My Family Culture

A description of the three items you would choose
With this assignment in mind, I though carefully about how I could capture my family’s identity and culture with only three items. I often contemplated about the items that I would take. After thinking long and hard I would have to take family photo albums, the bible and my laptop (with Internet). The photo album would be books that had my family’s history and events that were captured by camera. I would also take the bible so I could often refer to the bible for comfort and spiritual guidance. The laptop is an item that would allow me to refer to major works of art, books about great black inventors and achievers and my African history.

How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you
I know that these items are important to me because they describe who I am. I was raised reading the bible and I need to have mementos that reflect upon my family and those who are no longer with me. The laptop would allow me to show others and explain how my culture has made me into the person I am today. I would use all of these tangible items to show others about me and my history through time so it will not be forgotten.

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you
I would be devastated to discover that I could only keep one item after I have thought so long about what items I would pick to take with me on this journey. If I had to give up the other two items I brought I would keep the laptop and give the bible to another person who needed spiritual guidance and I would give someone my photos so they would have an opportunity to see how my family lived and cultural events that were very important to my family.

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise,
This activity has really had me think about items and their importance in my life. I know many families that have been misplaced due to emergencies or tragic events in their life. This assignment has opened my eyes and showed me that I need to reevaluate myself and my culture and think about things that are of importance when a major tragedy occurs.