Hybrid Household | Growing Up With Lebanese and Jamaican Parents feat. Alex
In this episode of Culture In Between, Alex shares his story about the complexities and joys of growing up with a Lebanese father and a Jamaican mother of Lebanese descent. He explains his journey toward ultimately identifying as Arab rather than White, why he has mixed feelings as a "non-Black person of color" whenever he goes back to Jamaica, and how homophobic sentiments in his parents’ home countries have kept him from feeling truly integrated into either culture. This episode also features another shoutout to cross-cultural icon Shakira, who also has a Lebanese background.
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- 00:00-Intro
- 00:54-Alex Introduction
- 02:45-Do you feel closer to your Lebanese or Jamaican heritage?
- 04:30-Did you feel connected to the Jamaican culture in Miami?
- 06:10-What was your experience like visiting both countries?
- 12:57-Do you still have family in Lebanon?
- 14:05-Experiencing homophobia
- 16:30-(Not) Fitting the mold
- 18:05-Racial Identity / What box do you check?
- 29:20-What part of Jamaica is your mom from?
- 30:00-What part of Lebanon is your dad from?
- 30:20-Do people ask where you are from and how do you feel about it?
- 33:10-How have the situations in Lebanon affected your family?
- 38:37-What are some of your favorite foods from each country?
- 43:05-What is your favorite saying?
- 48:23-Who are your favorite celebrities?
- 52:38-Where are some of your happy places?
- 53:34-What is something that you do in either country that you wouldn't do in the US?
- 55:18-What do you love the most about both cultures?
- 57:05-Closing Remarks
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*Disclaimer: We value featuring the genuine viewpoints of our guests. As such, please note that the thoughts and opinions of our guests may not always reflect our own thoughts and opinions as hosts.