spicershealth

Family history is a term in health that we connect with health conditions and their hereditary nature. This can explain reasons for particular body frame, eye color, complexion, chronic disease, addiction, mental health, child rearing practices and genetic conditions. With advances in medical care and preventive medicine, testing for heredity now begans before birth with genetic counseling and can be traced through genetic mapping. Parents and practitioners can plan any necessary interventions based on the outcome of this process. Understanding what to look out for, how to recognize its early stages of development and tracking the expression of certain genetic traits, can allow individuals to increase their longevity. However, family history and generational roots stems from the intangibles as well. Anthropology emphasizes geneology in tracing settlement patterns, family trades, linguistic trends and the many aspects of our family history that contribute to our cultural history.

This is something that in my adult years I have felt very connected to. America is called the melting pot, a concept that may seem intriguing however it has led to much loss of culture and family history throughout the chronology of this nation. Essentially those who settled here from other parts of the world are melted into a mold of english speaking consumerism, aimed at increasing ability to succeed and be a part of the dominant culture. Given the diversity of cultures and ethnicities in the US, many Americans are from a mixed background of national origins and sometimes struggle to identify with their ancestors. Others have strong traditions for marrying within their nationalities and develop a sense of pride in their decendence. However, when it comes down to it they may be unrecognized and considered outsiders from the dominant American culture.

My own roots come from Russian Jewish heritage on my Mom’s side and primarily British Protestant descendence on my Dad’s side. I never got to know most of my relatives on either side of the family. Both of my grandparents moved from the east coast and midwest to Tucson Arizona when my parents where young or before they were born. My father was the youngest in his family and many of my mother’s relatives suffered from chronic disease and passed away. However I identify strongly with my Jewish roots and was lucky enough to inherit the name of my grandfather (as my middle name) Edward H. Spicer.

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom.php?book=biomems&page=espicer.html
Recently I have come back to the idea of carrying forward the work of my grandparents in anthropology as they have contributed largely to the development of applied anthropology and understanding of Native Americans. As I engage in my own efforts to achieve the ideal American lifestyle, I’m reminded that looking back at my roots can help guide and reinforce my goals and future within the context of where I came from. Does your family history inform your adult choices today? We learn so much from our parents, grandparents and ancestors and choose how we apply that to ourselves and our adult life. However, do Americans tend to give into the melting pot and idea of  re-inventing the wheel? What real purpose does this serve? In every society there is a dominant culture and in many cases, minority cultures end up being down played or diminished. Yet, I think it is important to look back at our own families and consider how we want to apply that history to our own lives.

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