He can be considered in the category of “my way and their way”. Although he is not considered what we believe today as enlightened, he was way ahead of his time. He valued and respected others cultural beliefs. He did not try to change others because the they were deemed to be abnormal. He appreciated others teaching about their culture and tried to find some connection to how it may relate back to his culture.While Reverend Smith represents the small minded population who believes their entitled to everything just because of their race. He would be in the category of “my way is the only way”. He is one of many who in chapter 17 come with his missionaries into villages trying to imperialize any and everyone without even giving those a chance…show more content… The Color of Water and Native Son both depict how the knowledge or lack of cultural awareness can change your life. In The Color of Water James McBride tells his autobiography of growing up as a biracial child. Unaware of what his identity was, he was in search of a culture he could relate to. After years of research, he learns that his mother is jewish and tries to follow some of the jewish faith cultural traditions. Although James Mcbride was white and black. He felt more comfortable with the black race because he believed that they did not judge him for what he was. Throughout the story, we see how cultural awareness continues to be a main theme in the story. Even James mother Ruth plays a part in the theme. She herself was in search for her identity but unlike her son’s, she wanted to escape er past in order to do so. The problem with this is the past makes up who you are. Your culture defines the way you eat, speak and walk. Ruth felt as if her religion and family were holding her back from who she wanted to be but it only helped her become the woman who she is today. In contrast, Native son written by Richard Wright is a perfect example of how the lack of cultural awareness can affect a man's life. The whole book enacts on the stereotypes that white America had on the black community as well as the other way around. In the novel, all white people are portrayed…show more content… Many fail to realize that most cultures derived from another. For an example the theory of evolution does not just apply to science. Buddhism evolved from Hinduism and Christianity evolved from Judaism. After looking at a political cartoon i'd seen entitled “What a cruel, male dominated Culture” I wondered why cultures had different perceptions of each other. Why must we be so judgemental of something that causes neither harm nor pain towards us? Is it that were scared of the idea of change or do we feel inferior to it? Most would be unable to answer these questions. In the picture are two women, one wearing a bathing suit and the other wearing a traditional islamic aba or cloak. As both walk past each other the white lady says “Everything covered but her eyes, what a cruel, male dominated culture” while the arabian woman says “Nothing covered but her eyes, what a cruel male dominated culture”(Malcolm Evans). As each walk away from each other they carry a misconception about one another culture, closing off their minds to the knowledge of other beliefs and traditions. The white blonde haired lady believes that the only reason the muslim lady is completely covered is because a man commands her to, which is not the case. Actually islamic women cover themselves to prove their modesty to God as well as
