In the story Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan, what does the narrator's delayed realization about the meal and her mother's lesson suggest about navigating a multicultural identity?

It suggests that sometimes it takes us long enough to realize our own identity when we are assimilated in a majoritarian culture.

Explanation:

Amy was completely embarrassed when her family invited the minister's family because she felt that her family tradition did not meet the American standards. However, her mother chose to serve traditional food to the guests regardless of the common standards. It portrays how her mother chose to keep their cultural identity unaffected. It was only until many years later Amy understood why her mother chose top serve Chinese traditional food. She learnt to appreciate her own culture and its importance too.