Annotated Bibliography on 5 reference based on the research topic in the attached essay. More info are also attached

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-research Narrative about Cultural Diversity in America

Yida Zhao

Richard Hajarizadeh

WRITING 111

Jan, 28th

 

 

 

Pre-research Narrative about Cultural Diversity in America

I am a Chinese citizen born and bred in the People’s Republic of China. My earliest challenge in life was my parents’ divorce when I was five and just barely beginning school. As I grew up, I learnt that my parents’ union was more of a business arrangement than a traditional boy-meets girl relationship. As an only child, I had to endure this bickering and finally, my parents divorced. Even at that age, I knew that life would never be the same again. I was doomed to go through life without an unbroken family. In most cases, children are left to bear the brunt when their parents separate. Fortunately, my mother was very keen to provide me with a strong foundation at home and at school, perhaps because she feared the aftermath of the divorce. I channeled my energy into school work and engaged in plenty of sporting activities like ping pong and swimming. After school, my friends and I would play video games at the mall or hang out at the local park. Life was great and I managed to cope with the situation of a broken family. From time to time, my father would attend soccer tournaments at school to cheer me on. I look forward to these appearances as they presented an opportunity to spend time with my father.

After spending one year in Florida as an exchange student, I was inspired by the American culture and its diversity. This wonderful experience inspired me to apply for college in the US. I wanted to attain the American Dream just as Scott Fitzgerald had described in his book The Great Gatsby. I wanted to live the lavish lifestyle of these characters in the land of opportunity. I was accepted in Binghamton University where I proceeded to study Business Administration. My college life was quite different from high school, most notably the differences in respect to race, religion, socio-economic class, and all sorts of differences that divide people. These divisions contradicted my illusions of an immigration country that was so diverse but everyone is able to blend in. Diversity, I quickly learnt, was not everyone’s cup of tea; some frowned upon it while others pretended to embrace it. Making friends in college was an uphill battle and I remember wondering if things would be any different if I had stayed in China. The language barrier alone made me feel like an outsider as everyone around me spoke in English. Even my fellow Chinese students conversed in American English as they had grown up there. Struggling to converse with people made me spend most of my college days in the library immersed in books instead of going out in the city with friends. The lack of a social life left me lonely and I wished the days could go faster so I could resume my normal happy life in China.

My college experience was very different from what I had seen back home where we all spoke the same language and shared so many similarities. I wanted to know why life was suddenly difficult and yet I was in one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world. As time went by, I realized that language barrier is not the only division in America. The immigrant population also faces cultural barriers as they try to establish themselves in this country. For instance, people from the Middle East experience a culture shock in terms of the dressing code. Back home, everyone is fully covered with women even covering their hair and adorning veils. On the other hand, people in the US are very free with their dress code especially outside the workplace. Another cultural difference is the food. America has a thriving first food industry and people are fond of ordering take out while others prefer eateries that specialize in cuisines from around the world. Other cultural barriers include religion, political, and economic views.

Diversity changed my perspective on a myriad of things. My college experience inspired me to research more on the different cultures that make up the world. I want to understand how the different cultures in the US affect everyday life of permanent and temporary residents. Racial diversity is the most talked about aspect of cultural diversity as America still suffers from ingrained notions about race. These views can be traced back to the slave trade and even after slavery was abolished, the US is yet to achieve complete tolerance with racial diversity. For instance, the African-American population feels marginalized and targeted by the criminal justice system. Recent events such as the killing of unarmed young Black men led to heightened emotions and debates of racial profiling were in full swing. The Native American population also feels shortchanged even though they were reside in secluded communities or reservations where they practice ancient way of life in a bid to conserve their rich cultural heritage. Another cultural matter is pop culture and how it has been propagated in the media. When you look at beauty magazines, they tend to portray beauty with racial connotations with some major publications being accused of whitewashing their covers or photo shopping such that the cover girl appears lean. As America grapples with unhealthy lifestyle choices that have led to rampant cases of obesity, people are clamoring to attain a svelte figure. Regardless of the health reasons, conveying a message that only lean people are attractive is morally wrong and this can lead to image struggles for people with a thick body type.

America is an immigrant country and the issue of cultural diversity plays a key role in everyday life. Understanding how they affect America today is a fascinating topic that has the potential to spark all kinds of debates. My research will delve into the cultural composition of today’s society in America and the impact of diversity, both negative and positive. I will also find appropriate solutions to address longstanding racial problems that have thwarted the upward growth of some populations. Top of the list is creating cultural awareness among young minds right from their formative years to adulthood. This can be done through classroom teaching, social events and the media, both traditional channels and online channels.