By
Talia J Lyn-Cook
BSc Anthropology
Culture.
It’s the food we eat,
The songs we sing,
Something we cannot escape.
Something to which we can all relate.
Differences.
Culture doesn’t and shouldn’t look the same to everyone,
So why do we expect that?
Why do we mock what we aren’t familiar with?
“Ew” they say, “your food smells.”
Why do we allow ourselves to become insecure from others’ ignorance?
“Mummy, I can’t wear this. It’s not ‘cool’. It’s ugly.”
Why hide our culture away, like secrets,
Like deep sea pearls in clam shells?
Instead of raising our heads up high, taking a stand, using our voices to edify.
Culture is something we can’t escape.
It’s in every one of us; whether we like it or not,
Ashamed or proud,
Whether we want to whisper or shout it out loud.
Culture is the glue in our society,
What makes us unique.
So whether you wear a lehenga or a tunic,
A tracht or an agbada,
A kebaya or a pollera,
A kaftan or a muumuu —
Remember, you’re blessed to be
A member of this multicultural society.
Culture isn’t something you can escape,
So allow it to be our glue today.
Anthropolitan 