Understanding Others’ Cultural Practices! Kesha has invited her friend Carrie to
ID: 3525624 • Letter: U
Question
Understanding Others’ Cultural Practices!
Kesha has invited her friend Carrie to go home with her over the school’s short holiday break. Kesha, like many African Americans, has a rich spiritual tradition that permeates most areas of her life. In addition, Kesha is close to her immediate and extended family. Carrie, on the other hand, comes from a predominantly Caucasian Presbyterian background, is an only child, and rarely sees any of her extended family.
During her visit, Carrie is noticeably uncomfortable with the vastly different dynamics of Kesha’s family. Carrie is rethinking her friendship with Kesha and wants to withdraw from her.
Address the following:
How will you help Carrie understand the cultural values inherent in the African American culture and how these might be affecting her?
Suggest ways in which Kesha could build a bridge to help Carrie understand the African American culture.
Explanation / Answer
As the cultures of Carrie and Kesha are very different from each other, and that it would be the first time experience that Carrie got a exposure to a culture that is totally different from her. This has resulted in the uncomfortableness in Carrie. To help Carrie to overcome her uncomfortableness with cultural values inherent in the African American culture, first of all she should be introduced to her own culture and her values. Accepting this difference would help her to understand the diversity and difference. Then,she should be introduced to the cultural values of African American culture and should be helped to accept them and respect them. She should be encouraged to learn about the ways of African American culture. This would help her to positively and empathetically find the ways that makes her different from Kesha.
Kesha could introduce the various aspects of her culture as food, dressing, music etc to Carrie to capture her curiosity to understand her culture. While, introducing her culture Kesha should always be aware that she should not in any way hurt the feelings of Carrie by judging Carrie's culture negativily in any manner. She could introduce her culture's stories and fables to Carrie, this would help her to understand the cultural values of Kesha.
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