This was piece done way back in 2004.

Being of a mix of ethnic minorities, many who have- or are- of the same variety will come into a lot of racial slurs, bad stereotypes, and generally plain disrespect at the hands of many others. Many just figure that they are entitled to do as they please, say what they want, and act out at will in regard to ethnicities that are not theirs.
Do they bother to learn about it? No.
Do they bother to invest in the effort to understand culture outside their own? No.
Do they care if what they do is hurtful, taboo, or insulting to the other culture? Also no.

When I did this piece it was after a bad occurrence in my close context, in regards to one of the many ethnicities that make up my "genetic makeup". I took that hurt and went to my work at the NCC (Native Canadian Center of Toronto). It was the 4rth consecutive year of my return from abroad, and I had been steadily integrating in a culture I had left when I moved away some 10 years prior.
They immediately detected a change of composure and inquired what happened. I remember clearly that it was a Wednesday, my Medicine Man was in attendance, and so were some of the Elders- as there was also an event at the NCC that night we were preparing for.
One of the Elder's said:
"It hurts when someone does something like this. Not only does it hurt you and your people, but hurts those bad-talking people more... becuase if anything our people recognize, is that we have so much in common, and so much to learn form one another. Eventually, our lines become one- with marriage and with living on the same land. Sullying a culture, is disgracing oneself more than it is someone else."

Some might say that it wasn't profound, but it's something that made me feel welcomed after such a segregating experience. As per the advice of some of the Elders, I had to let that hurt go somehow- so I, as always, chose my art. And I did a little piece to honor all that that person said- about my "big nose" and my "animal" culture.
And what an animal it is.

"Arieh" in Hebrew means "Lion". There are 12 ways to say "lion" in biblical Hebrew. Each one referring to a different sex, age, type, and temperament for it.
"Judah" was one of the 12 Tribes of Israel (based of the 10 sons of Jacob, plus his 2 adoptive sons from Joseph). Their defining symbol was the Lion. it is from that word "Judah" that the name for the religion "Judaism" was taken.

Done on Scratchboard.