How does one determine what their ethnic background is? I am one that cannot determine mine. It is very hard to determinemy ethnic background when once asked, "What is your nationality?" The purpose of this paper is to explain in full how hard it could be to one in choosing a subject such as this. I have a number of races and cultures in my family. For example, my mother, Gihaan, was raised in an interracial and bicultural family. Her father, my grandfather, is one hundred percent Cherokee Native American born in Jacksonville, Florida. Her mother, my grand mother, is part Guyanese and part Argentinean born in Salivete', Panama. My mother was born and raised in Cau`de luVialle, a small village in Guyana. In Guyana, my mother was raised by her mother and aunt and bought up in the Islamic faith.
             ...growing up in this faith was very hard for me as a female. My mother and aunt were very strict on my sisters and I; it was harder on me because I was the oldest of the bunch...1
             My mother was not permitted to even speak to persons that did not follow this particular faith strictly. Gihaan had to wear long dark clothing that covered her body entirely; from her fingers to her toes.
             Every female, out of respect, is to do so for she will bestow shame upon the family and set bad examples for the up comings...2
             The Islamic faith is a strict one there are certain things that you as a Muslim cannot eat such as beef, pork, and certain seafood's. There are also certain things that, as a Muslim female, you cannot wear. Females are to wear long clothing at all times even in the highest tempature they must ware it out of respect for the males in their family as well as making a good impression for their younger siblings.
             At the age of eighteen, my mother was set up in an arranged marriage. She refused to marry the man who was almost three times her age. It would be at this time that my mother would migrate to America to be raised by her f...