Unit 1: Vocabulary from Readings 1

One of the most basic types of identity is ethnic identity, which entails an awareness of one's membership in a social group that has a common culture.

When we encounter a culture that is different from our own, one of the things we are faced with is a set of beliefs that manifest themselves in behaviors that differ from our own.

Members of the same culture vary widely in their beliefs and actions. How can we explain this phenomenon?

The argument for a “distributive model” of culture addresses the relationship between culture and personality (Garcia, 1994; Schwartz, 1978).

This argument posits that individuals select beliefs, values, and ideas that guide their actions from a larger set of cultural beliefs, values, and ideas.

In most cases, we do not consciously pick and choose attributes from the total set; rather, the conditions and events in our individual lives lead us to favor some over others.

The book was about pluralism. “Bring an hors d'oeuvre representing your ethnic heritage,” said the hostess, innocently enough.

What were the flavors, accents, and linguistic trills that were passed down to me over the ages?

Ethnic recipes throw me into the same sort of quandary as that proposed “interracial” box on the census form: the concept seems so historically vague, so cheerfully open-ended, as to be virtually meaningless.

There was usually some shredded cabbage as well, with carrots for color. And of course there was piccalilli—every good homemaker had piccalilli on hand.

The truth is we liked watermelon in our family. But the only times we ate it—well, those were secret moments, private moments, guilty, even shameful moments, never unburdened by the thought of what might happen if our white neighbors saw us enjoying the primeval fruit.

She would take that odd, thin-necked implement known as a melon-baller and gouge out innocent pink circlets and serve them to us, like little mounds of faux sorbet, in fluted crystal goblets.

“Will you take coffee or tea?” my mother would ask shyly, at the proud culmination of such a meal....

Having grown up and learned that you are what you eat, I have worked to broaden my horizons and cultivate my tastes. I entertain global gastronomic aspirations, and my palate knows no bounds.

I entertain global gastronomic aspirations, and my palate knows no bounds.