Awareness of Microaggression

Awareness of Microaggression

            Over the week, I have learned about microaggression.  My cousin (James) came home to visit yesterday for our Homecoming Parade and brought home his Caucasian girlfriend (Sue).  She seemed to be a little uncomfortable but I welcome her to the family and wanted her to feel as though she was welcomed.  However, my cousin (Tony), James brother said, “Here he comes home with this big white country woman.”  However, I told him to stop talking about her because he knows nothing about her.  She was very well manner and she makes him happy so that was all that matter.  My cousin (Tony) was using microaggression.  Although, Sue did not here his statement that he made it still was not a nice or respectful thing to say. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

1^st Person-Kendall

Culture is who I am. It is my background and the heritage that makes me who I am today.  I am an African American my religion is Christian and I was basically raised in the country surrounded by plenty of animals and a lot of work.  I love soul food and I enjoy riding horses as a hobby.  I do not listen to rap, for some reason I like to listen to country music and enjoy being around family.  Diversity is basically the same as culture.  It describes who I am as well as culture. 

2^nd Person-Shaerrecca

Culture is the way we live our lives, learn and teach.  Culture is the way we do things in our world.  Like certain food we eat, the way we teach our children and the way we were brought up.    Diversity just simply mean different.  There are no two things exactly alike. 

3^rd Person-Kelvin

Culture describes me as a Mexican.  I can speak English and Spanish.  My family spends a lot of time together and we are very close to each other.  I love to work and spend money.  I love Mexican food but I like soul food as well.  I have been eating food from the African American heritage for the last five years.  I have been dating  African American women since I was eighteen and I’ve been in my relationship now over two years.  Diversity is my ability to succeed, the way I was raised and the way I live in the community where I reside.  I am Hispanic, 25 years old, have two brothers and I am not married.

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?  Each individual plainly stated culture as being the way one live and what they eat. “Culture is the way we eat, sleep, talk, play, care for one another, think about work, arrange our kitchen and remember our dead,” (Louis Derman-Sparks & Julie Olsen Edwards).

 

Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission? There were no aspects omitted. 

 

In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?  After listen to each individual they feel the same I do about culture and diversity.  Culture basically describes who you are, what you eat, your religion, and your background.  It is who and how you live your life and it helps other to know some aspects about you as an individual. 

 

Reference

Sparks, Louise & Edwards, Julie O. Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves Chapter 5,

"Learning about Culture, Language, & Fairness" (pp. 56–60)

My Family Culture

If a major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of my country, and I have been told I could bring three items to represent my family culture I would bring my photo album, my family fortunes if any, and my grandmother’s quilt. 

 

I would like to bring my photo album because it contains history from the older generation until the present.  It shows how each family has came a long way and tells the difference of how we dressed from the past until now.  I would like to carry my family fortunes such as jewelry and golden coins.  The coins and jewelry could be worth something more in another country.  My grandmother’s quilt is wonderful because it tells the life she lived, where she traveled, the number of children she had, and things she encounter as being an African American.

 

If I could only keep one item it will be my photo album.  I will be able to keep the memories and add new memories as I continue to live my life in another country.

 

I did not gain any insights but I have realized that it is a very important decision to make because you never know what life has in store for you.  Remembering where you came from and keeping the hope alive is the main point of it all. Our culture is very important to us all and we need to let our children know exactly where they came from.