Struggling Ethnocentrism

In order of discovery, I'm American, I'm Hip-Hop, and, last but not least, I'm Black.  

My identity was something I adapted socially, and through self discovery. My culture is something I feel that I inherited, and modified in my own coming of age. I was born a Black girl, and grew up around black people who were jaded by the past discrimination they watched, faced, and fell victim to. I learned later that I'm not just a black girl, African-American is what they mistakenly call me, when in fact, I'm American. Socially and influentially I became apart of the growing, emerging, and innovative Hip-Hop generation. I'm diverse in my own right you can say.

My ethnicity makes me proud. The ethnocentrism I feel  is as solid as a straw house, yet I feel my honor is solid as concrete. For all that I am proud to be, is also all that I fear is the corruption in the society. Yes, I'm a proud American, born and bread! The American ethnicity is something I materialistically honor in comparison to third-world issues, yet shun despicably when in comparison to better socially fit countries. Ethnocentric? No, just proud that this black skinned of lost ancestry, no lineage to her "motherland" in Africa, has a place to belong, a land that her lineage is traceable with. American adapted, as adopted long ago, my culture reflects of this.

My identity is complex. Hip-Hop is a culture? I say, it's my way of life, and it's a way of life. My dress, my spirituality, idealism, social settings, my language, my goals, and my interests all express my culture (Hip-Hop). The argument, wouldn't Hip-Hop serve as a subculture is irrefutable. Yet when my American goals, interests, and ideas are centered around my Hip-Hop perspectives. Social and economical issues, policy issues, and other problems that are oblivious to the normal "American" is how my identity with Hip-Hop serves me honorable importance. Superior? Yes in its diversified nature to be Hip-Hop is to be influential to, influence by the underdog, the one who is out of the group, and the shunned. I struggle to find my ethnocentrism in a culture that has no out-group. So its honored, with open arms and minds for understanding. 

I'm Black and I'm proud! a statement that called for unity of the race of people who were unfairly treated and discriminated against. When proud, honor, and passion is applied to race, culture, and ethnicity the result of the love is hate. When people tried to build themselves up, they also created the thing can tear them down. Ethnocentrism to be positive when the line that separates it from being a negative is invisibly thin. I just wanted to test my Ethnocentrism to see if my identities are being a evil or positive. Fortunately my open-minded acceptance and allegiance to Hip-Hop holds the least. My honor and proud for the land of the free, home of the brave hold the beast. 

Hate my Ethnicity? Never! Just be aware of the Ethnocentrism, and like with meditation, be even more aware of its voice from MY inner voice of reason, peace, and ideas(GOD).  I'm just gonna leave it there on that note..... LOVEPEACE&IDEAS(GOD)