Adapting Community Interventions for Different Cultures and Communities Essay

The Mexican Americans had their own unique identity. They had their own style in each decade starting from the 1940s– including the Zoot Suit Riots, to the Chicano Movement, then to the 2000s –which is known as the LA punk looks. During the 1940’s, young Mexican Americans wanted to fight for their justice against the United States servicemen. They started a group and began to wear clothing that was out of the ordinary. They wore baggy dress pants and big drape jackets, including a hat. Because of their clothing, people called them the Zoot Suits but they referred themselves as Pachucos and Pachuca. According to the article â€Å"6 Decades of Mexican and Mexican- American Style Evolution† (Agrawal), there are 6 different decades of the Mexican- American style that include: the 1940s– the Pachuco look, the 1950s– the start of the Civil Rights Movement, where Rock music combined with fashion and included curled hair and polka-dot dresses for the women, the 1960s, the Chicano Movement and the Chicano Activists movement, the 1980s– which was shaped due to hip- hip and was known to be the Chola look, then the 1900s– which starred Selena, the Queen of Tejano music who became known due to her iconic style and became a well known music idol, and lastly, the 2000s. The 2000s allowed women to express their strength and solidarity through the LA punk style by keeping a simple makeup look. Although Mexican- Americans used their art through music, Chinese Americans believed in respecting their art through appropriation . Another significant time in US history was the Chinese Exclusion Act that included Chinese Immigrants. According to the article, â€Å"The Chinese Exclusion Acts: A Racist Chapter in U.S. Civil Rights History† (Chin), The Act that started in the year of 1882 prohibited: immigration on Chinese laborers, denying naturalization, and enforced Chinese laborers who are already legal in the United States and later want to re-enter and receive a certificate to return. The Chinese Immigrants worked as servants, fishermen, farmers, etc. They also worked on railroads and miners. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, it has turned the table around and changed history for Chinese immigrants and they were treated differently. They were treated differently because they were â€Å"different† from others by their looks and the way they dressed. Non- Chinese people would sometime be jealous of what Chinese Americans accomplished. Sticking to their cultures and backgrounds, the Chinese men wo uld usually have their hair long and in a ponytail, their clothing would consist of cultural robes, which is known as a Cheongsam. Cheongsam is worn as Chinese cultural appropriation for respect. Usually Chinese friends and family have to give the approval if you are allowed to wear a Cheongsam. Until today’s world, many people still stereotype not only Chinese people but Asian Americans in general due to what they wore back then because of their culture. Despite the appropriation, the Chinese Americans believed in, African Americans took a stand and did for what they believed in to achieve justice as well as the Mexican Americans. Going back into the 1900s, African Americans then segregated into urban housing. As they began to take over a community in New York City and begin with the Harlem Renaissance, which was located in northern Manhattan. During the Harlem Renaissance, several groups and organizations appealed to improvements economically and educationally. According to the article â€Å"The Harlem Renaissance a Cultural Rebirth† (Hall), after black soldiers engaged in World War I, they wished for a better America for themselves. This time period included African Americans making a great remark within their culture. Due to their remark, they also created a climatic change within their fashion statement. This fashion statement included: the Flappers, a masculine look for women, and day and night dresses. Flappers is another word for dancers because of the dresses they wore that made it easier for them to dance in. During this era, women decided to stand out and portray the masculine look. Women woul d want to wear men’s clothing and began to smoke, drink and drive, etc. Because of this movement, they created several movies until today’s world portraying â€Å"the Harlem Renaissance†. Some movies include Harlem Nights, Brother to Brother, Murder in Harlem, and the recent popular one that features similar actions of the Harlem Renaissance would be The Great Gatsby that features Leonardo DiCaprio. Although during the Harlem Renaissance was more of a fashion statement by making a remark, the Native Americans were quite different in terms of making their own fashion. During the time of the Wounded Knee Massacre, there were about 300 Native American deaths. There was a battle between the Native Americans and the United States soldiers in the Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. During this time Native Americans took belief in their Ghost Dance. The Ghost Dance was a religious dance to bring back their original world and to protect themselves. During this time Native Americans would have to hunt for animals to use their skin to make clothing and to stay warm. Hunting and gathering was a way for them to survive. In today’s society, American Indian culture has changed. As of now we usually see depictions of the American Indian culture in social media. Such as music videos, movies, or television shows that portray the American Indian culture. It has changed compared to back then. Their culture contains making art, clothing, jewelry, dance, and fashion. To the Native American culture, they typically don’t have a certain clothing they wear for appropriation. According to the article â€Å"Native by Design† (Montgomery), they believe that appropriation does not matter and what matters is representing where they came from and showing off their beliefs as much as possible. Urban Outfitters –the popular clothing company– brings off the Navajo vibe in every store. This includes the designs in the store, several pieces of their clothing, and the setting of the store. This represents that even though Native Americans had one culture back then, it doesn’t mean it has changed drastically. Throughout time, culture, beliefs, and traditions, we soon come to realize the true beauty behind it all. We realize the true beauty of different ethnic groups, especially of our own culture and beliefs. Yes, it will all change over a certain span, but it all depends on what we want to believe in and what we want to keep believing in. Till today’s society, the beliefs we used to believe in will become more and more modern as time goes by and it will evolve quickly before we know it. Stereotypes will change, beliefs will change, etc. It is best to understand the true beauty of one’s culture. Despite all the stereotypes and the modern technology, we should take in consideration of our own culture and admire what we have. Fashion will change each and every year but we just have to make the most of it and express ourselves through art. Like these four different Ethnic groups: Mexican Americans, Chinese Immigrants, African Americans, and Native Americans; they all believed i n different cultures and beliefs but each group used their own unique way to express what is theirs.