{"id":14552,"date":"2017-01-12T13:00:37","date_gmt":"2017-01-12T21:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/?p=14552"},"modified":"2017-01-13T13:35:48","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T21:35:48","slug":"dear-martin-knowing-who-we-are-in-a-multicultural-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/dear-martin-knowing-who-we-are-in-a-multicultural-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Martin: Knowing Who We Are in a Multicultural Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luneta National Park <\/a><\/strong><\/span>in the Philippines features art and poetry including “Ako Ay Pilipino”.<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Jesse N. Love | <\/strong>Additional Photos by\u00a0Nobel Foundation,\u00a0Wikipedia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Note: This week, clergy and laity from the PNWUMC will be sharing letters in the style of Bishop Woodie White<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. \u00a0Each letter will express some of the ideas, frustrations, questions and hopes from representatives in\u00a0the PNW. \u00a0Follow these letters here at The PNW News Blog!<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Dear Dr. King,<\/p>\n

We are in one of the most interesting and trying times in our nation. As we enter 2017, injustice, economic inequality, and racism still linger. I sometimes wonder if your dream of having your children and others, be judged not by the color of their skin, but of the strength of their character, still has the same impact during the time you spoke those words 50 years ago.<\/p>\n

Recently, I thought of my own cultural identity — which I attribute both my skin color and my character. While with friends, I was chatting with one of their children. After playing and cleaning around the house, I mentioned to him that his parents, his siblings, and myself are Filipino. To the child\u2019s surprise, it may have been the first time he realized an important part of his own cultural identity.<\/p>\n

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From that moment, I reminisced on being 9 years old and visiting my parents\u2019 homeland of the Philippines for the first time. My father felt it was important for us to know who we are and where our family came from. It was a formative experience for me to befriend kids who all had dark brown skin and hair as I did, to hear our native languages spoken all around us, and to see the provinces where our families once lived and thrived.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve stayed proud of my heritage*, despite minor experiences in life when I\u2019ve felt lesser-than for embracing my ethnicity. Being aware of who you are is important for one\u2019s own well-being, especially when identifying yourself with larger groups for social and emotional connection. But lately, my inner-spirit has been in a struggle to identify who I am\u2026and who we are as Americans and as Christians.<\/p>\n

An interesting (yet disheartening) phenomena I\u2019ve experienced is realizing that some people prioritize their national identity over their cultural heritage. For many, America is first; whoever you are as a person of color or a person of faith, takes a back seat. I observe some who embrace American might over compassion towards other people in their struggle for recognition and maintaining their own sovereignty. As a Christian, I still feel conflicted when it comes to the plight of indigenous people scarred by the expansion of rule in the name of Christ (see \u201cAn Identity Crisis<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u201d).<\/p>\n

America is becoming so diverse in ethnic makeup and beliefs — that being judged by one\u2019s skin color is a superficial way of knowing deep inside who one really is. But, what I\u2019ve also realized is judging solely on the content of one\u2019s strength of character and abilities, being colorblind to the systemic struggle of people of color, can be damaging, too.<\/p>\n

How can we value our differences, instead of hurting one another because of them? How we find harmony or simply manage conflicting feelings of ethnicity, nationality, and religiosity, in today\u2019s world?<\/p>\n

Dr. King, I pray that despite who we identify with, we all realize with have the potential to create positive change, to stand up against injustice and to help meet the needs of others in real, Christ-like service\u2026while still embracing who we are as children of God in a multiethnic, multicultural nation.<\/p>\n

Jesse<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Inspiration:<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n