Multicultural Night- what to do?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP.

I like your Texas idea, but I understand you don't want to go against the PTO decree you pick a country.

When I was in grad school, my department had more international students than Americans. Each fall, there was a cultural dinner (or something like that). We were supposed to bring something from our country.

I have traced my family tree back to the 1700s and I can tell you my people were in the US then. Thus, as a NC native, I took sweet tea and biscuits to my department's dinner. They were a bit hit.

Good luck, OP. I wish you could just opt out and attend as a family who wants to learn about the different cultures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like if I choose America I would be mocking those who really do have a cultural identity outside of the US. I asked because you have to submit your country prior to the event. But surely I’m not the only one with this problem? What about American Indians or African Americans who can’t pinpoint a country? I noticed there weren’t any AAs represented at the last multicultural night and I figure they don’t feel welcome either.

Why can’t it be “ancestry night” or similar so that it’s not tied to a country? I had some very interesting ancestors!

You are way overthinking this and seemingly letting yourself be totally controlled by a young ES school age child. I'm from Texas too. It does have a cultural experience, but many states do. It is not a country for purposes of multicultural night at a DMV ES. My white ancestors immigrated to TX because they wanted to take away territory from Mexicans and native americans (mine weren't rich enough to own slaves, but, I assume they felt like other people should be allowed to). Being a "pioneer" isn't any better, then you are giving a massive FU to native americans. Why open yourself to that kind of criticism? Your family immigrated here from Europe at some point. Pick one of those countries if your kid insists on dressing up. I feel like white people in the northeast tend to identify with their European ancestry more (maybe because they tend to be more recent immigrants), I don't know. This is one night. Lots of people won't be dressed up. I told my kids we weren't dressing up, and we brought something easy for food (think brownies or chocolate chip cookies from Costco). I didn't care at all if it matched our "country".

I grew up in Massachusetts. I can assure you that many of the people who I grew up with were not first or even second generation Irish, British, or Italian but there was very strong identification with being Irish, Italian, or a descendent of the Mayflower. It is a part of most peoples history and they hold it dear. Daughters of the Revolution is a thing. Trips to the homeland is a thing. The North End in Boston, very much a yummy, fattening thing. People gloss over the decimation of the Native Peoples in the region in favor of pride in being funders of the US and backbone workers of the US and the like.

The decimation was almost entirely through unintentional spread of disease.

We are not blaming China for covid, whether it came from a bat or a lab. Why are you blaming the colonists for the unintentional spread of disease?

Ma'am, the 7th US President was basically Hitler but he won.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like if I choose America I would be mocking those who really do have a cultural identity outside of the US. I asked because you have to submit your country prior to the event. But surely I’m not the only one with this problem? What about American Indians or African Americans who can’t pinpoint a country? I noticed there weren’t any AAs represented at the last multicultural night and I figure they don’t feel welcome either.

Why can’t it be “ancestry night” or similar so that it’s not tied to a country? I had some very interesting ancestors!

You are way overthinking this and seemingly letting yourself be totally controlled by a young ES school age child. I'm from Texas too. It does have a cultural experience, but many states do. It is not a country for purposes of multicultural night at a DMV ES. My white ancestors immigrated to TX because they wanted to take away territory from Mexicans and native americans (mine weren't rich enough to own slaves, but, I assume they felt like other people should be allowed to). Being a "pioneer" isn't any better, then you are giving a massive FU to native americans. Why open yourself to that kind of criticism? Your family immigrated here from Europe at some point. Pick one of those countries if your kid insists on dressing up. I feel like white people in the northeast tend to identify with their European ancestry more (maybe because they tend to be more recent immigrants), I don't know. This is one night. Lots of people won't be dressed up. I told my kids we weren't dressing up, and we brought something easy for food (think brownies or chocolate chip cookies from Costco). I didn't care at all if it matched our "country".

I grew up in Massachusetts. I can assure you that many of the people who I grew up with were not first or even second generation Irish, British, or Italian but there was very strong identification with being Irish, Italian, or a descendent of the Mayflower. It is a part of most peoples history and they hold it dear. Daughters of the Revolution is a thing. Trips to the homeland is a thing. The North End in Boston, very much a yummy, fattening thing. People gloss over the decimation of the Native Peoples in the region in favor of pride in being funders of the US and backbone workers of the US and the like.

The decimation was almost entirely through unintentional spread of disease.

We are not blaming China for covid, whether it came from a bat or a lab. Why are you blaming the colonists for the unintentional spread of disease?

It was far more then unintentional spread of disease. Settlers tot he US brought weapons that the Native People did not have and had no issues using those weapons to control the territory that the settlers wanted to control. Colonial policiies and latter States laws and Federal Law allowed for the mistreatment of Native Peoples and were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Native Peoples. So while you could forgive the initial settlers spread of disease, the use of force against the Native Population was not an accident. And yes, it is something that we largely gloss over in US History and State history classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like if I choose America I would be mocking those who really do have a cultural identity outside of the US. I asked because you have to submit your country prior to the event. But surely I’m not the only one with this problem? What about American Indians or African Americans who can’t pinpoint a country? I noticed there weren’t any AAs represented at the last multicultural night and I figure they don’t feel welcome either.

Why can’t it be “ancestry night” or similar so that it’s not tied to a country? I had some very interesting ancestors!

You are way overthinking this and seemingly letting yourself be totally controlled by a young ES school age child. I'm from Texas too. It does have a cultural experience, but many states do. It is not a country for purposes of multicultural night at a DMV ES. My white ancestors immigrated to TX because they wanted to take away territory from Mexicans and native americans (mine weren't rich enough to own slaves, but, I assume they felt like other people should be allowed to). Being a "pioneer" isn't any better, then you are giving a massive FU to native americans. Why open yourself to that kind of criticism? Your family immigrated here from Europe at some point. Pick one of those countries if your kid insists on dressing up. I feel like white people in the northeast tend to identify with their European ancestry more (maybe because they tend to be more recent immigrants), I don't know. This is one night. Lots of people won't be dressed up. I told my kids we weren't dressing up, and we brought something easy for food (think brownies or chocolate chip cookies from Costco). I didn't care at all if it matched our "country".

I grew up in Massachusetts. I can assure you that many of the people who I grew up with were not first or even second generation Irish, British, or Italian but there was very strong identification with being Irish, Italian, or a descendent of the Mayflower. It is a part of most peoples history and they hold it dear. Daughters of the Revolution is a thing. Trips to the homeland is a thing. The North End in Boston, very much a yummy, fattening thing. People gloss over the decimation of the Native Peoples in the region in favor of pride in being funders of the US and backbone workers of the US and the like.

The decimation was almost entirely through unintentional spread of disease.

We are not blaming China for covid, whether it came from a bat or a lab. Why are you blaming the colonists for the unintentional spread of disease?

It was far more then unintentional spread of disease. Settlers tot he US brought weapons that the Native People did not have and had no issues using those weapons to control the territory that the settlers wanted to control. Colonial policiies and latter States laws and Federal Law allowed for the mistreatment of Native Peoples and were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Native Peoples. So while you could forgive the initial settlers spread of disease, the use of force against the Native Population was not an accident. And yes, it is something that we largely gloss over in US History and State history classes.

OP - if you’re still here, read above PP’s description of mistreatment of Native Peoples and go with this theme for your country’s USA display-explain all with illustrations and a prepared speech. You are own your own for recipe ideas.

[Anonymous]

Out of the ES years, but this used to piss me off. We actually can point to relatives who came from Europe (Ireland & German) in the later half of the 19th century. My parents were were 2nd gen and between the German side dropping all German things during WW1 and the Irish side being big strivers I grew up with no ethnic affinity. So when my kids had to do these things, I sent them dressed in their athletic wear with chocolate chip cookies. One kid didn't care and the other thought it was funny and made up a story about how the cookies were a secret family recipe. Another vote for just showing up and representing Texas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like if I choose America I would be mocking those who really do have a cultural identity outside of the US. I asked because you have to submit your country prior to the event. But surely I’m not the only one with this problem? What about American Indians or African Americans who can’t pinpoint a country? I noticed there weren’t any AAs represented at the last multicultural night and I figure they don’t feel welcome either.

Why can’t it be “ancestry night” or similar so that it’s not tied to a country? I had some very interesting ancestors!

You are way overthinking this and seemingly letting yourself be totally controlled by a young ES school age child. I'm from Texas too. It does have a cultural experience, but many states do. It is not a country for purposes of multicultural night at a DMV ES. My white ancestors immigrated to TX because they wanted to take away territory from Mexicans and native americans (mine weren't rich enough to own slaves, but, I assume they felt like other people should be allowed to). Being a "pioneer" isn't any better, then you are giving a massive FU to native americans. Why open yourself to that kind of criticism? Your family immigrated here from Europe at some point. Pick one of those countries if your kid insists on dressing up. I feel like white people in the northeast tend to identify with their European ancestry more (maybe because they tend to be more recent immigrants), I don't know. This is one night. Lots of people won't be dressed up. I told my kids we weren't dressing up, and we brought something easy for food (think brownies or chocolate chip cookies from Costco). I didn't care at all if it matched our "country".

I grew up in Massachusetts. I can assure you that many of the people who I grew up with were not first or even second generation Irish, British, or Italian but there was very strong identification with being Irish, Italian, or a descendent of the Mayflower. It is a part of most peoples history and they hold it dear. Daughters of the Revolution is a thing. Trips to the homeland is a thing. The North End in Boston, very much a yummy, fattening thing. People gloss over the decimation of the Native Peoples in the region in favor of pride in being funders of the US and backbone workers of the US and the like.

The decimation was almost entirely through unintentional spread of disease.

We are not blaming China for covid, whether it came from a bat or a lab. Why are you blaming the colonists for the unintentional spread of disease?

It was far more then unintentional spread of disease. Settlers tot he US brought weapons that the Native People did not have and had no issues using those weapons to control the territory that the settlers wanted to control. Colonial policiies and latter States laws and Federal Law allowed for the mistreatment of Native Peoples and were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Native Peoples. So while you could forgive the initial settlers spread of disease, the use of force against the Native Population was not an accident. And yes, it is something that we largely gloss over in US History and State history classes.

Nah, it used to be well understood. We won and they lost. Now, though, when everyone is a winner, this idea has become incomprehensible and reprehensible. So now children and adults do not understand it.

[Anonymous]

The multi-cultural night should include an African American table and a US table, if there are families interested in participating!

Ours event even had a "Jews of the Diaspora" table which I thought was cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I'm sorry, it sounds like your PTO is mistaken. Send them a link to the dictionary entry for "culture" and force them to let you represent Texas. I imagine that everyone on your PTO is white American and don't know what they are talking about.

Op here. Exact opposite. Everyone putting it on has a different country of origin. This is a very diverse school.

My kids went to a diverse school but may families chose to do a state. Boston baked beans, peach pie from Georgia, Chicago pizza. Bust since that is not an option, I would just adopt a country for the night. Pick one that would be fun and/or easy to do. If anyone asked, I would tell them exactly why you did it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like if I choose America I would be mocking those who really do have a cultural identity outside of the US. I asked because you have to submit your country prior to the event. But surely I’m not the only one with this problem? What about American Indians or African Americans who can’t pinpoint a country? I noticed there weren’t any AAs represented at the last multicultural night and I figure they don’t feel welcome either.

Why can’t it be “ancestry night” or similar so that it’s not tied to a country? I had some very interesting ancestors!

IME people who are more than a generation or two out don’t display at these sort of events. If you feel a strong objection then you should get involved with your PTO and have your voice be heard.

This clearly is a big deal to those who plan it and I concur that you showing up as Texas after they clarified exactly what the event was would be insensitive at a minimum. Your daughter will not be looked upon kindly if you try to impose your desire on an event you didn’t plan or organize.

And while I get she might be disappointed, not everything is about her. This is one of those things where she is meant to be a spectator and enjoy learning about others.

[Anonymous]

OP, didn't you post this same thread before?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, didn't you post this same thread before?

Found it: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1056878.page

[Anonymous]

I am part Pennsylvania Dutch and for anything like this at my kids ' school we'll be repping that. We have our own dialect, traditions and food. This "country" only business is stupid. Does your school realize the nation state is a recent invention?

[Anonymous]

I would choose some random country. I'm weird like that too. How about Vatican City?

That would be fun.

[Anonymous]

You could use this to explain why we have these nights. It's not for her to participate in. She can go and learn about others' cultures. We are all American. That is not the point of these nights. It's just like Black History month or women's history month. Sometimes the goal is just to go and learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could use this to explain why we have these nights. It's not for her to participate in. She can go and learn about others' cultures. We are all American. That is not the point of these nights. It's just like Black History month or women's history month. Sometimes the goal is just to go and learn.

This is what I told my kids.