Practing Awareness of Microaggressions

Practing Awareness of Microaggressions   An example of microaggression that comes to mind for me was about six months ago. A white co-worker complains about her community from time to time. Apparently there is a bar close by,  that she refers to as the “hood” ( black peoples hangout). She assumed that my husband and I would like it!   I felt angry that she presented it as “funny” or looked for me to make fun of the “hood”. This experience defiantly felt like a stereotype towards my husband and me. It is suggesting  we would feel comfortable in a less  then desirable area for entertainment.   And in return, I have to forgive her or I will fall back into stereotypes myself , because that is how we are taught from our environment  meaning; “if you say something offensive you must be prejudice” so I’m learning it was just an ignorant comment and to keep it moving.

 

Perspective on Diversity and Culture

I asked three people the question what does culture and diversity mean to them,  all three spoke around the terms   “  culture  is a group of people that share the same beliefs, experiences, expressions, understandings, and customs in particular place in time”  and diversity was explained as acceptance.  One person went a little farther to say it’s so important to her  because she wants her children to be immersed in many views and the way of life and in her opinion it’s the only way to make educated decisions.  

o     Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples?

All through the course we have talked about our beliefs and how we were raised. We talked about the strong beliefs and what is most important to us. One of the participant spoke on   diversity, he said “ I’d say diversity means the intentional inclusion and acceptance of others beyond what’s dominate and common.  It is embracing others of different paths, ethnicities, races, and beliefs.” When he shared that,  I thought  wow his descriptions is going beyond culture ( dominate) right into diversity…. Very cool    

o    Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

I can’t think of anything being omitted, everyone want to cover all their bases. Religion. Food, values, expression, experiences, holidays, schools, family life style, it seems all was covered

 

o    .  In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

I simply have more respect and acceptance of people. My husband says you cannot control people nor change people, so instead of saying “I like her,  accept…… change that accept to acceptance”  

 

 

My Family Culture

If something devastating happen to my country and I had to make some decisions about what I could take with me as far as items to live in another country with complete  strangers, I would take my  photo album, cell phone and bible.

I would explain to others that my photo album is of my family members , my cell phone has videos of family and friends and my bible  is part of my faith and inspiration of GOD’s word.

I would be devastated and depress if I were told that I would have to give up all but two items.

In the event that I was forced  give the items, I would keep my bible.  I would think  at this point in my life nothing on earth would help me get through this change in my life  accepted drawing closer to GOD.

I think this exercise would shed light on a number of things like;

·         How blessed I was and didn’t appreciated it.

 

 

·         How  prejudice I was and didn’t know it.  

·         I would take advantage of sharing things that  my host didn’t know.

·         And me learning things  at I didn’t know.