Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have imagery and symbols ingrained into my head of people who look like me. What would change in my psyche related to the attached meaning and assumptions connected to those symbols?
As it stands, I have grown up in the U.S. And even if I grew up in my parents' native country, a long colonized by other countries... I might still be missing symbols that are more closely related to culture of my ancestors. When I think of the holidays, my brain automatically thinks of Christmas... I think of a rotund white guy in a red and white suit. When I think of religious symbols, the image of Christ, I see a skinny white guy on the cross. These symbols of redemption and rebirth in my mind are white people. If I think of these symbols as being related to power, then I might automatically associate power with white people.
When choosing to assimilate into a culture, those who do not possess the majority look, face the decision of abandoning many of their own symbols. There is an act of submission so as to not cause further outward conflict. There exists the narrative of trying to prove oneself and one's allegiance. It's like there is integration by death of one's own heritage and culture... a trade in order to try to keep on living physically.
Signs and symbols are often used to try to create a unifying narrative... but sometimes it seems as if they exist to show which culture is in charge.
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