Multicultural – a word that represents the country I see every day. If your birth certificate states you were born within the boundaries of the United States of America, you are an American. Merriam-Webster definition of multicultural:

mul·ti·cul·tur·al 

: of, relating to, reflecting, or adapted to diverse cultures

We all should be proud of our cultural heritage and diversity it graces us with. Here is a list of a few titles given for us to check on important forms: African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, white, and other. I am sure there are more I cannot think of at the moment. Now if I choose to check one of these it normally would be “white.”  However, I have a cultural heritage too. I have often been tempted to check “other” and write in multicultural.

Let me play “devil’s advocate” here. Shouldn’t I be allowed the right to represent my heritage? I am one half German, one quarter Italian, one eighth Irish, and my last quarter combines English, Dutch, and French. I am seen as “white.”  Because of the color of my skin, the fact that my family history contains many European immigrants is nonexistent on important forms.

The reason I thought about this seriously again was because of a conversation last night at the pie pantry where I work part-time. This political season brings out so many issues. I work with a combination of “whites” and Hispanics. One of the Hispanic cooks started asking about being American, but he really meant heritage. He would tell people who had European heritage they weren’t American. He likes to stir things. I understand that he by many is not seen as American. They see his skin color and prejudice kicks in before knowing him. However, I was forced to put my two cents in. For me it is as simple as what your birth certificate says. If you’re born in the USA, you’re American and that’s what I said. Most people at the pantry are American no matter their cultural heritage. So, I told him I am American (a citizen of the USA) with a multicultural heritage. He agreed with that with little convincing.

If we could just see Americans when we look around us. We all have a cultural history and are defined by more than the color of our skin. And, setting skin color aside, aren’t most of us in USA multicultural. So, when deciding who to vote for, look for the ones who see Americans and not race and skin colors.