Am I Free to be Me? Intended Audience: High School In-Service Training (although relevant to all levels) Topic: The paradoxes of identity Krishauna Hines-Gaither (center) & co-presenter Achlaï Wallace (far right) with students from E. Chapel Hill High School, Cultural Presentation

My name is Kunta Kinte. Roots Did you know the following celebrities changed their names? Why do you suspect they chose to leave behind these names? Of course, the obvious answer is for artistic reasons. But could there be something more? (below is a list of the actors artistic name followed by his/her birth name) Acculturation: the process (or the result) of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group. Cher: Cherilyn Sarkisian La Piere Joan Crawford: Lucille Fay LeSueur Nicolas Cage: Nicolas Coppola Robert Blake: Michael James Vijenco Gubitosi Doris Day: Doris von Kappelhoff Tony Danza: Anthony Iadanza Kirk Douglas: Isidore Demsky Greta Garbo: Greta Lovisa Gustafson Rita Hayworth: Margarita Carmen Dolores Cansino Audrey Hepburn: Edda Van Heemstra Hepburn-Rusten Bruce Lee: Sai Fon Sophia Loren: Sofia Scicolone Charlie Sheen: Carlos Irwin Estevez

Piphers explanations Acculturation/Assimilation: They found that the best pattern was one in which the family carefully chose what to accept and reject in American culture (Pipher, 2002, p. 229). Cultural switching: They are bicultural, or in many cases, multicultural, and they know when to wear each culture (Pipher, 2002, p. 168). Cultural Brokers: American friends who may teach them to make intentional decisions about what to accept and what to reject in America (Pipher, 2002, p. 89). Schools as therapeutic environments: Teachers connect the dots between the world of family and of school, the old culture and America, the past and the future (Pipher, 2002, p. 115).

Expanded definitions Acculturation: the process (or the result) of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group. Cultural Broker: a party that arranges transactions. An individual who acts as an intermediary. Cultural switching: a shift between two cultural interpretive frames in response to cues in the social environment.

In Memory of Richi, Carmen Tafolla Was the school a therapeutic environment for Richi? First day of school for both of you -one of you six and glowing copper, running with eagerness and proud The other 22, young teacher, eager for this school Your blue eyes warm to his brown stars As you both chat And share your missions, As you ask his name. He rolls it like a round of wealth And deep in Spanish tones, responds Richi. You try to imitate, say Ritchie. No! he teases, confident, Its Ri-chijust like this. You notice that each syllable could rhyme with see And try again. He pats you on the back. You go on to your separate tasks- He to his room, you to yours. One day, six hours, Really not a speck of sand In all this shore of time, and yet, So crucial, As you gather papers, Turn to flee the cell And gain some comfort In some other place. Your ray of hope comes filtering down the hall. In eagerness for someones warmth, You shout and wave, Hey, Richi! He corrects, The light and wealth all gone From his new eyes, no. Ritchie. Core Concepts: Acculturation, the teacher as a possible cultural broker, and also cultural switching

Cultural Switching/ Acculturation: Its exhausting! In this scene of the movie Selena, Edward James Olmoss character explains to his children the cost of cultural switching and assimilation. Background: Selena Quintanilla was a popular Tex- Mex artist until her untimely death in Click Here for Selena Clip 2:07 If clip does not work copy & paste link to the left

Bringing it Home: Some Practical Strategies Globalization Activity Students look at one garment (clothing, backpack etc) to see where it is made. Teacher or a student writes all the countries on the board where the items are made. Have a conversation about what the information implies for globalization. The conversation could go as deeply as you would like, depending on the level of the class/comfort. Topics that often emerge from this activity include interconnectedness, politics, economics, working conditions, etc.) Meet & Greet ; Mézclense; Faire de connaisance; Students receive sheet with descriptions printed in each box. (see next slide for trilingual chart, use the language(s) of your choice) They circulate the classroom asking the questions of peers. Object is to hurry & fill in the names of their classmates in allotted time (usually 5-10 minutes). Good activity to learn names like Richi & to learn more about classmates.

Bringing it Home: Goals and Strategies To teach you I must know you. Alaskan Proverb (cultural broker) Multivocalism Es el/la mayor de la familia Oldest of the family Est lainé de la famile Es hija única Only child Est enfant unique Es de primer año Freshman Dans sa première année a Luniversité Es de Virginia Is from Virginia Est de Virginie Tiene 16 años Is 16 years old A 16 ans Tiene 4-5 hermanos Has 4-5 siblings A 4-5 frères et soeurs Trabaja en el centro comercial Works at the mall Travaille dans un centre commercial/ centre dachats Es la menor de la familia Youngest of the family Est le benjamin de la famille Va a la iglesia regularmente Goes to church regularly Va à léglìse régulièrement Toca un instrumento musical Plays instrument Joue un instrument musicale Está en un conjunto musical/coro In a band Est dans une chorale Trabaja en un restaurante Works in a restaurant Travaille dans un restaurant Es de tercer año Is a junior Est dans sa troisième année a Luniversité Le gustan las matemáticas Likes math Aime les mathématiques Juega un deporte Plays a sport Joue un sport Quiere ser maestro/a Wants to be a teacher Veut ê tre un enseignant Baila muy bien Dances well Danse très bien Canta muy bien Sings well Chante très bien Va a la discoteca regularmente Goes to dance clubs regularly Va au discotheque regulièrement Tiene novio/a Has a boyfriend/ girlfriend A un petit copain

Bringing it Home: Classroom & Leadership Goals Face cultural biases. There is no such thing as cultural neutrality (Pipher, p ). To teach you, I must know you. Alaskan Proverb. (Delpit, 2001, p.211) (cultural broker) Celebrate differences. Move from diversity to inclusivity. (Paradoxes of identity) Multivocalism (students, community, school, course content) (schools as therapeutic environments) Wakefield High School Cultural Presentation, Raleigh, NC

Concluding thoughts & References Delpit, L. (2001). Education in a multicultural society: Our futures greatest challenge. In J. House (Ed.), Exploring socio-cultural themes in education: Readings in social foundation, (2 nd ed.). (pp ). Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Pipher, M. (2002). The middle of everywhere: Helping refugees enter the American community. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc. Tafolla, C. (2001).Sonnets and Salsa. San Antonio: Wings Press.