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Kimberly Hall

Education 280
Professor Joni Flowers
June 9, 2021
My Life is Filled with Culture

My nationality is Black American, which brings out the primary culture I display as I live my life. My

culture is often ridiculed and praised in the media because of how our culture is expressed. Hip Hop,

Rhythm and Blues and negro hymns were a large part of my youth, and helped me develop into the

individual I am today. We sometimes emulate the artists and figures in our lives whom we see on

television. As well, I was raised in a deeply Christian home, and was expected to attend Sunday school

before the actual church services, and then head home after the main church services were held. I was

a member of the choir, but never sang a solo because I am so shy. Everyone I knew, went to a church,

maybe not the one I attended, but definitely one around my neighborhood. I grew up on the West side

of Las Vegas in the early 1970’s, on Lake Mead and Englestad where my culture flowed from every home

and sidewalk on my block. It was an all-black neighborhood in my youth, but has since become more

diverse in its population. You couldn’t walk down the street without a neighbor being friendly, or asking

questions like “how’s your mama or daddy”? We had such a tightknit community. Often, people in the

neighborhood would have barbecues and we’d laugh, eat and enjoy one another’s company, while

listening to some type of music. To me, music is a huge part of Black American culture. It somehow

brings us together, whether it be in a spiritual sense, celebratory, or just for enjoyment amongst friends.

As well as being a Black American I belong to several subcultures such as the military. As a disabled

Navy veteran, I have been instilled with personal core values that I live by today. Honor, courage, and

commitment are aspects of military culture that is felt from within, and displayed outwardly by wearing
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a uniform in defense of our nation against all enemies foreign and domestic. I’ve lived a culture filled

with traditions set by our founding fathers. No matter what occupation you held, you were a part of a

larger entity, and all personnel are needed. It is a culture where you always placed God first, then

family, whom often is left behind at home in hopes that their active duty loved- one would return safely

home. No time to be afraid, only time to serve and protect is instilled in all armed services individuals.

Commitment and excellence are always expected of military personnel, not only by their seniors or

peers, but by America as a whole. Being a member of the military or a dependent brings a huge bond

similar to that of a fraternal entity, that has existed for centuries. Rules, timeliness, and vigilance of

one’s own character, are some of the key ingredients in military culture.

An additional subculture I belong to is that of an LGBT lifestyle. This month is Gay Pride month in the

Las Vegas area. The culture I’ve encountered in my lifetime as a gay individual has been filled with a

mixture of culture. As I stated earlier, I started life in the early 70’s and early on, I knew I was different.

The culture for gays in that era, at least for a youth, was nonexistent. I started off early in life hiding my

true identity, because unfortunately, I would have been shunned by my peers. I also stated I grew up in

a Christian home in which I knew my mother and father would not accept my sexuality. It wasn’t until I

grew up and graduated from high school, that I started experiencing the true culture of living a gay

lifestyle. I was 19 years of age at my first duty station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in the military, so I could be

free outside of base, however I still had to hide my sexual status while amongst military personnel. I

still remained committed to my duties, and as you may already guess, I was never reprimanded for being

myself. The culture in the early 90’s to me seemed like it was a time of liberation, as well as death due

to the AIDS virus. It was somewhat of a dark time in culture where many individuals were persecuted,

assaulted and even killed. It was a time of freedom for me, but also felt like a time of isolation. After my

career in the military, I was able to attend festivals and parades openly without the worry of being
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dishonorably discharged from the military. I gained a sense of pride in who I am but the influences I had

experiences with. Music from individuals such as CeCe Peniston, KD Lang, and Melissa Etheridge, were

praised and somehow became a deep aspect of gay culture. The rainbow flag is a symbol of pride you

can see displayed in gay neighborhoods with honor. Today there are neighborhoods that cater to only

gay individuals, which was unheard of when I was a youth. Artists and dancers, fill the landscape of gay

culture and beauty, and in a once exiled community, there is life and freedom.