Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

For this week assignment we have to describe at least one microaggression that we detected this week or remember from one time.
According to Dr. Sue, microaggressions are brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental, that they may be intentional or unintentionally communicated to women, to people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often time causes severe psychological distress and harm.
I remember a time when I had to give a speech in front of a large audience for work. Some of the people I had never met before and the audience was a mixture of men and women of different ethnicity. I was nervous about giving the speech because I was not a speaker, I am a more pf a behind the scene person. After my speech two white ladies came up to me and said I did not know you could speak that well. I had a confuse look on my face and when I want people to repeat what they have said I always say excuse me. The ladies said again I did not know you could speak that well. You spoke really well and you are articulated your words. I said reluctantly thank you. I ask them what department were they from because I have never seen them before. They said they were from the youth department. I really felt sorry for the youth that they were over because they were clearly making a racist statement. I told my other coworkers what they said and they became upset and said do you know they were being racist. I said I know, but I did not want to start a riot so I left it alone. I was raised to pick and chose your battles and I did not want to battle with those two women because they may have not known what they were doing. I felt very uncomfortable and I already did not like to speak in front of a large crowd and this incident did not help encourage me to keep speaking.
The effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people can be permanent and damaging. Like the microaggression that I experienced, I speak in front of large audiences if I have to, but I do not choose to do it. I still feel uncomfortable and that incident happened in 2007. I do not understand how someone can think that they have a right to discriminate against someone else. I may not agree with something or like something, but I do not mistreat people because of my thoughts or beliefs. I treat everyone equally.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

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Perspective on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment we had to talk to three people (friends, family, acquaintance, and/or colleague) about their definition of culture and their definition of diversity.
I talked to my brother (Dexter), best friend (Rashad), and colleague (Barbara).

Rashad (30 years old, male, and Catholic) definition of diversity:
I think diversity is a catch 22. To be diverse in a sense of being able to adapt to different situations is vital. It's almost animalistic for one to "change" in a new environment. However one can lose their own identity in an attempt to "change". In modern society the push for diversity is so strong that I believe it's pretend or forced. The theory that America is "melting pot" is preposterous it is a victim of "forced diversity". Ships of individuals sent here where their culture was considered second class had to diversify...and that diversity still exist. 

Rashad definition of culture:
Culture is the thread to every person, it's our life! Culture is what creates wars...to fight for your culture is to fight for yourself.

Barbara (54 years old, Female, and Christian) definition of diversity:
My definition of diversity would be different groups of individuals who are of different races. Who accept each other for who they are despite their differences; whether is is their sexual preferences, beliefs, race, or gender. There are many different races in America who respect others beliefs and are not judgmental. The reason that America is called the melting pot is because of the diversity. 

Barbara definition of culture:
My definition of culture would be whatever a particular group's belief and values are. Culture is passed down from one generation to the next. For instance, at a young age my parents taught my siblings and I to respect others no matter how different they are from us. They also taught us to always be honest, humble, and willing to help others. I have instilled the same attributes into my children and from what I have observed with my grandchildren their parents have done the same thing.

Dexter (45 years old, Male, Episcopal) definition of diversity:
Diversity is the blending and understanding of a variety of cultures.

Dexter definition of culture:
Culture is simply the customs, traditions, values, morals, and beliefs of given group of people in a simple culture is who a people are with or without reason or explanation. 

The three people I spoke with gave some passionate definitions for diversity and culture. I think that this topic can become very controversial for some people. It made me think about what I think diversity and culture is. Diversity to me a variety of different groups from different backgrounds, religions, race, gender, social status, and sexual preference. Culture to me is a persons values, beliefs, and traditions. I think that Barbara and Dexter definitions were very close to mine and the definitions I have read from the text and articles. It was interesting to find out how each person think from 3 different generations and backgrounds. 

My Family Culture

This week we were asked to imagine ourselves in a major catastrophe were we would have to evacuate our country and we had no input in anything. We were asked to choose three things that we hold dear to us and that represent my family culture.

The 3 items that I would choose to take with me would be a picture of my family, a bible given to me by my mother, and my birth certificate. 

The family picture is important to me because it will remind me where I came from and if by any chance that I get separated from my family that I would not forget what they looked like.

 

I brought the bible with me because my help comes from the Lord. All the answers I need for everything that is going on in my life would come from that book. My religion is very important to me and I would need to take it with me everywhere I go. 

My birth certificate would be important to me because I need proof of where I was born. I needed a reminder and certification of my birth place. 

I would be very upset if I could only bring one of my items with me. I would be very heartbroken and I may even protest. All 3 of my items are very important to me and I need all 3 of them with me. If I truly had to the only item I would bring with me would be my bible. The bible would help me get through this hard time. 

I learned that my faith is stronger than I thought it was. I have been doubting my faith because I have been worrying about to many things that I do not have control over, but after reading my post I realized that my faith is strong in the Lord than I thought it was. My family has always been very strict about our Christianity and we always went to church and not just on Sunday's. I guess I have not lost those values and I will continue to use them. Years ago during slavery and the civil rights movement, religion was a major source for African Americans. They trusted and believed that the Lord would free them and get them through that time. The Lord is the only one who could help them sustain beatings and mistreatment by the dominant culture. 

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