“Let us not forget where we came from and who we really are in this world.” These are often the words spoken by persons who know the true value and meaning of culture; more specifically their own. It is what defines us amongst the billions upon billions of people the world has and the thousands upon thousands of cultural forms attributed by groups of individuals. Whether the differentiation comes from dancing, singing, dressing, speaking and so forth, there is a commonality that holds deep rooted meaning. The key here is being set a part from the rest of the world through similar customs and principles. Each and every one of us has a reason to be grateful and should be grateful for our history and the culture in which we were born and raised in. This begs the question, ‘How can one honestly move forward in this life without the knowledge of who they are and where they came from?’ Think about it. It is either you adopt another culture or you carry on your own. Take for examples children who are unfortunately been abandoned and left for foster homes and/or families. They often times adopt the culture of their new families but there is always something that seems to be missing and sometimes they feel like outcasts. If I am black and growing up in a white family, I will feel like an outcast no matter how well the family treats me because I don’t look like them.
There must be some commonality that will make me feel at home. Most, if not all, persons, when they reach to a certain age, their natural instincts indicate to them that they need to find out who they really are. When they find it, they find comfort when they finally meet with persons who are just like them. The same thing can be applied even yet on a much bigger scale. The dancing, the singing, the dressing always causes someone to feel at home when they can be associated to it with others who share common ground. Honestly speaking, I can’t imagine how a people or even an individual can be defined if they know not their culture and this goes to say how important the role of culture plays in each and every one of us. Please, if this is untrue, let me know.
The United States is filled with persons from all over the globe and this to me brings a lot of skills and potential to the nation. How do we define all the people? That’s easy… by their culture of course. You have Indians, Africans, Caribbean, Muslims, Mexicans, and the list goes on. Their dancing style, their dressing styles and language are clearly different from each other and for this cause we will be focusing on one of those cultures. One specific culture that brings us here today is that of the Caribbean culture. Not just the Caribbean Culture but that of the Creole Culture. Not just the Creole Culture but that of the outstanding beautiful and gorgeous nation called Dominica. Yes, the Dominican Creole Culture is what brings us here today. We are in New Jersey setting aside and displaying the Domincan Culture to the up and coming Dominican-American population. Being away from home has its advantages and it’s disadvantages and one of the disadvantages is being away from the Dominican Culture. Be not dismayed though Culture is who we are and therefore it needs to be displayed and reinforced amongst those overseas who relate to the Dominican culture, directly and indirectly. Creole is a part of what distinguishes its people from the rest of the other cultures and it brings a sense of truth and pride to its people. I remember being at Labour Day Parade in New York and this was pretty much the proudest moment of my life. To meet new Dominicans in a foreign land, with our flags held high as we mingled together and had fun amongst other countries? This, my friends, was absolutely brilliant. Love your culture and share in the moments that make you who you are as a people defined by your own true commonalities. Have a look at some of the highlights of how Culture had been displayed in New Jersey.
