In Choosing a Perspective, Mary Lorena Kenny delves into the complex crises of identity, particularly those affecting the Quilombu people of Brazil. Founded by escaped Brazilian slaves, Quilombos is a historically important community known for its resistance to oppression and unique cultural practices. Kenny draws on elements of heritage, memory, and cultural identity to explore how Columbus’s identity is deeply rooted in the modern era.
Culture plays an important role in Columbus’ identity. The rich cultural inheritance of these communities can be traced back to their African roots and has been passed down and developed from generation to generation. The Quilombo people maintain a strong connection to their ancestral heritage through storytelling, singing, dancing, and oral traditions. This legacy is the basis of their collective identity, providing continuity and identity in the present.
Memorials are another important part of Quilombo’s identity. People in this country clearly understand how they see themselves and their place in the world. Commemorating struggle, resistance, and the fight against slavery and oppression are the main features of Quilombo. These memories are transmitted orally through traditions and rituals, reinforcing a sense of community unity and shared history (Light, 2020). Ideology links past and present, situating identity within history while shaping contemporary thought and practice.
As Mary Lorena Kenny has argued, language becomes central to the identity process of the Quilombu people in Brazil. Language is not merely a means of communication; it is closely tied to culture and identity. Kenny’s research is consistent with the understanding that language is a means of communication and a vehicle for cultural heritage, memory, and expression of identity. Furthermore, Kenny’s test is consistent with linguistic conservatism, which holds that the meanings of words and symbols are culturally constructed and independent of context. This perspective highlights the complexity of Columbus’ cultural meanings and symbols and emphasizes how linguistic expressions indicate cultural identity and heritage.
Furthermore, language exposure during childhood is crucial for the Quilombo community to understand its culture. By effortlessly learning the language around them, children internalize the values and cultural stories embedded in it, laying the foundation for their cultural identity from an early age (Light, 2020). Furthermore, the concept of the critical age suggests that language skills acquired during childhood are important for individuals to express their culture in Quilombo society fully. Suppose people are not exposed to the language early on. In that case, they may struggle to master the language later in life, preventing them from fully participating in the culture and expressing their identity in the community.
Reference
Light, L. (2020). Language. In Selected Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology. American Anthropological Association.