The Immigrant & Family Expectations!

Febryary 15-2006:



The Immigrant & Family Expectations:


Ever since the arrival of The Mayflower pilgrims, immigrants to The American shores have had family ties that haunted them throughout their lives. Some came from extended families in Asia, China, & Latin America. Where family responsibility rested primarily with the male offspring, who very often occupied the role of elder brother and provider.

Most of these men of different ages are expected to remember and contribute financially, to relatives back in their homelands. This is a cultural expectation and responsibility for most of these men. Who by and large have been educated, and re-oriented to the culture here in America, financially secure, and respected within their adopted communities, or groups.

But the cultural responsibility to support family left behind is never over, until all related kin are either comfortably provided for, or allowed to emigrate to America, and experience whatever benefits they could have for self improvement. Even some marriages are arranged by relatives back home, who may or may not identify one's potential mate or spouse.

And that custom is very often the tie that binds the successful male, and to show family and friends how successful he is here in America.

Failing to accommodate these cultural expectations for many men, can be disastrous mentally, socially, and spiritually. Because of the filial ties or connection, such cultures maintain among themselves. It is not a rare thing to hear an immigrant complaining of the dire need to earn more money to send back home to mother, or relatives.

This demand upon his earnings and expected responsibilities, cause many men to drink, use drugs, and get involved in criminal activities, so that they could accumulate enough money to support relatives back home.

Then there is the ethnic or racial expectations that must be considered too.

Some immigrant men/women may meet and fall in love with someone of a different ethnic or racial group. He/she could never contemplate marriage, because it would conflict with cultural expectations, that he/she must honor. Such as marrying within his/her own clan, group, or race. And those who are brave enough to defy tradition, risk castigation from family, friends, relatives, and fellow countrymen back home.

So regardless of whether you are male or female, as a foreigner in a foreign land, you are expected to represent those who are less fortunate than yourself back home. And everything you do, achieve, say, (positively or negatively), impact your fellow countrymen/women here, and in your homeland.

Om Shanti.
Derryck S. Griffith.
Guyanese.
New York City.
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