When I was in junior high school my classmates were talking about what they were. “I am Italian” or “I am German.” When it was my turn I said “I am American.” When I was pregnant with my second son, the doctor asked me “What are you?” I said “I am American.” He said “No, what are you?” And I said “a Caucasian American”.
What am I supposed to say? I don’t have grandparents that are Holocaust survivors. Or grandparents that immigrated from here or there. Nine generations of my family have been born in the United States. I am American. At what point do we drop the titles. If one of my great-great-great grandparents was black, am I African-American? If one of my great grandparents was Italian and one black, am I African-Italian-American? If 10 generations back my family came from England, am I European-American? If one of my great grandparents was black and one of my great-great-great grandparents was an Indian and one of my great-great grandparents was Italian, am I African-Native-Italian-American? All these titles are ridicules. My family has been living in the United States for over 150 years. I am American.
But I don’t believe I am any more American than the Holocaust survivors or the other Americans that have immigrated from here or there. It’s just that I believe my heritage is American. I have a great deal of respect for those that have decided to give up their homes, family and friends to come to the United States. If anything they have a real appreciation of what it means to be American. But I am proud that my ancestors helped shaped this country. I am proud my ancestors paved the way for others to immigrate from here or there. I am proud my ancestors helped liberate the Holocaust survivors so they too could immigrate to the United States. I am proud to be American.
“If I can figure it out, why can’t they.” I am the Conservative Housewife. Hear me roar.
What am I supposed to say? I don’t have grandparents that are Holocaust survivors. Or grandparents that immigrated from here or there. Nine generations of my family have been born in the United States. I am American. At what point do we drop the titles. If one of my great-great-great grandparents was black, am I African-American? If one of my great grandparents was Italian and one black, am I African-Italian-American? If 10 generations back my family came from England, am I European-American? If one of my great grandparents was black and one of my great-great-great grandparents was an Indian and one of my great-great grandparents was Italian, am I African-Native-Italian-American? All these titles are ridicules. My family has been living in the United States for over 150 years. I am American.
But I don’t believe I am any more American than the Holocaust survivors or the other Americans that have immigrated from here or there. It’s just that I believe my heritage is American. I have a great deal of respect for those that have decided to give up their homes, family and friends to come to the United States. If anything they have a real appreciation of what it means to be American. But I am proud that my ancestors helped shaped this country. I am proud my ancestors paved the way for others to immigrate from here or there. I am proud my ancestors helped liberate the Holocaust survivors so they too could immigrate to the United States. I am proud to be American.
“If I can figure it out, why can’t they.” I am the Conservative Housewife. Hear me roar.
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