Marcia Bonato Warren is the author of the new book Movement and Identity: Multiculturalism, Somatic Awareness and Embodied Code-Switching. She is a psychotherapist and counselor.
Q: What inspired you to write Movement and Identity?
A: That’s a story in and of itself! As a multicultural woman (I identify as indigenous and Brazilian-Italian), the main question of the book – what does it mean to be multicultural? –has always been a part of my life, so I can say that the book has been forming within me since I was old enough to recognize feeling different from those around me and “in-between” the cultures in which I was raised.
The beginnings of the book began to emerge through the research for my Master’s Paper in Somatic Counseling on the somatic experience of code-switching, which is where I coined the term Embodied Code-Switching.
After the paper was done, I realized there was so much I wanted to explore, so over the years I began to save articles, write small personal pieces, and kept the different subject areas of the book floating around on my computer waiting until I felt it was the right time to bring it together.
When Covid happened in 2020 I intended to write the book, but a different style of writing took me over and in retrospect, I really appreciate that my voice had the space to stretch into a way of self-expression that felt more personal and introspective.
Then fate intervened: in 2021, I did an online workshop on the topic of “Embodied Multicultural Identity – Our Superpower” and unbeknownst to me at the time, my future editor saw that workshop and decided to send me a message on Facebook.
When I saw it, I didn’t know what to think, but after our first conversation I was asked to submit a proposal, and it was accepted! From there, I began the best adventure of my life and was able to write this book with an incredible amount of support from my publishers, my family, and colleagues.
Overall, I feel that there were so many small moments of inspiration that kept on the path that the book itself (and my ancestors) wanted me to follow, and I just feel blessed to have been put in the right place at the right time for it to happen.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: Honestly, I have to give credit to my editor, Claire Wilson, for choosing the title. My style of writing is more along the lines of storytelling and all my attempts at titles were much too wordy or not clear enough in letting readers know what the book is all about.
Claire came up with a few titles and Movement and Identity: Multiculturalism, Somatic Awareness, and Embodied Code-Switching® is the one we both liked the most.
The title itself signifies so much for me. I love that each word within the title represents a world of experience that is both independent and naturally interrelated, and so very human.
I also recognize that words are powerful and can hold different meanings for each person who reads them, which are always informed by our cultures and identities. It takes only a moment for those deeply held reactions and beliefs to arise and potentially take away the chance for a new insight or understanding to emerge.
My hope is that readers will become curious about what the title as a whole might mean for them and, then separately, what each word on its own can offer as a place of self-discovery and expanded awareness, in whatever ways are meaningful to them.
Q: What do you see looking ahead for multiculturalism in the U.S.?
A: This is the fundamental question that’s facing this country right now, isn’t it? Before I answer, let me separate out the term multiculturalism from having a multicultural identity because although they are similar, the scope and impact of each is quite different.
Multiculturalism is both a concept and an ideology. As a concept, it expands the definition of diversity beyond the socio-political considerations of race, nationality, and ethnicity to include additional cultural affiliations such as socioeconomic status, gender, sexual identity, religion, geographic area, ability, and age.
It is also considered an ideology that can be found in certain national policies which support cultural pluralism within societies, which is based upon three main principles: the recognition of a diverse population; the attitude of acceptance and validation of the cultures represented by these populations; and the creation of specific policies that protect and support each and all of these groups.
The United States, although it has a diverse population and some degree of acceptance of the cultural groups within its borders, has never had an official multicultural national policy.
That being said, it is safe to say that instead of moving towards a more inclusive position in its policies and programs, the current leadership of the U.S. government is adopting a stance that moves away from multiculturalism, which is adversely and disproportionately affecting the many diverse populations in this country that currently exist and are growing in number.
The impact of this type of policy stance is not just political, it is personal, and this is where the discussion of multicultural identity comes in. Folks that identify with one or more cultural identities, whether through birth or lived experience, make up one of the fastest growing populations in this country.
One example we see of this phenomena is with individuals who identify with more than one racial or ethnic identity. According to the United States Census, the number of people who identified with more than one race grew 276 percent between 2010 and 2020, representing 10.2 percent of the country’s population.
And if we layered on additional cultural identities to the category of race (such as gender, sexual orientation, etc.) that number would most certainly increase.
The fact is, multicultural policies may come or go, but multicultural people will continue to exist and are, in fact, a growing population that will have an impact on the future of our society in ways we have not yet considered.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: Most of all, I hope readers will feel welcomed in the book and seen in their experience - whether they themselves identify as multicultural, work in multicultural settings with diverse people, or find themselves on a journey of embracing complexity and integration in their own personal healing.
I hope they find the book not only a resource of information and practical application, but more importantly, an invitation to discover their own inner knowing through its greatest storyteller, the body.
Another thing I hope the readers feel is that they are not alone. I say this because a big part of what I have found about having a multicultural identity is the paradox that although I am part of many communities, I am not fully part of any of them.
That can make for a lonely experience, so for me, I hope readers will know they have company in a larger population of multicultural people (we’re everywhere!), and that what makes them different is exactly what’s needed in today’s interconnected world.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: At this moment I’m focusing on the launch of this book and supporting the issues that it speaks to through additional writing, teaching, speaking and special projects. Eventually, I hope to have the book translated into my mother’s language, Portuguese, as well as Spanish, and I hope it finds its way to places all over the world.
As far as future writing, I have a strong sense that there are more books in me, so I’m open to the universe and trust my ancestors to let me know when the time is right for the next writing to begin.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I truly believe writing is a gift. It became a way for me to connect to my own voice and the voices of my lineages in a way I had never done before, which felt magical and true.
I would encourage anyone who is currently writing or wants to write, to believe in your own inner knowing and let the stories emerge. There are so many messages we receive about having to “prove” your knowledge, or justify your words, but in reality, our life experiences and all that has been passed down to us from our ancestors is more than enough.
Humans are storytellers, and with each story we tell, we build bridges towards better understanding each other, feeling empathy for one another, and creating more love in the world. We need more stories in whatever form of writing calls to you, especially now!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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