Cultural Group: African American and African
A brief history of the cultural group
- The second largest ethnocultural group in America.
- Descendants of Africans brought as slaves.
- Africans are coming between 1619 and 1860 (Purnell, 2014).
- Gained freedom after the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
- The long struggle for equality in civil rights.
Values and Worldview
- Putting a high value on education.
- The great significance of family ties.
- Attention to authentic African traditions.
- Strong moral considerations and discouragement of immoral behavior.
- The strong impact of religious values.
Language and communication patterns
- English as a dominant language.
- Informal African American version of English.
- Open expression of feelings with friends and family.
- Interpersonal, animated, and confrontational communication.
- Loud, dynamic, and expressive speech (Giger, 2014).
Art and other expressive forms
- Influenced by authentic African art.
- The major role of folk artists.
- Art roots found in skilled slaves.
- Romantic and classical tendencies after Civil War.
- The strong impact of Harlem Renaissance.
Norms and rules
- Extended families frequently living together.
- Usual involvement in diverse church activities.
- Respectful behavior to adults and elderly.
- Strong support from the Black community.
- A strong feeling of ethnic identity (Bosley, 2017).
Lifestyle characteristics
- The majority of matriarchal families.
- Many people living below the poverty level.
- Usually oriented on work and achievement.
- Significance of social status within a community.
- The strong impact of the church (Christian and others).
Relationship patterns and common rituals
- Respect and obedience to the older generation.
- The ritual of family reunion.
- Strong family connections through generations.
- Diversity of death rituals, including “voodoo death.”
- Traditional African American funeral services (Giger, 2014).
Degree of assimilation or marginalization from mainstream society
- Assimilation depends on the time of immigration.
- Stronger assimilation among American-born individuals.
- Preservation of authentic African rituals.
- Assimilation of language used in communities.
- Marginalization of African American communities.
Health behaviors and practices
- Health care frequently neglected due to poverty.
- Preference of family care rather than providers.
- Visiting healthcare providers only in emergency.
- Frequent use of home remedies and folk healers.
- Low degree of treatment adherence (Purnell, 2014).
Socio-Cultural Group: Mexican Heritage
A brief history of the socio-cultural group
- Newer immigrants living in America for 5-6 generations.
- The peak of immigration after 1848.
- Immigration caused by high poverty in Mexico.
- Cases of lynching of Mexicans and Mexican Americans.
- Many working immigrants after 1910.
Values and Worldview
- Family as the first priority.
- Value of good education for children.
- Respect for older people ad those in higher positions.
- Importance of high social status.
- Support of family members and relatives (“Mexican family culture,” 2018).
Language and communication patterns
- Diversity invariants of Spanish language.
- Frequent use of both English and Spanish.
- Importance of verbal communication.
- Short personal distance during a conversation.
- Touch is not common in public.
Art and other expressive forms
- Mariachi style of folk music.
- World-famous artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
- Traditional folk art: colorful garments.
- Silver-smithing, pottery, mosaics, and textiles.
- Use of Mexican mythology symbols.
Norms and rules
- Men are responsible for the financial support of families (Purnell, 2014).
- Women take care of home and children.
- Both patriarchal and matriarchal households.
- Extended families living close to each other.
- Highly supportive with family and relatives.
Lifestyle characteristics
- Importance of academic education and a respected position.
- Focus on diplomacy and tact.
- Care for the prosperity of the clan.
- The strong impact of religion on life.
- Preference for traditional national cuisine.
Relationship patterns and Common rituals
- Decisions are taken after consulting the family.
- Preservation of customs and traditions.
- Demonstration of affection between family members.
- Significance of God parenting in families (“Mexican family culture,” 2018).
- Importance of patron saint days (“The Mexican culture,” n.d.).
Degree of assimilation or marginalization from mainstream society
- Assimilation depends on the period of immigration.
- Generally the low level of assimilation.
- Language barrier to assimilation.
- Impact of identity choice and desire to assimilate.
- Communities marginalized from mainstream society.
Health behaviors and practices
- High rates of individuals who smoke.
- Family as a credible source of health care.
- Broad application of herbs and teas.
- Belief in common cultural illnesses.
- Preference of folk healthcare providers (Purnell, 2014).
Both Groups
A comparison and contrast analysis of common characteristics and distinguishing traits between the groups
- Common high role of family.
- Similar respect for authentic traditions.
- The strong role of religion for both communities.
- Attention to folk art in culture.
- Different degree of assimilation in society.
A discussion of differential approaches needed by health care professionals.
- The necessity of considering cultural peculiarities.
- Consideration of communication patterns.
- Attention to folk remedies used by patients.
- Discussion of health issues with family members.
- Involvement of family in patient education.
References
Bosley, D. (2017). Cultural norms in the African-American population. Web.
Giger, J. N. (2014). Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention (6th ed.). St. Louis, MR: Elsevier
The Mexican culture. (n.d.). Web.
Mexican family culture: Important values, traditions, and beliefs. (2018). Web.
Purnell, L. D. (2014). Guide to culturally competent health care (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.