INDEX OF QUOTES
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Culture is a complex matter. Although we often think of it in terms of beliefs and values, it is actually more than that. Culture comprises what we feel; what we learn; what we do; who we spend our time with; memories of and preferences for smells, tastes, sounds, and feelings; images and stories we cherish. It is the resource we all draw on when we problem solve, interpret information, plan for the future, assess ourselves and others, and locate ourselves within time and space. Because the concept of culture is so complex. building cultural bridges is far more than merely "bringing together" individuals from separate cultures. Cultural bridges must be grounded in the historical experiences of individuals, groups, and nations— for example, experiences with racial, ethnic, linguistic, or religious oppression and privilege. They must be shaped by how these experiences are comprehended, remembered, and processed by different individuals and group members. Given these factors, building cultural bridges between the many cultures that exist in this country is neither an easy nor a short-term process. It requires safe places that address the barriers to bicultural and multicultural community… Barriers to Cultural Integration Even in communities and among people who are sincerely striving for cultural competence, there are very real obstacles to overcome. One such obstacle is that cultural beliefs and values are so much a part of our day-to-day reality that we take them for granted, without realizing how much they shape our every interaction. This unconscious cultural "baggage" influences perception, response, and ultimately behavior, even when we believe we are acting in very objective ways. Although one’s culture forms a lens through which everything is viewed, most people are so accustomed to their lenses that they fail to realize they are even there. This very lack of awareness can be a barrier to good intercultural relationships. A second barrier is that the divisions between and among people of different cultures frequently show up in the political, or power, structure of schools, organizations, governments, and communities. Even in organizations and communities that are striving to become more culturally sensitive and competent, these changes are often not reflected in the organization’s hierarchy or the community’s government. Too often, the cultural makeup of the "powers that be" is not representational of the cultural makeup of the people they serve. Events that occur and tensions that exist between different cultural groups in society at large also continue to present a barrier to intercultural relations on smaller scales. That is, racial conflicts taking place in other parts of the community, state, nation, or world are often played out in schools, community centers, and other places where people of different cultures come together. A final barrier to building cultural bridges is a phenomenon sometimes called "competing oppression" (Goldenberg, 1978). The collective histories of many cultural groups involve wrongs done to them, and within each cultural group, these wrongs tend to be viewed as greater than anyone else’s wrongs. This belief that "my oppression is worse than your oppression" tends to negatively affect the ability of people of diverse cultures to interact and work with one another. All of these barriers require investments of time and effort to overcome. But they can be overcome. Cultural bridges can be built. Below are examples of two programs that do so by providing youth and, in some cases, adults with sustained and supported opportunities to work together, to appreciate their own cultural values, and to develop skills that help them succeed in multicultural contexts. |
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Goldenberg, I. (1978). Oppression and social intervention: Essays on the human condition and problems of change. Chicago: Nelson-Hall