I feel I am without ethnicity. If ethnicity is defined by being part of a group in which its members all share qualities in terms of geographical location, religious and political beliefs, immigration history, racial stock, traditions, food preferences, language, etc., then I feel i have none. I am white. I am male. I am an Ohioan. Being from Ohio is hardly an ethnicity. The people I am associated with are usually of all different races, places, and faces. Different histories, theories, and political policies. Tradition and immigration have been laid by the wayside where I'm from.
Maybe I'm wrong--maybe there's is a group of people I relate to more than I realize. But I know I may be entering a new ethnicity quite soon either way. The Mennonites are an ethnic group. They have immigrated from Europe where they were once called Anabaptists, split with Menno Simons, and even branched to the Amish. They are a faith group but have a common culture. They have strong roots in Russia. I don't know everything about the Mennonites, but I am becoming one of them. I don't know if that would make me ethnic or not, since none of the above distinctions are true of me whether I consider myself Mennonite or not. But I guess I'll find out.
This is a journey through the Mennonite ethnic literature and how it relates to my own ethnic history (or lack thereof).
Kolton, thanks for your honesty and spirit of adventure as you enter this class. I enjoyed learning more about you in this post and look forward to your participation in this class.
ReplyDeleteKolton, I too greatly appreciate your honesty in this post. I can totally understand the confusion and maybe even frustration in not knowing your ethnicity. However, I think there is still something really beautiful in surrounding yourself with people, and thinking about them as just that--people.
ReplyDeleteKnowing where you come from is wonderful, yes, but there's something kind of awesome about being on a search. :)