Cultivating a Sense of Belonging Through a Global Perspective
A genuine sense of belonging thrives in environments that embrace diversity, inclusivity, and mutual understanding of universal values.
The United States is a very insular culture. Americans rarely take a glimpse through the window to see how things are done in other parts of the world. They genuinely believe in the best superiority of America (specifically North America), encompassing the best ideas, sports, food, companies, people, movies, and everything else. America is, without a doubt, “the best.” The issue with being the best is that this mindset is “exclusive” and makes it challenging for others to feel like they belong or are valued when they are new to the country or simply don’t look like they were born in the US. This is one of the fundamental problems with the United States, a nation of immigrants that struggles to make newcomers and people who look different feel valued.
In the American collective way of thinking, the belief that the United States is the best doesn’t preclude taking advantage of foreign talents. Despite the notion of American exceptionalism, the country has consistently welcomed and benefited from the contributions of talented individuals from around the world. Take, for example, Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Joseph Pulitzer, Joni Mitchell, Sergey Brin, Natalie Portman, Rita Moreno, Madeleine Albright, among countless others - none of them were born in America, yet the list goes on. However, the public rarely perceives them as foreigners. Once their talents are recognized, they are often considered as Americans, or their talent is attributed solely to their immigration to America. Here is when the tale of the “American Dream” takes root and flourishes, representing yet another facet of American exceptionalism, an idea that can be seen as “exclusive” by promoting an unhealthy focus on individual gain.
By extrapolating the examples of these prominent figures mentioned above (who are predominantly white and European) to all the other aspects of social and work life in American society, we can discern a broader pattern in the way the United States narrates its achievements.
The historical narrative and representation of success in the United States have often centered around figures from specific backgrounds, overshadowing the contributions of diverse communities. This myopic portrayal inadvertently perpetuates biases and overlooks the immense contribution of individuals from various ethnicities, races, cultural backgrounds, gender and sexual orientation.
Taking the example of gender equality, if someone were to argue that Europe has made significant progress in this area over the United States by highlighting the existence of several European states led by women, the American perspective of telling stories might counter by asserting that America is not Europe, so the comparison may not be directly applicable. But instead of dismissing comparisons outright, it is more constructive to learn from different experiences and use them as a source of inspiration to, in this particular case, address gender disparities effectively. By embracing a global perspective, we not only become wiser and more inclusive but also foster a stronger sense of belonging around us.
In the case of education, fostering a deep sense of belonging in schools can be achieved by embracing a global perspective, with cultural differences as a foundation. While the short answer points to the significance of cultural understanding, the long answer entails a comprehensive range of activities that can fundamentally transform the way we share stories and promote inclusivity. Here there are some ideas to foster a genuine sense of belonging by embracing a global perspective:
Challenge Hollywood’s Influence on Cinema Perception
Enhance your classroom experience by introducing foreign featured films, shorts, narratives, and documentaries to your students. Beginning by delving into the history of cinema, shedding light on the true pioneers, the French Lumiere Brothers, rather than perpetuating the misconception that Thomas Edison invented cinema. Edison, indeed, played a role in inventing the projector, but the Lumiere Brothers were the ones who brought cinema to life by projecting documentary pieces in theaters, not mere amusement parks.
Encourage your students to explore masterpieces by renowned filmmakers like Agnès Varda, Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Akira Kurosawa, Chantal Akerman, Andrei Tarkovsky, Lucrecia Martel, Mira Nair, Chloé Zhao and Michelangelo Antonioni. These films may seem initially challenging, but guide your students on how to watch and appreciate them as art, not just mere entertainment. Help them understand the distinction between entertainment and art, emphasizing that cinema can be a powerful medium to profound storytelling and thought-provoking themes.
Take the opportunity to discuss how Hollywood and its system have often shaped our perception of values in a limited insular way. Challenge the notion that cinema originated solely in America and inspire your students to embrace a more global perspective on this diverse and rich art form.
Enhance Global Connections Through Storytelling Initiatives
In my experience, using multimedia tools with students has proven to be a powerful method to foster a global perspective and a deep sense of belonging among students. Through various initiatives, we successfully connected students from Latin America, Spain and the US using the “United Nation Convention on the Right of the Child” (CRC) as a theme for allowing them to exchange experiences and insights through short form videos focused on their communities. The positive impact of this exchange was clearly evident as students from diverse regions had the opportunity to see, understand, and experience the lives and cultures of their peers from different parts of the world. This experience sparked curiosity, motivating them to actively seek out knowledge and celebrate the diversity that was already present in their own classrooms. Through this exchange, they discovered that despite those cultural differences, they share universal values and are entitled to the same rights as human beings. It became apparent that regardless of who they are, how they think, what they like, the color of their skiing, their sexual orientation, or their belief, they deserve respect and equal treatment.
The CRC, which became effective in September 1990, has been ratified by 195 countries, becoming the most widely ratified human rights treaty globally. The United States and Somalia are the only two countries that have not ratified the convention. The US.'s decision not to ratify the CRC was mainly driven by concerns among lawmakers about potential infringements on national sovereignty. This is an excellent point to underscore the concept of American exceptionalism once again, raising a critical question:
How can we foster a genuine sense of belonging in a country where anything perceived as non-American is often viewed as a threat to national sovereignty?
A genuine sense of belonging thrives in environments that embrace diversity, inclusivity, and mutual understanding of universal values. A sense of sovereignty over such values doesn't exist; what this reticence means in the US. is the belief that the country is above others. It is an insulting attitude and self-entitles a sense of authoritarianism and a moral superiority over the rest of the world.
The Bottom Line
To foster a genuine sense of belonging, we must recognize that achieving this goal requires a deep understanding of others’ perspectives. It is essential to acknowledge that people in different parts of the world have diverse ways of doing things, and there is much we can learn from them. Embracing the fact that individuals who look different from us expand our horizons beyond our immediate community, state, and nation, is not only enriching but also a remarkable aspect of our world.
In conclusion, to create a genuine sense of belonging, let us celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and the richness of their cultures. By being open-minded, curious, and willing to learn from others, we can build bridges that unite us as a global community, appreciating the greatness and beauty that lies in our diversity.