Multi-colored vs. multi-cultural. What does that really mean? I used to think that my community was multi-cultural until a visitor told me otherwise. He made a distinction, saying that we were multi-colored, and that is not the same as being multi-cultural. Our language, foods, song, attire, and other expressions were predominantly homogeneous. We had people of color (Hispanics, Indians, Asians, etc.) in community, but our social standards were all pretty similar. For example, did the African-Americans among us bring Afro-American culture to the mix or did they simply blend in with the prevailing Anglo culture?
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I suppose I had never thought this through before. As I look into this, I find that if I want to be multi-cultural, that means more than allowing or being friendly to other people groups, it means an active intentionality about bringing elements together in such a way that they retain their roots. And this, not on a free or casual basis, from time to time... but being a pervasive filter through which everything passes. Honestly, it sounds like more work than it's worth..
I prefer to come together focused on a task or a common vision. If we occasionally celebrate the uniqueness of any particular culture, that is beautiful. But let the general identity fall where it may. I do not feel right about manipulating our identity or manufacturing a "multi-cultural" community.
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