1st Generation Americans: Which Culture Do You Identify With?

[Bender Rodriguez]

1st generation Mexican-American, I identify with both... grew up watching Americn TV in the 80's. Learned to speak English through Sesame Street as a shortie. I would speak fluent Spanish with my parents, but speak English with my brothers/sisters and friends. Grew up listening to Rap music, but also enjoy spanish music. Narco-Corridos go harder than a lot of rap joints.

If I go to Mexico, and visit the fam. They'll look at me as full fledged American.

See this is exactly how it is and how I relate, like there is somethings where im totally mexican on (food, spanish music and family stuff) but then there is somethings where i feel im more american than anything (lifestyles in this country, rap/metal and pride in this country to begin with). Seriously, to me there both equal cause i can relate with both. Im American first and for most, so thats where my pride is in a sense, but im also mexican, so i got love for them too. But if you put me in a room with some mexicans from the mother land, there going to look at me like an american and thats it, nothing else. Spanish they speak is different, their culture is totally different, and i cant relate to them with some of those differences.

 

[OatmealCreamPie]

Good thread. It would be interesting to get the flip side of this on how Black Americans identify in other countries.

 

[RadaMillz]

I would like to say I identify more with my Somali side but to be honest my culture is a fusion of the two, a hybrid to be precise. I have been told many times that I "act" too American when I'm just doing me. I guess it's subconscious.

 

[↓R↑LYB]

Jamaican brehs would call you a Yankee. You get involved in what the culture offers but you have no first-hand experience of what it is like to live in the belly of Jamaica. Yardies fresh outta jamaica wouldnt see you your swag and your accent and say you come from this part of jamaica. But what im pretty sure of is that you have extensive interests and influences based in African American culture. Things that have little to no direct effect on a yardie straight outta Spanish Town.

What you know is the Jamaican American culture and experience.

I thought the same too as a Haitian American until I tried to vibe with a breh straight outta Port au Prince and realized we were different. I am an American at heart with a Haitian accent in my step.

I actually do. I actually lived in Rockfort for a while when I was young. My pops made sure all of my brothers spent a couple years in Jamaica.

And I know Im a Yankee. But when I was in Duncans and my patois came out no one knew I was born a foreign. Even my girl was like

 

[How Sway?]

I identify with Haitian-American culture.

I am neither African-American, nor do I know the guts of what it is like to live in Haiti.

What I live like is a breh who all his friends are african american, listens to majority hip-hop music, natively I speak english, and live the american way of life socially.

But also, my native cuisine is Haitian cuisine. When it comes to morals and values and the personal way of life, its all Haitian. As to what language rings within me its Creole. I have no family in Alabama, Carolinas or Georgia like African Americans nor do I know the 'oldies' of american culture.
I have family in Boston, Flatbush, and Miami. The rest are back home, in Haiti. My oldies are old school kompa, racine, and rah rah.

Ive always felt stuck in the middle. And the only breh I can truly feel I indentify with is a breh who is Haitian-American. There I know you understand the struggle of growing in a Haitian household yet trying to fit in with American culture. I know this is what you eat, and I know references and ways of life that are personal to me, you understand.

I can relate to this

I do identify with a lot of aspects of African American culture and the experience,

however I never considered my-self to be "black American" or "African American".

But when I went to ghana I was considered an "American". I'm stuck between the two.

Spoiler

I did root for ghana during the world cup though

 

[Max Goonberg]

I identify with Haitian-American culture.

I am neither African-American, nor do I know the guts of what it is like to live in Haiti.

What I live like is a breh who all his friends are african american, listens to majority hip-hop music, natively I speak english, and live the american way of life socially.

But also, my native cuisine is Haitian cuisine. When it comes to morals and values and the personal way of life, its all Haitian. As to what language rings within me its Creole. I have no family in Alabama, Carolinas or Georgia like African Americans nor do I know the 'oldies' of american culture.
I have family in Boston, Flatbush, and Miami. The rest are back home, in Haiti. My oldies are old school kompa, racine, and rah rah.

Ive always felt stuck in the middle. And the only breh I can truly feel I indentify with is a breh who is Haitian-American. There I know you understand the struggle of growing in a Haitian household yet trying to fit in with American culture. I know this is what you eat, and I know references and ways of life that are personal to me, you understand.

i know this struggle breh

 

[↓R↑LYB]

I identify with Haitian-American culture.

I am neither African-American, nor do I know the guts of what it is like to live in Haiti.

What I live like is a breh who all his friends are african american, listens to majority hip-hop music, natively I speak english, and live the american way of life socially.

But also, my native cuisine is Haitian cuisine. When it comes to morals and values and the personal way of life, its all Haitian. As to what language rings within me its Creole. I have no family in Alabama, Carolinas or Georgia like African Americans nor do I know the 'oldies' of american culture.
I have family in Boston, Flatbush, and Miami. The rest are back home, in Haiti. My oldies are old school kompa, racine, and rah rah.

Ive always felt stuck in the middle. And the only breh I can truly feel I indentify with is a breh who is Haitian-American. There I know you understand the struggle of growing in a Haitian household yet trying to fit in with American culture. I know this is what you eat, and I know references and ways of life that are personal to me, you understand.

I know exactly how you feel breh. One of the new dudes at my job is was born in Jamaica, but have lived in the US for mad long. We went from coworkers, to friends, to business partners mad quick.

 

[RebelX]

1st Generation American and I definitely identify/relate more with Black American culture.

With that being said, West-Indian Food >>>>>>

 

[Tunez]

Im first generation American

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

born a foreign.

Shyt like this makes me miss NYC.

 

[↓R↑LYB]

Shyt like this makes me miss NYC.

I grew up in Flatbush so I know what you mean. Walking down Church Ave and hearing "Just Gimme Di Light" playing on every street corner

Last time I went shyt was just......:brehwow:

Cacs took over the city breh

 

[Ego Noir]

I actually do. I actually lived in Rockfort for a while when I was young. My pops made sure all of my brothers spent a couple years in Jamaica.

And I know Im a Yankee. But when I was in Duncans and my patois came out no one knew I was born a foreign. Even my girl was like

You originally said youve been in the U.S. all your life

But I can dig it though.

 

[↓R↑LYB]

You originally said youve been in the U.S. all your life

But I can dig it though.

Breh I'm 32 years old. Spending a year and some change in Jamaica as a youngin don't mean shyt to my ass.

 

[Ego Noir]

I grew up in Flatbush so I know what you mean. Walking down Church Ave and hearing "Just Gimme Di Light" playing on every street corner

Last time I went shyt was just......:brehwow:

Cacs took over the city breh

I was in Flatbush the other day I felt at home. Every other person was Haitian.

I grew up around mad jamaicans too so whenever im in a place with my Haitians, and my Yardis its home...

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Jamaican-American
Black-American
American