Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggressions are indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental and may or may not be intentionally communicated to women, people or color, gay/lesbians with insulting message behind them.

I remember being on an elevator in a court house.  On this elevator was myself, two other black women and two white men.  As the elevator stopped and opened, the two white men excited.  As the door finally closed, I and the other tow black women remained on the elevator.  One of the woman said, "I guess all the lawyers left the elevator," than she begin to laugh.  Then the other black woman said, "no, I'm still on the elevator."  Although I did not know neither women, I was quite embarrassed.  I'm sure the black attorney was insulted by the hidden message of white men in a court house can only be lawyers.  Whether the message was intentional or unintentional, the other black women message was very sterotypic of believing the white men as attorneys and not the black woman. 

I have learned that some point everyone may indulge in Microaggressions behavioral.  However, we must learn to interact and share our differences without judging others. 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Microagrations [DVD].Perspectives on diversity and equity. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Culture is identified as the ideas, beliefs and values of a group of shared traditions while diversity is the characteristics of being diverse or unique.  Our cultural diversity is acknowledged by our rich tradition and beliefs.  Cultural diversity has showed us the different beliefs, customs, and traditions of many cultures with diverse backgrounds.  However, language barriers can differ from culture to culture.  For example, working with many people who are bilingual in English and Spanish can be sometimes challenging due to pitch and speed of the voice.  Moreover, having more than one language is valuable to connect and interact with others from different cultures.  Cultural diversity will always include some form of language diversity.  Understanding that people are different should be respected.  Cultural diversity should teach us to be more sensitive to the needs of others and be more acceptable to people background.

 

 

Assignment: My Family Culture

Imagine

 

If a major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of my country and had to be evacuated to another county which culture is completely different and I'm only allowed to bring 3 small items with me that hold dear and represent my family culture would be photos, my bible, and soul food.

 

 

Photos will remind me of family and love ones I left behind.  Photos will also bring memories of my country and everything I had to leave behind.  I would bring my bible because I grew up in a Christian base family with faith, hope, inspiration, and a connection to God.  Soul food because of it's tradition in my family especially on the holiday's coming together eating around the table with large family meals bringing us togetherness, happiness and bonding.

 

If only allow one of the three mention items I would chose the photos for the images and memories.  The bible I carry in my heart and can still have a connection to God and my faith.  The soul food can be replace with a new traditional meal that will still bring family gatherings.

 

 

It would definitely be a culture shock for someone to have to leave their homeland to evacuate to another unknown country.  Not realizing, this happens everyday in the world.  Our beliefs and customs are very unique in our family culture.  Family culture is very important to us in who we are.