As generations pass, we often lose parts of ourselves that define our heritage and culture. In society, many events describe the struggles experienced by people of colour. 
The difficulties were created when other groups viewed themselves as superior to others, leading to inequalities held for many decades. As civilizations aim to abolish all unevenness created by different racial groups, there are periods when certain groups become suppressed or silenced as they threaten other groups. I often wonder how cultures would thrive without a popular culture. Though humanity tries to promote diversity, it often forgets about the popular culture created in the past and continues to thrive today. Popular culture threatens racial and cultural groups as their ideas are not supported. Even though diversity is promoted, it’s also being suppressed as many groups lose parts of themselves that define their culture or heritage when they integrate into societal norms. Racism is also an issue that has dramatically arisen from promoting diversity. The hate for individuals for their profile is unacceptable, but these crimes are still committed by individuals and even governments around the globe. The poem “The Profile of Africa” by Maxine Tynes explains the pride and individual promotion of one’s identity and race.
I spoke about the negatives of expressing one’s profile, but the poem allowed me to explore the side of pride people feel while promoting their culture, heritage, and race. The poem gave me a new perspective. Tynes believes that individuals are constantly promoting themselves as their heritage, culture, and ethnicity are all displayed in their eyes, skin, structure, and face. The poem also gave insight into how every person is connected in society, especially people of colour. I loved the imagery projected in the poem by the poet using similes. The images created in my head made me feel more proud to be able to represent myself in public. I’ve always thought I had to express my culture and speak my language to describe my heritage. The poem has helped me realize that I continually represent myself in public. Expressing oneself through one’s mother tongue, cultural activities, and connecting to one’s roots is essential. Still, it’s beneficial to understand that we represent a group every second of our lives.
The central theme of the poem “The Profile of Africa” is identity and the relationship individuals create with their race, heritage, and culture. 
The poem focuses on the struggles people of colour face when representing and promoting themselves in society, as many are seen as minority groups. The poem explored a perspective different from mine as Tynes explored the relationship between a person’s origin and an individual’s respect for their own identity. The poem illustrates the connection between promoting oneself in a way where one accepts every part of oneself that represents one’s collective and individual identity. When individuals pride themselves on their identity, social issues emerge. “We wear our skin like a flag” is one of the lines in the poem. After reading the line, I imagine the ways someone can interpret it. The first way is my perspective of expressing one’s identity as a citizen of society and being discriminated against. As seen in the media, one group member going down the wrong path can create a stereotype of a particular collective group, leading them to marginalization as they are scared to be targeted or confronted about their identity. The second way the line can be interpreted is the acceptance of the group throughout society. When individuals of a group experience extreme pride in their ethnicity, they will challenge the stereotype and continue to represent their collective identity positively. They will hold their pride like a flag for all to see.
The poem “The Profile of Africa” by Maxine Tynes’ gave me insight into how individuals of a racial group are responsible for sharing their heritage, culture, history, and collective identity with the rest of society. The showcase of people’s pride in their race, colour, and ethnicity can create diversity in the global community. Diversity is promoted by sharing new knowledge, ideologies, and values. Variety is crucial for equality in all of humanity worldwide as it sets a ground for appreciating diversity. When people of a group take fulfillment in showing their values and beliefs, they can create a “many-shaded mosaic.” Diversity is vital in society as it builds mutual respect for everyone regardless of race, culture, identity, or colour. But as we accept variety, we must, as a society, do our part to tolerate all and welcome multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is created only when individuals of collective groups take dignity in their structure, race, heritage, ideologies, culture, and identities. People of colour should continue to represent themselves as people who take pride in their heritage, culture, and identities by continuing to explain their origins. Only then can we become more open and caring for one another, as everyone represents a collective identity or “profile.”
References:
https://knowledge.insead.edu/career/are-you-discriminating-without-realising-it
https://imgbin.com/png/316mEaXG/united-states-community-multiculturalism-cultural-diversity-unity-in-diversity-png
https://redi.med.ubc.ca/canadian-multiculturalism-day-2021/
https://theconversation.com/why-diversity-tactics-in-the-creative-industries-continue-to-fall-short-197654
https://treenewal.com/how-far-down-do-tree-roots-go/
