I have great respect and appreciation for people who
are faithful, people who happily acknowledge their family and cultural roots, and
those who never forget where they came from.
There’s nothing more
empowering than a person who knows and understands their heritage. Not everyone
feels a connection with their cultural heritage, but many people do. Some may
think traditions are ancient and no longer relevant, and that they are
unnecessary during these modern times. This might be true for some, and for
others like myself, not so much.
I like to think that I’m the proudest Ghanaian
out here, but I think I only kid myself when I say that. And boy I am glad that
it’s not the case.
It really warms my heart when people take pride in their
cultures.
Let’s keep in mind that our
world is so diverse that no nationality is better than another.
A lot of people connect to their cultural or ethnic group
through similar food patterns. I love our Ghanaian dishes. One would think that
for as long as I’ve lived in America that I would like or cook more of the
American dishes, but the truth of the matter is that I don’t.
Immigrants often
use food as a means of retaining their cultural identity. People from different
cultural backgrounds eat different foods.
The ingredients, methods of
preparation, preservation techniques, and types of food eaten at different
meals vary among cultures. It sometimes tells us the areas in which families
lived and where their ancestors originated.
