As I look back on previous experiences throughout my life, differences in cultural identities have placed me in the midst of various "contact zones," the most recent being in my high school right in the heart of upstate New York. I was subject to witness my African American companion, Darius, who w

After evaluating Darius’ situation of being one of only three minorities present within the classroom, I recall how each of them “transculturized” into the dominant group, often altering their normal speech and attitude while in the classroom. Darius was certainly willing to give up many of his cultural characteristics and values while he attended school in order to become part of the dominant and educated majority. His studies were extremely important to him, so he discarded his discrepancies, and proceeded through the day like everyone else, always leaving his different apparel at home and his Ebonics slang outside as he entered the school each morning.

By doing this, Darius strongly believed that he was allowing himself to excel to a level that he would not even come close to approaching if he acted in his ordinary manner. After questioning his difference in attire one day, Darius replied "It’s worth losin’ my Blackness to do better…. as long as you remember you’ll never lose it within you." It is obvious that Darius is willing to adopt some characteristics from the prevailing white culture in order to reap the benefits of American society, but in the end, Darius is obligated to give up a piece of his racial identity.

as engulfed by the presenc

Some topics in this essay:
Louise Pratt, Contact Zone”, African American, , “contact zone”, Chronicle Pratt’s, “contact zones”, Mary Louise, meet clash grapple, mary louise pratt, clash grapple, darius willing, louise pratt, characteristics prevailing, dominated culture, mary louise, meet clash, virtual communities,