We each have our own cultural history. Here is part of mine. My
mother’s family members were immigrants to the United States. My
grandparents and eldest aunt came over first; then my mother and
three of her siblings were born here. English was my mom’s
second language, which she started learning in school. She was
very proud of her English and critical of her friends who never
got rid of their family accents. She never taught me her native
language and today I regret that. I envy those who still have
that language connection to their cultural heritage. This was
western Pennsylvania. The country my family came from is Poland,
but our background is actually not Polish but a mix of Czech,
Yugoslavian, Iranian/Persian, and French! My mom was been born
in 1933. And I grew up in the sixties. My parents at that time
were not very tolerant people. I remember them making
disparaging remarks about other immigrant groups, other races,
and other religions. Why did I not adopt all those prejudiced
attitudes of my parents