Traditional family systems of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans are very similar in certain aspects. All three have very strong family values. Ultimately their family is who is going to be there for you, they can always count on them. I know that in my family, we stay in close contact with cousins and in-laws and family everywhere even back in my parents' country, Dominican Republic. Every holiday, we all get together and celebrate having a family. We are very religious as a whole. These three family structures also have that in common. All believe that things, such as an education, is essential in order to make any progress.
             As far as gender roles and child rearing, in the African and Hispanic American family systems, the woman more often assumes the role of caretaker to the children and the moneymaker for the household. One-parent households are very common within these two groups. In the Native Americans, women are more submissive. They believe it takes a whole village to raise a child, so everyone in the community can help in educating the youth.
             All three take care of their elders but to different extents. The Native Americans treasure and look up to their elders. They believe that they have the wisdom to council and because they made it to old age, they are very experienced. The elders in this system are the ones in charge of making laws. Hispanics will take care of their elders also, just like African Americans, the elder may live with their child and the family, so you have many generations sharing a household.
             All three of these family systems have to be similar in some ways, because on a larger scale, they are all minorities and have to deal with the same issues. Once the first generation is born here in America, once the children begin their education it is easy to become so wrapped up in the American way. Speaking only English or a little of their native tongue, watching...