#multicultural identity

THE BENEFITS OF MY MULTICULTURAL IDENTITY

What does it mean to be multicultural? How do we experience the world through the lens of our accumulated cultural baggage? As more layers get added to this baggage, does it get harder to find ourselves within it all?

In our third and final feature with exceptional Kathak dancer Sonia Chandaria Tillu, Sonia explores the positive aspects to growing up with multiple heritages. In her new show, ‘Breaking Ground’ she traces her grandmother’s move from her homeland of Gujarat to the fertile lands of Kenya, and culminates with Sonia’s own journey to the UK.

Here are Sonia’s 3 benefits to having a multicultural identity:

(1) Empathy - I’m able to easily understand and connect with people from different cultures. Growing up with multiple perspectives, languages and ideas really widens my worldview. 

 (2) It’s a great excuse! - When I don’t understand something, for example a reference from British culture, I blame it other aspects of my identity. Not all of us watched CBBC growing up! 

(3) I can pick the best from all cultures - Growing into adulthood, I can now take the best of all 3 country’s into my life... Indian food, British organisation skills, a Kenyan sense of humour!

Interesting article and link to NPR segment on the experiences that individuals and families have had when filling out forms that ask about racial identity.  It's also amazing to read about what it meant for people to be able to pick more than one race on the 2000 census.