Journal 5: Cultural Identity

Reading/listening to these stories made me think about race, culture, and the immigrant experience. In "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica" by Judith Ortiz Cofer, the deli is more than a store. It's a place where Latino immigrants feel at home. The deli keeps cultural memories alive. It made me wonder how immigrant communities hold on to their heritage in small but strong ways. Sandra Cisneros' "Mericans" shows the struggle of having two cultures. The kids in the story deal with their Mexican roots and American life. They balance two worlds. Their lives made me rethink what I knew about identity. It showed me the mixed feelings of belonging and cultural tension that come with having two backgrounds. August Wilson’s "Fences," especially Act 1, Scene 3, hit home for me as an African American. It shows the fights between generations and racial barriers we face. Troy Maxson doubts his son's football dreams because of his own bad experiences with racism in sports. This made me think about how racial discrimination still affects our goals and family lives today. His wish to shield his son from racial inequality is a strong reminder of the struggles we face for progress and opportunity. These stories together helped me see more about the lives of marginalized groups. They show why keeping cultural identity matters and how racial discrimination still hurts us today.