong to. And you will never no matter what be a member of that group. Meaning, I can never pick up a flag of Italy and fly it, yet on Columbus Day in New York Italians line the streets of New York to celebrate. And when you don’t have an identity of your own, you will never be a fully embraced by another group.
human evolution changes
As the world becomes more and more close, we are going to start to see the merging of cultures. And when I say close, I mean, countries continuing to expand until the point where groups will begin to make new cultures out of the current cultures. Meaning China continuing to expand into Africa. What does that mean as more people start to come in from the outside. Will there be an Afro-Chinese creation? Or will groups start to conflict because one feel they are losing their identity? For these reasons alone, it make you want to live forever to see the many changes of our civilizations.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
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