StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
African Americans and Native Americans aside, people born in the US almost never use heritage descriptors like Irish-American or Italian-American.
That said, many of us have pride and enjoy our ancestral roots. For instance, my father's family came from Italy. Italian foods and holiday traditions were a treasured part of my childhood and adulthood, which have been passed down to my children and now my grands.
When the subject of heritage comes up in the US, it's generally understood that pre-American roots are being discussed.
When traveling outside the US and asked where I'm from I usually say California or Los Angeles (by my accent most have already deduced I'm American). It's clear to me the inquirer is wondering where I live, not the song-and-dance of where my ancestors were born.
My newest grandson's heritage is 1/2 Korean, 1/8 Italian, 1/8 German and a whole bunch of other bits. Given that my son and his wife embrace her family's Korean traditions and his family's Italian traditions, when their children grow up they'll probably most strongly claim Korean and Italian heritage. That's despite their children being the second generation on the Korean side to be born in the US, and fourth generation on the Italian side.
My friend's ancestors arrived in the US before the Revolutionary war in 1776. She nevertheless holds dear her English and Scottish roots and some of those traditions.
Truth is, the US is more a mosaic than a melting pot.
I regret to say that Blacks and Jews have in fact been subjected to unfair treatment, hatred and bigotry in this country and many others, European countries included. Many of their complaints are valid and justified.
For the record, I've had dozens of Jewish friends over the years and never heard any of them - or their parents - refer to themselves as Jewish Americans. They'll say they're Jewish, which identifies their religion and culture. (The American part is obvious.)
That said, many of us have pride and enjoy our ancestral roots. For instance, my father's family came from Italy. Italian foods and holiday traditions were a treasured part of my childhood and adulthood, which have been passed down to my children and now my grands.
When the subject of heritage comes up in the US, it's generally understood that pre-American roots are being discussed.
When traveling outside the US and asked where I'm from I usually say California or Los Angeles (by my accent most have already deduced I'm American). It's clear to me the inquirer is wondering where I live, not the song-and-dance of where my ancestors were born.
My newest grandson's heritage is 1/2 Korean, 1/8 Italian, 1/8 German and a whole bunch of other bits. Given that my son and his wife embrace her family's Korean traditions and his family's Italian traditions, when their children grow up they'll probably most strongly claim Korean and Italian heritage. That's despite their children being the second generation on the Korean side to be born in the US, and fourth generation on the Italian side.
My friend's ancestors arrived in the US before the Revolutionary war in 1776. She nevertheless holds dear her English and Scottish roots and some of those traditions.
Truth is, the US is more a mosaic than a melting pot.
This part I bolded was true during waves of European immigration pre-WWII, but died out long ago.
I regret to say that Blacks and Jews have in fact been subjected to unfair treatment, hatred and bigotry in this country and many others, European countries included. Many of their complaints are valid and justified.
For the record, I've had dozens of Jewish friends over the years and never heard any of them - or their parents - refer to themselves as Jewish Americans. They'll say they're Jewish, which identifies their religion and culture. (The American part is obvious.)
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