Even though some might not celebrate or recognize it, we all have heritage.
Growing up, I never really felt like I had a heritage I could relate to. My family is of German and Irish descent, but we didn’t practice any traditions related to our lineage. Any traditions we did practice were religion-based.
I don’t think I even considered heritage or culture until I went over to my friend, Frances’, house for dinner in first grade. Frances’ mom is from South Korea and cooks a lot of traditional foods. My parents were never too adventurous with what they fed my brother and me, so dinner with Frances and her family came as sort of a culture shock. I remember not liking most of the food and wishing I could eat something “normal” like macaroni and cheese.
Fast forward 15 years, and Frances and I are college roommates. She now cooks the Korean food that her mom used to make for us, and I still opt for mac and cheese. Frances embraces her heritage while I’ve accepted that I don’t really have one.
This digital edition of Ball Bearings is all about people embracing their heritage and the relationship between heritage and culture. Although I don’t have much of a culture to celebrate and relate to, I’ve learned a lot about others.
This issue reinforces what I learned growing up—that food is a big part of heritage and culture. These stories also explore what heritage looks like in a melting pot and where the line between appropriation and appreciation is drawn.
Something we might not always consider is what it’s like to have our heritage put on display for tourism or what happens when we lose or walk away from a part of our heritage.
Because I don’t have a deep connection to my own heritage, I love seeing what other people’s cultures mean to them and how they have influenced their upbringing.
Everyone has heritage, whether they celebrate it or not. Understanding this heritage can help us understand who we are.
