...disparities between African American women and other races in regard to the incidences of and mortality from breast cancer are alarming. Studies have shown that minority communities are less likely to take advantage of preventative and detection care like breast cancer screening. Other studies find that a number of factors, outside of race and ethnicity play a role in this. Ultimately, approaching the topic from a holistic understanding and acknowledgement of the ways in which a person’s full background influence their values, beliefs, and decisions and present barriers to action – cultural sensitivity, namely – is essential to reversing these disparities. In “African-American Women, Self-Breast Examination and the Health Belief Model: Implications for Practice,” author Josephine McCaskill, PhD., APN, FNP, BC examines the fact that African American women, despite having lower incidence rates of breast cancer have a higher mortality rate, and the fact that findings show that “the adherence to recommended breast cancer screening guidelines is frequently reported to be lower in the African American population” (McCaskill p. 33). McCaskill begins by discussing the epidemiology of breast cancer, noting that it is “the most common form of cancer, resulting in significant deaths among African American women.” She discusses its origins, cell growth, and disparities among populations. Particularly, among women who are ages fifty and older, the mortality rate for African American’s is...
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... Introduction Parenting is the first and likely most important mechanism through which culture is reproduced (Cauce, 2008). Every child is born into a certain circumstance and learns through interactions with the surroundings. Parents are generally the first and key people in a child’s life, so it should come as no surprise that parenting has influences on the development of children’s temperament, which later impacts their school performance. This article is going to explore how parenting varies among different ethnic groups including Asian Americans, African American, Latinos, and European Americans. More specifically, what factors should be included when considering the parenting characteristics of a unique ethnic group and what implications might they have for schooling today. Theories Two of the modern theories that are concerned with cultural influences on human development are Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory and Ecological Systems Theory proposed by Urie Bronfenbrenner. First, Vygotsky’s theory defined culture as the values, beliefs, customs, and skills of a social group. His Sociocultural Theory focuses on how culture is transmitted to the next generation. According to Vygotsky, social interaction – in particular, cooperative dialogues with more knowledgeable members of society – is necessary for children to acquire the ways of thinking and behaving that make up a community’s culture (Rowe & Wertsch, 2002). Vygotsky believed...
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...In the case study as described a seemingly cultural competent white counselor meets with African-American male. Although during the intake evaluation the client was listed as depression, he early on indicated that he was frustrated with finding employment and hoped that he could receive help with making this become reality. The counselor felt that the client hoped to get everything on a “silver” platter and unwilling to do some work to achieve this to happen. The counselor felt that he should go to an employment office. This issue created frustration in the relationship between the counselor and his client. Because of a single incident the counselor felt at some time threatened and concerned for a physical altercation. With this experience he felt that...
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...Decrease the HIV/STI Risk Behaviors of African American Youth: Can We Control Future Trends? Beatrice Simiyu Capstone Project Dr. Bruce Johnson Abstract As a result of the need to recognize successful human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) interventions tailored for African American youth, a literature review of six HIV/STI randomized controlled trials interventions targeting African American youth conducted in the United States were evaluated. A comparative analysis was used; the settings, procedures and outcomes of the different interventions targeting African American youth were compared, contrasted and combined to ultimately identify trends that are likely to initiate and possibly sustain change in HIV/STI risk behaviors among African American youth who are a vulnerable group. Variables were evaluated by the various intervention impacts on reducing sexual risk behaviors by an indication of a delay in first sexual intercourse, a decline in the number of sex partners and frequency of sex, and increase in condom use and a reduction in positive STI outcomes. Outcomes were used to facilitate identification of public health strategies that might be most beneficial in targeting African American youth and pinpoint what manner current public health strategies neglects to focus on their needs. The research and practice implications of the findings imply that enhancing future HIV/STI targeting African American youth necessitates the prioritization...
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...clarification: • African identity- this term will be used interchangeable. (1) realizing the African continent commonality, (2) the culture and behavior of the slaves (African born and creoles)—basically what defines the slaves’ identity. • Creoles- (1) Atlantic creoles that are phenotypically and culturally mixed with African and European cultures. The Dynamic African identity: Coping with Slavery Upon considering the changes and the creation of an “African” identity (definition 2), it is important to realize that similar to the constantly changing slavery due to the frequent shifts in the social, political, and economic contexts, the “African” identity was also dynamic. Although the overall reason that prompted the development of the notion of the African continent (definition 1) might be similar across the board of slavery, the specifics of what constituted this identity (ex: religion, family formation) is largely dependent on the time period and region being discussed—ex: the 17th Century African identity in North America is different from the 18th Century identity in Europe. Several factors that enhanced the creation of the African identity (definition 2) include: (1) ability to form families as a result of the gender ratio, mortality rates, segregation from other slaves, (2) population ratio of native-born to creolized slaves, and (3) religious movement that were characteristic of the time and space. These three factors allowed for the African identity to...
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...Cultural Autobiographical Reflection Author Note This paper was prepared for SPCHxxx, Intercultural Communication taught by Professor xxxxxx. Cultural Autobiographical Reflection Cultural Group Membership The first cultural group that I subscribe to and identify with is the African American culture. Like many, the African culture is represented in many forms such as music, art, storytelling and dance. Cultures exist to satisfy the needs of its subscribers. Through culture, I was taught about food habits, rituals concerning life and death, and how to worship. In many African American households, it is customary to serve black-eyed peas adhering to the belief that dish is a lucky New Year's meal is especially popular in the south. To date, I still cook black-eyed peas on New Year’s Eve because that’s what I grew up seeing, so became the tradition. As a child, relatively all of my friends followed the same ritual in their household. I take value in this cultural behavior that has transmitted from generation to generation. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication The communicative potential of nonverbal behavior is heavily influenced by culture, where we are taught how to interpret messages of other’s nonverbal communication and behavior within the culture. A learned nonverbal communication cue that I was taught as a child was to always make eye contact when generating or receiving a message. A known characteristic of my culture reveals that within USA, African-Americans use...
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...proposes that these characteristic methods of behaving are unequivocally impacted by the procedures of socialisation and enculturation (Payne, Hahn and Mauer, 2013). In spite of the fact that these attributes can't be viewed as synonymous with psychopathic personality, it could be contended that cultural transmission inside individualistic cultures may make behavioural qualities that in their great sign are components of psychopathic personality. It can be conjectured that individualistic cultures are more inclined to create chattiness and triviality, pomposity, indiscrimination, and various conjugal connections, together with an absence of obligation inside of connections, than are collectivist societies. The intensity that is caused...
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...social and political institutions, which is executed deliberately in contradiction of cultural groups. Similarly, the letter objective was to create internalized racism, where two individuals from the same background have hatred towards one another. The methods used centuries ago were to keep us living in a white male predominance society, in which they are depicted as the superior. One of the methods that systemic racism is manifest is by the implantation of drugs in the urban communities. The implantation of drugs in the urban communities typically results in the incarceration of a black descent male due to the tracking of drugs or the usage of drugs to execute themselves. The high level of government surveillance in the cities are for the solely purpose to...
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...The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke. Though it was centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, many French-speaking black writers from African and Caribbean colonies who lived in Paris were also influenced by the Harlem Renaissance.[1][2][3][4] The Harlem Renaissance is unofficially recognized to have spanned from about 1919 until the early or mid-1930s. Many of its ideas lived on much longer. The zenith of this "flowering of Negro literature", as James Weldon Johnson preferred to call the Harlem Renaissance, was placed between 1924 (the year that Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life hosted a party for black writers where many white publishers were in attendance) and 1929 (the year of the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression). Contents [hide] 1 Background to Harlem 2 Development of African-American community in Harlem 2.1 An explosion of culture in Harlem 3 Music 4 Characteristics and themes 5 Influence of the Harlem Renaissance 5.1 A new black Identity 5.2 Criticism of the movement 6 Notable figures and their works 6.1 Novels 6.2 Short story collections 6.3 Drama 6.4 Poetry 6.5 Leading intellectuals 6.6 Visual artists 6.7 Popular entertainment 6.8 Musicians and composers 7 See also 8 References 9 External links 10 Bibliography Background to Harlem [edit] Until the...
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...African-American College Students: Personal History, Struggles, and Graduation Rheon Gibson Northern Illinois University Abstract In this report, I discuss the importance of African-American college students in higher education realms and why the topic appeals to my interests. I will also identify trends in research questions, methodology, and research findings; regarding three identified themes; Personal History, Struggles, and Graduation. In addition, I will provide the reader with an evaluation/critique of the existing literature, including; 1) contributions of literature to the field, 2) overall strengths, 3) overall weaknesses, 4) missing elements, and 5) what are the next steps for research. African-American College Students: Personal History, Struggles, and Graduation Introduction Importance to the Field Educational attainment amongst African-Americans is a crucial concept that not only affects African-American communities but it also affects society as a whole. Education provides a solid foundation for individuals to experience personal growth, increase one’s socioeconomic status, and obtain professional careers and licensures. Obtaining higher education does not begin upon admission to an accredited college or university; instead, it begins when one is first introduced to the educational system. This introduction can be in Kindergarten, Pre-K, the first year of home school, or wherever the first fundamental steps of acquiring a higher knowledge of comprehension...
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...period. The two art periods that I have chosen are the Renaissance and the Harlem Renaissance art periods. In a nutshell, the Renaissance simply was a period of rebirth. It is a period during the 14th through the 17th century in which the arts were revived. The reason for this revival was because The Middle Ages were over. During that period, territorial struggles throughout Europe had made people more concerned with staying in good graces with whoever was ruling them at that particular time. The rulers, themselves, were more concerned with preoccupying and expanding their control. And with the Roman Catholic Church having its strong foothold in society during this era, no one really had time left over to even think about art. The characteristics of Renaissance art include realism, expression, perspective, classicism, an emphasis on individuality, the geometrical arrangement of figures, lights and shadowing, and using artists as personalities or celebrities. Everything was life-like....
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...Native American Music: A Root of Contemporary Music Yet Explored What is Native American Music? As our class brainstormed ideas for research, I already knew what topic I wanted to explore. Having been a musician, closely involved with music my entire life, I directed my focus toward Native American music. Before I began to develop any sort of directed, narrowed research questions, I asked myself first, “What is Native American music?” Regarding various definitions of the so-called “genre,” I discovered that Native American music shouldn’t be typified into any genre or defined style of music. It was the perspective toward music that was unique to Native peoples, and this perspective is key in understanding the Native American influence on later creations of music. Definition and Philosophy Native peoples tend to view their music in a distinctly different way from Euro-Americans. To Natives, music is thought; music appeared to be particularly inclusive into Native Americans’ way of life, and is unique in its origin, meaning, and efficacy. To ask “what is Native American music?” would be a question foreign to Native Americans, especially during the time that Native American music was first discovered. One aspect of music specific to indigenous peoples is its place in daily life. In fact, “its place in human affairs are much more significant to Indians than its mode of construction or technical character.” (Native American Music, 1980, p. 12) Unlike the Euro-American perspective...
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...community look the same as me are that most members of my community are white, wear normal clothes and shoes, and speak English. The ways that members of my community look different from me are that a few of the members in my community are Hispanic Americans or African Americans; their skin color is darker than mine is. We all speak the same language (English). We also have elderly living in the community. The majority of the community is white. Everyone within the community treats each other with respect, dignity, and compassion. The community does not really have a leader our community is a single street that dead ends. Other members of my community treat people who are like me with the same respect, dignity, and compassion. The problem begins when the immigrants want to come over to our country and expect to be given everything they need and want when they need and want it without having to work for it or abide by the laws of our country. In this course, I feel the texts contained information by and about people like me because every human being has an ethnic background including one or more cultural races. For instance, I have Cherokee and Lumbee Indian blood in my family and the text included information about Native Americans. I have German, English, and Irish decent in my family and the text includes information about the Irish, English, and Germans therefore, I presume in a roundabout way the text contained information about people like me. I also, have Scottish decent...
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...Assessment Transcultural Nursing Assessment Deborah Hill St. Francis University Abstract Giger and Davidhizar’s Transcultural Assessment Model is a valuable and functional assessment tool that evaluates the different cultural variables and how those variables effect health, illness and behaviors (Giger, 2013). This philosophy considers the uniqueness of each individual, understanding that the individual is unique, a product of their culture, religion, environment socioeconomic status and diversity. Giger and Dividhizar propose that, as health care providers, we need an acute awareness of the ethnicity and culture of each individual, having the knowledge and understanding to care for them as their culture, religion, values and belief system necessitates (Giger & Davidhizar, 2002). This model of nursing assessment focuses on six factors, or phenomena, that address important areas of cultural influence which impact our ability to provide diverse clients with the most effective and efficient care. The six phenomena are communication; space; social organization; time; environmental control; and biological variations. This assignment involves the use of the Transcultural Nursing Assessment model in the care of Ms. B, an 82 year old, African American female. Introduction America has been called the melting pot of the world. The term indicates that America is a county made up of immigrant cultures, religions and various ethnic groups from all over the world; a land...
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...October 3, 2011/Fall 2011 African Diaspora & The World (SADW 111-05) Shaping my Diaspora Consciousness vs. Society An old saying about the African American slave trade still circulates amongst us today: "they set us 'free' while keeping us enslaved." After the abolishment of physical slavery, the self-esteem and sense of identity of many African Americans remained in the hands of the dominant race. Their tools of malice and control transitioned from whips and legislation to social stigmas and stereotypes. The social stigmas and stereotypes formed are the concepts of identity, race and gender. As notions of equality grew more popular, the malice diminished but the social stigmas and stereotypes remained. To deny their influence on the shaping of my identity would be equivalent to denying the slave trade's existence. Despite the relevance of both in today's society, both are starting to fade away into the thick cloud of historical amnesia that tends to grasp the minds of every American generation. In order to ensure that the lesson’s learned, and to be learned from both remain, it is imperative that such topics be discussed and evaluated. Identity is a complex shaped by individual characteristics. Gender is however a group defined by masculinity and femininity, the attributes attached to being born male or female. Race is framed by social relations and historical context. All social conceptions formed by social construction. People don’t have an understanding of how society...
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