Knoxville, like other mid-sized metropolitan cities is becoming a more culturally diverse community. As a result, we must all become more understanding of our differences and embrace each other’s uniqueness. One of the goals of the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors ® Cultural Diversity Committee is to inform, promote and advocate Cultural Diversity.
Hispanic Heritage Month
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Hispanic Heritage Month is the period when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic Cultural heritage and Hispanic culture. Hispanic Heritage Week was approved by President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988 on the approval of Public Law 100-402. "September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,Honduras and Nicaragua. They all declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 17 and September 18 ,respectively." [1] Hispanic Heritage Month also celebrates the long and important presence of Hispanic Americans in North America. A map of late 18th century North America shows this presence, from the small outpost of San Francisco founded in the desolate wilderness of Alta California in 1776, through the Spanish province of Texas with its vaqueros (cowboys), to the fortress of St. Augustine, Florida -- the first continuous European settlement in North America founded in 1565, decades before Jamestown, Virginia. Spanish explorers traveled further north along the Pacific Coast to Canada in 1774 and by the late 18th century had established a military post on Vancouver Island, 350 miles north of Seattle. The Spanish sailed up the Atlantic Coast through the Chesapeake Bay in 1526, then called the Bahía de Santa María, about 80 years before the romanticized English encounter with Pocahontas. In the 1520s Spanish navigators also explored as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the present site of Bangor, Maine. The Spanish settled the southwest of North America in the 16th century and officially founded Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1610. As part of the Treaty of Paris (1763) peace settlement of the French and Indian War, the territories west of the Mississippi River, including Louisiana and New Orleans, were ceded to the Spanish. Nearly all of the surviving 18th century architecture of the Vieux Carré French Quarter dates from this Spanish period. It is a time that we eat food and tell stories. |
Filipino American History Month
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Filipino American History Month, also known as the Filipino American Heritage Month, is celebrated in the United States during the month of October. The Filipino American National Historical Society established Filipino American History Month in the year 1988. In California and Hawaii, where a large number of Filipino Americans reside, Filipino American History Month is widely celebrated in these states. Many Filipino American organizations in these states often initiate their own independent celebrations. |
Middle Eastern Cultures & Islam
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You cannot talk about Middle Eastern cultures (Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, etc…) without mentioning Islam. The religion of Islam provides guidance, values and rules for personal life, community relations and ways of doing business. It is one of the most talked about and misunderstood religions in today’s Western society. Business Do’s & Don’ts:
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Europe - Italy
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Italy is a Southern European country that is bordered by Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia and Switzerland. The capital of Italy is Rome, which is home of The Vatican. The major religion is Roman Catholic along with Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities. Italian is the official language and is spoken by the majority of the population. There are several regional dialects that are spoken throughout the country. The family is the center of the social structure and is a basis for emotional and financial support. Business Do’s & Don’ts:
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Chinese & Japanese
Chinese & Japanese - Did You Know?The Chinese have the world’s oldest civilization with over 4000 years of recorded history. Early rule was by Dynasties until 1911. In 1949, the Communist government took control. The official language is Chinese, which is spoken by 70% of the population. Business Do’s & Don’ts: 1. Do - Be punctual. The Japanese Dynasty of the current Emperor has been around since 660 BC. Business Do’s & Don’ts:
Taken from Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands by Terri Morrison & Wayne Conaway.
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Black History Month
Black History Month - Did You Know?Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, which was the movement of people of African origin and their descendants to places throughout the world – predominantly to the Americas, then later to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe. The term has been historically applied in particular to the descendants of the Africans who were enslaved and shipped to the Americas by way of the Atlantic slave trade. Since 1976, it is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in the month of October. In the U.S., Black History Month is also referred to as African – American History Month. [1] Black History Month actually started as Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. The goal of Black History Week was to educate Blacks about their cultural background, and to instill in them a sense of pride in their race. [2] [1], [2] from Wikipedia |
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