Cultural Reporter Intro

Cultural Reporter Intro

By Jesse McManus

Culture can be explained in many ways.  In fact, in our text the authors say, “it is a pattern of perceptions that influence communication to a site of contestation and conflict.  Because there are many acceptable definitions of culture, and because it is a complex concept, it is important to reflect on the centrality of culture in our own interactions” (Martin & Nakayama, 2012, p. 88).  This means, that how we determine what culture is (through our own interactions), effects the manner in which we communicate.  By definition, culture is a learned pattern of behavior and attitudes shared by a group of people.  So, by associating with a particular cultural group, you will hold a certain pattern of behaviors and attitudes, and in turn will determine how you communicate within your own and with other cultures. 

           

The culture that I have decided to immerse myself in, so that I may ultimately increase my awareness for effectively participating in intercultural communication is, the African-American culture. As Dr. Carol Goman says, “Communicating across cultures is challenging. Each culture has set rules that its members take for granted. Few of us are aware of our own cultural biases because cultural imprinting is begun at a very early age.” (Goman, 2011).  It is because of this idea that I decided to choose African-Americans because, although I am no stranger to diversity (being in the U.S. Navy), until I have truly taken the time to understand on a cultural level, the behaviors and patterns of this cultural-group, I can never effectively communicate inter-culturally.  That being said, culture can be described by not only histories, but by identities.  Basically, you can understand a cultural-group by historical events, such as slavery, abolition, civil rights, etc., and by the identities that it’s members share, such as racial, ethnic, religious, class, and national, etc.  For example, in an article titled The Harlem Renaissance, author Femi Lewis writes,  “The Harlem Renaissance is a period in American History marked by an explosion of expression by African-American and Caribbean writers, visual artists and musicians. Established and supported by organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Urban League (NUL), Harlem Renaissance artists explored themes such as legacy, racism, oppression, alienation, rage, hope and pride through the creation of novels, essays, plays and poetry” (Lewis, 2013).  This is a very powerful piece of evidence for creating a connection between culture, history, and intercultural communication.  I don’t believe that anyone would argue the African-American people aren’t a cultural-group, who are very rich in history and are very heavily influential on communication in our country.  It is important to understand that African-American people have paved the way in American history.

            To determine how this cultural-group influences communication, I will be studying African-Americans from a “Critical Approach”.  In doing so I will study the communication of African-Americans through historical contexts.  In the text, the author says, “The goal of critical researchers is not only to understand human behavior but also to change the lives of everyday communicators.  Researchers assume that by examining and reporting how power functions in cultural situations, they can help the average person learn how to resist forces of power and oppression” (Martin & Nakayama, 2012, p. 67).   This means that, by studying how cultural differences can play a major role in how power (dominating themes) function in historical events, you can more easily understand how cultural differences affect communication.

References

Goman, C. (2011, March). Communicating across cultures. Retrieved from https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/business-communication/communicating-across-cultures

Lewis, F. (2013, August 31). The harlem renaissance. Retrieved from http://afroamhistory.about.com

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural communication in contexts (6th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw Hill.