Twisted Roots

Weaving together a multiracial identity

 

It was a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon in Daly City, Calif. The pleasant weather was a welcome surprise to my friends, Daniel and George, who are both longtime residents of the city.  We milled about their backyard with our hands in our pockets waiting for their dad, Nicolas, to tell us what to do.  The brothers did not seem particularly interested in building a new tool shed. They were constantly glancing over at the 49ers game, which was playing on a small TV screen that they had set on the porch.  Suddenly, the din of our work and the chatter of the football announcers was interrupted by a phone call.  Nicolas answered the phone speaking a mix of Arabic and English as his wife, Ana, called to us in Spanish to come in for lunch.

Multiracial families like the Endrawos are a growing demographic in the United States. According to a May article by The Associated Press, the multiracial population of the U.S. rose to about 5.2 million last year.  The Endrawos family represents a small portion of this demographic as Lebanese-and-Salvadorian Americans.

Daniel and George Endrawos are both happy, well-adjusted students at San Jose State University.  Their friends describe them as quiet, insightful and mellow.  The one word that would never come to mind is foreign. Both brothers blend in perfectly with their environment, despite their diverse background.  “They get along with everyone. They don’t care what walk of earth you’re from. They don’t make assumptions towards anyone. Everyone has a chance in their book,” said Nic Aguon, a friend to both brothers.

If you passed the brothers on campus, you’d never give them a second glance.  They wear the loose-fitting, nondescript clothes that are characteristic of most college males. Both are of average height, with thick, jet-black hair and a skin tone that can be misleading when trying to determine their racial background. “People just assume that I’m Mexican when they hear me speaking Spanish and when they see the way I look. Nobody’s ever gotten it right on the nose,” said George.

The brothers have a similarly calm and relaxed presence which tends to make those around them feel at ease.  The one possible exception, however, is their near-rabid devotion to the 49ers. Daniel describes himself as a die-hard fan and is always willing to argue passionately for his team, or against the Oakland Raiders.

The brothers are socially active on campus, but aren’t involved in any clubs or groups. Instead, they prefer to spend their time with friends when they aren’t studying. Because of their own diverse background, neither brother gravitates toward a specific racial group for friends.  “Here, I’ve got a good mix.  I kick it with most kinds of people,” said Daniel.

They are proud of their heritage.  “I like being Lebanese-and-Salvadorian American because it’s so rare and there aren’t many people like me.  My elders are probably more proud than I am, but I still love the culture,” said George. Still, the brothers sometimes avoided important cultural gatherings, like Lebanese weddings, out of embarrassment. “The food is good and I like the music, but I can’t dance to it.  I’d feel kind of dumb because I didn’t know how to,” said George. Now that he is older and more mature, George is trying to attend more events and find his roots. “It’s part of who I am and I don’t want to avoid it,” he said.

Although they do represent most typical Americans while at school, their home life and their heritage are unique.  Their father emigrated from the village of Mieh-Mieh, Lebanon to San Francisco in 1975. Within hours of arrival, he met Ana Aguillon, his future wife and a recent Salvadorian immigrant.  Ana and Nicolas soon fell in love, got married and started a family.  During this time they worked hard to adapt to the culture of the U.S. and sometimes struggled to learn the English language.

Initial difficulties with English are part of why languages are such a major focus in the Endrawos family.  Learning English was necessary for assimilation, but more importantly, it allowed for easier communication between loved ones. Though neither parent speaks the other’s native language, their sons are fluent in all three.  This often left the role of translator up to the brothers.  Usually they would communicate simple things like shopping lists or act as interpreters between Ana and visiting Lebanese relatives. Although being trilingual allows for incredible opportunities, its true value lies in the fact that it helps to preserve the Endrawos-Aguillon heritage and culture.

They almost never use their other languages on campus, unless they want to talk to each other privately.  Arabic works best for this purpose because fewer people understand it. When they get the chance, they do enjoy using it with other people.  “I like speaking, just to show that I have the ability to speak other languages.  I’m proud of it,” said George.

Neither brother has faced any serious racism in California, aside from the occasional tasteless joke.  Their parents however, have sometimes felt uncomfortable for being immigrants. Both brothers feel accepted for their background at SJSU. This isn’t surprising as SJSU was ranked the sixth most racially diverse campus among universities in the West according to a recent report titled “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In fact, 26-year-old George feels more alienated for being older than his peers than for being multicultural. “Just because of my age, I feel I don’t fit in as much. But as far as race I feel I fit in fine,” he said.

I came to the Endrawos house on that unusually warm Sunday more as a journalist than a friend.  Even so, the family immediately made me feel very much at home. Inside their house there is little that identifies them as anything but a typical American family. The walls were lined with the achievements of their sons and pictures of their relatives.  As Ana called us again for lunch, Nicolas hung up the phone. We put down our tools and trudged up the stairs to eat, tired and with varied degrees of annoyance at the 49ers’ loss.

Despite their rich cultural background, the Endrawos brothers identify most with the culture of the U.S., particularly that of San Francisco. This is best illustrated by their hopes for the future.  Daniel is attending SJSU to earn a degree in business but plans to be a firefighter in San Francisco.

“It’s always been a personal goal of mine to graduate college.  I’m going to graduate first and then get to that.  I want the opportunity to save lives. I want to be there to serve my city.” George is pursuing a degree in criminal justice and hopes to help troubled youth.

Their parents, who have lived in the U.S. twice as long as in their home countries, are proud of their kids.  “I like what they have grown up to be. I like how they have adapted to their surroundings and environment,” said Nicolas

 

Sidebar:

 

Diversity issues don’t always go over smoothly. Fortunately, there is an organization that can help. 

            The MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center is located in the student union and offers a safe place for all students to discuss issues of social injustice, diversity and multiculturalism.

            It employs student advocate interns who create programs that allow students to meet and discuss a specific issue relating to diversity.  Some examples are “Growing Up in Between,” a program which focuses on multicultural students and “Co-Exist? When Faiths Collide,” which focuses on religious diversity issues.

            Assistant Director of MOSAIC, Sadika Sulaiman Hara faced some of these issues when she was attending school and is glad that she can provide students with the opportunity to help themselves. Sulaiman Hara works directly with students to help expose and resolve issues of oppression or injustice. “Finding a place like MOSAIC was ideal because the center was created to help all students but it’s also really a place to provide education and awareness,” she said.

            Any student who feels challenged by diversity issues is welcome to speak with the staff about their problems.  Knowledgeable and helpful interns and staffers like Sulaiman Hara can assist students or refer them to resources for aid. 

            The true purpose of the MOSAIC center is to help students be successful. “College is here to make sure that students are really achieving their highest potential and passions,” said Sulaiman Hara.

 

Eric Van Susteren