Shannon Creedon

Racial and Cultural Identities Essay 2

Susan Redditt

18 October 2016

In the small town that I grew up in, there was a fair that came around annually at the end

of summer. This fair is pretty big and people from surrounding areas come to it. There are many

events that come when the fair comes to town. The rides are a huge part of the Woodstock Fair.

They include rides like the zipper, freakout, and the Ferris wheel. There is also a place where

local people can show off their animals. There are places where you can see bunnies and geese

and there are other places where you can see goats and sheep. The most important part of the

animal exhibit is the birthing center for cows. People gather to watch cows give birth, which may

sound weird to others but it is normal to us. We also have halls where people can show off their

artwork and handiwork. Lastly we have concerts that go on all weekend and are the way to end

your day at the fair.

In the chapter two of Sensoy and DiAngelo, they mention culture as “the characteristics

of everyday life of a group people located in a given time and place” (Sensoy and DiAngelo,

2012, p. 15). The Woodstock fair is considered culture because it is part of everyone’s lives in

the surrounding area. Even if you do not plan on going to the fair, you hear about who is coming

to perform or if someone put their work in to be judged. You will plan to go to the fair, which

day you are going to go, what food you are going to eat, what rides you are going to go on, and

the events you plan on going to while you are there. The fair is culture because it surrounds a

certain group in a given time and place, meaning it surrounds northeastern Connecticut and it is

always on labor day weekend. Every year the whole town comes together and enjoys the last
days of summer; whether that just means that the kids are going back to school or they have also

had the summer off, it marks the end of a season.

There are many assumptions when it comes to this event. Assumptions are defined as

“the act of laying claim to or taking possession of something” (http://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/assumption). First off, people from the town will assume that you are

going to the fair just because it is what everyone does. Assumptions about the fair are common

because of how small our town is and how big the fair is. People will also assume that you are

working at the fair at least for one day, or doing something for the fair in general. If you are an

athlete or an athletes parent, you can work in the booster club booth to sell food. Or if you work

in the arts and crafts department, you can work and keep watch of all the artwork. So people will

assume that you are working at the fair, whether you are selling food or watching art work.

The beliefs that come with the fair are a little different than the assumptions. In class, we

defined beliefs as something that one understands and supports. When talking about the

Woodstock fair, there comes a few beliefs about it. Usually, you believe that the Woodstock fair

will be fun because you will be surrounded by friends and family and a million events you can

attend. Another belief is that you will most likely consume food that is not good for you, nor do

you care. Lastly, a belief that comes with the fair is that you will be overwhelmed with how

much time you spend at the fair and how little time you spend doing the things that need to be

done that weekend.

In class, we defined values as something that means a lot to people. Now, this part is a

little hard to relate back to the Woodstock fair because the fair is something that means a lot to

people. For example, I have been going to the fair ever since I could walk. The only time I every

missed the fair was when I was in college for my freshman year because I had to be at
orientation. So when I talk about values, I know that they are usually broad so I would say that a

value that is connected to the Woodstock fair would be that friends and family are important.

When you go to the Woodstock fair, you usually go with your family or your friends. So, a value

that is connected to the fair is that family and friends are important to you because you are

spending quality time with them.

My cultural frames guided my interpretations immensely. The Woodstock fair has been a

part of my culture since I was born because I have lived in Woodstock my whole life, which

shows that it is important to me. My value of family and friends being important to me may even

come from this event because of how much time I have spent at the fair with both my family and

friends. These values relate right back to my identities. Identity is defined as a complex concept

“shaped by individual characteristics, family dynamics, historical factors, and social and political

contexts” (Tatum, 2003, p. 18). The values I mentioned earlier that relate back to my identity is

because I mention friends and family. I identify as a friend, as well as a sister, a daughter, a

niece, a cousin, and a godmother. Identity plays a large role in beliefs and values. My beliefs

play a large role in what I think the beliefs of the fair is as well. Living in the town of

Woodstock, the fair was always a huge part of my year, so me saying that a belief that the fair

will be fun is an interpretation that was guided by my own experiences and my own culture.

The Woodstock fair is a cultural event that happens annually in the small town that I

grew up in. It is full of beliefs, values, and culture. These beliefs and values are shared by so

many people because of this one event and brings together a whole community no matter the

differences. The culture is shared by people who have cultures of their own which make the fair

a special event in the small town of Woodstock. Bringing people of all different beliefs and
values and having them share some because of the fair is a blessing in disguise for all those who

do not think too much into the culture of the Woodstock Fair.
 Works Cited

Sensoy, O., & DiAngelo, R. J. (2012). Is everyone really equal?: An introduction to key
concepts in social justice education. New York: Teachers College Press.
Tatum, B. D. (2003). "Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?": And other
conversations about race. New York: Basic Books.
(n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/assumption