UPROOTED David Baraza A Place Without Shame The

UPROOTED David Baraza, “A Place Without Shame”

The United States is stitched together from more cultures than you can count.

It’s a country of many races …

… and every year, people from around the world make the U. S. their new home.

What happens when you migrate from one culture to another?

Alexis Otoniel Aguirre Cojutepeque, El Salvador Los Angeles, CA “[In the U. S. ], I have friends who are Hispanic, Korean, white, black. You can’t just say, ‘I will only be friends with Central Americans. ’ You have to talk to everyone. ”

Olga Malykh Ekaterinburg, Russia Detroit, MI “When I came here, I had this huge dream of having many American friends. But that has not happened. Their friends are set already and you can’t blend in. The Russians, they will accept you. You are one of them. ”

Salah Mohamed Mogadishu, Somalia Minneapolis, MN “I have never dated an American girl. It would be strange, and it would upset my mother. I don’t want to be disrespectful—not to my mother or my religion or my homeland. But American girls are so filled with life. ”

Elaine Zhang Canton, China Oakland, CA “Until I was 13, my name was Shu Ling. But [when we moved], my parents told me I was now Elaine. That was more American, they said. ‘You are in America now. Forget China. ’ But I cannot forget China. ”

Ahmed Hashem Nasria, Iraq San Francisco, CA “My father thinks I’m a little too American. My friends think I’m a little too Arab. They are all missing the point. I am Iraqi. I am Arab. I am Muslim. And I live in America. I am proud of all that. ”

Sierre Monk Mostly white private school, Brooklyn, NY ethnically diverse public school, Maplewood, NJ “[When I first moved, the other black kids] said, ‘You don’t even act like you’re black. ’ I guess it was mean, but it helped me. I wanted to behave differently after that. ”

DIVERSITY It’s more than skin deep.

What happens to who we are when where we are changes? 13

Where do you feel the most comfortable? • homeland • neighborhood • birthplace • How do you define yourself? • Do you feel like you belong to a group? • african american • white • hispanic • asian • arab • native american • muslim • jewish • christian • atheist • hindu • buddhist • What connects you to the people around you? • What separates you? • race • color • ethnicity • religion RAWWRITE put your voice on record • Have you ever had to change countries, neighborhoods, schools? • How did it affect you? • tolerance • prejudice • friendship • acceptance • diversity • Do you have friends from different groups? • tribe • clan • crew • clique • gang • Can you relate to people from different backgrounds? • middle class • upper class • working class • Where do you feel the most comfortable? • homeland • neighborhood • birthplace • How do you define yourself? • Do you feel like you belong to a group? • african american • white • hispanic • asian • arab • native american • muslim • jewish • christian • atheist • hindu • buddhist • What connects you to the people around you? • What separates you? • race • color • ethnicity • religion • Have you ever had to change countries, neighborhoods, schools? • How did it affect you? • tolerance • prejudice • friendship • acceptance • diversity • Do you have friends from different groups? • tribe • clan • crew • clique • gang • Can you relate to people from different backgrounds? • 14 middle class • upper class • working class • Where do you feel the most What happens to who we are when where we are changes?