My father doesn’t identify from where he was born, but from where his family is from. He was born in Germany on December 22, 1972, due to my grandfather fighting in the Vietnam War. At the age of 2 he moved to Guyana and then immigrated to the United States when he was 7 years old. When you ask him where he came from, he will always tell you he is West Indian instead of German. He always felt that he doesn’t look like the stereotypical German as well as Germany having a history of tolerating people of color like him. He also not knowing and understanding German culture shows why he doesn’t really identify with it. He seems to feel more comfortable in Guyanese culture because his entire family is from there. This leads to him trying to get me to get food from their culture all the time. He also tries to get me to read books about the place so I can get an idea about it before I go. He does have a good balance between American culture and West Indian culture. He tends to celebrate a lot of American holidays as well as adapt to eating new American foods. I know deep down he just wants me to embrace cultures that will accept and embrace me. The picture of Roti is supposed to represent some of the culture he showed me. It's one of our favorite foods and I'll always be grateful for him introducing it to me. It's one of West Indian foods I actually enjoy and it makes me feel more in tune with being West Indian. 

– Raul Nedd

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant