Perspectives on Diversity and Equity (EDUC - 6164 - 6) Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

            Last year, around Christmas time, my niece got a baby doll as one of her Christmas gifts.  The baby doll was what she wanted, so you would think that she would have been excited.  However, all day she never touched the baby doll, never took it out of the box and did not even look at the doll.  By the end of the day she had played with all of her other toys, except the baby doll.  As her parents asked her to place of her new gifts in her room, she took everything but the baby doll.  When her father (my brother) handed her the baby doll she shook her shoulders and said, "no!"  "What's wrong," he asked her.  She implied that the baby doll was a black baby doll and she wanted the white baby doll.  This statement shocked everyone in the room.  He asked her, "why do you want the white baby doll so badly?"  She responded with the fact that she thought the white one was prettier.  One by one each family member asked her what made the white baby doll prettier, and each time she said the skin and her hair.  That Christmas we spent time telling all the children about how God made them all unique, different and special.  He made everyone just the way that they were supposed to be.  We explained you can't not like someone because of their skin color because she would be not liking a lot of her own family members.  It is very important to love everyone.  By the end of the day, I am pretty sure that she got the message and she still plays with the doll today.

            For me, this was an example of Dr. Sue's "Catch-22."  I wondered in my mind, did this really happen?  As an educator, I knew that I needed to spend time talking to my niece without asking her too many questions to discover where this behavior came from.  I explored the subject and found out that she goes to a school where there are not many kids that look like her.  Most of the little Caucasian children are very warm and welcoming to her and she wanted her doll baby to look like her friends.  I explained to her that it is ok to like people of all races, but we must remember where we come from.  Therefore, I reminded her parents it is important to schedule play dates with friends that look like her as well.  Maybe, friends in the neighborhood or the church but she needs to know and accept her culture.  I also asked my sister in law to visit the school and see if there are books, toys, puppets or anything that would represent our culture within the classroom.  If she did not see anything, I told her to ask the teacher.  This is important that each child's culture is represented within the classroom.  Today, she is coming into her own little identity and she has friends of all races.  Also, we now buy her dolls that explore all cultures.

Perspectives on Diversity and Equity (EDUC - 6164 - 6) Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

            This week's assignment was to interview three people and ask them what the terms culture and diversity meant to them.  I interviewed four people and I will tell you what there responses were.  The first person was my mother, who plays a very important part within my knowledge of what I believe.  She defined culture as many different forms of color, style, creed, communities, nationalities and religions.  Diversity is the beliefs that a person has obtained from the religious aspect that they are a part of, also it is a way of life and how others conduct themselves within the public arena.  Next, I interviewed my aunt.  Her philosophy was similar.  Culture, to her, is a person's background or way of life.  The mere fact she has to have greens and rice every new years is simply a part of her culture.  Also, she included the what a person does things and the beliefs they have is a part of their culture.  Diversity is being able to appreciate others beliefs.  She used, "when in Rome do as the Romans" as her example.  Then, I spoke with a younger cousin.  He views culture as a way of life, way of thinking, tradition, foods and language.  Diversity was the different ways that people think, and the different methods that people have for handling events that occur in life.  Finally, I spoke with a family friend.  He said that his culture will always include ministry, church and the workplace.  He also views culture as allowing others to be stressful.  Diversity is being able to understand people, knowing that everyone is different, accepting others beliefs and acknowledging the different races.  I thanked them all for their input.

            So far in this class we have already had some very intriguing topics.  Within the first week we discussed our social identities and it forced me to think "who am I?"  Having to create ten I am....was a challenge all within itself.  But, it allowed me to really consider who I am and acknowledge that I need to carry myself in a manner where others can see that this is what I think of myself.  Next, we discussed our individual family dynamics.  What specifics about your families culture stands out and how does outsiders feel about these differences.  I realized three are the top three things that stands out with my family: religion, discipline (respect), and togetherness.  Others can view my family and see that when times are hard we rely on each other and our religion to get us through.  It has worked this far.  We have tapped into valuing culture and recognizing deep culture, discontinuity and invisibility.  However, when have not covered some of the different things that can be used in the classroom, but hopefully that is coming.  I am excitedly waiting for the discussion on biased and the "isms."  I peeked and that is coming up and I can't wait to get into that conversation.  Bias always comes without even realizing it is there.  Through talking with others I realized that they were all pretty much saying the same thing, just in different vocabulary.  I also feel the same way that they do.  Before taking this class I didn't realize that they take to different definitions.  But, now I am interested in tearing these two words apart to see what I can discover about both.  I will definitely keep you posted with my findings.

My Family Culture Perspectives on Diversity and Equity (EDUC - 6164 - 6)

            A major catastrophe has occurred within my country and I am only allowed to retrieve three of my prized possessions.  I have carefully considered the details of this assignment.  The three things that I am going to take are as follows: my purse, my laptop and my bible.   I choose my purse because my entire life is in my purse.  Ask any female what's inside their purse and you will get some of these answers: my driver's license, my ss card, my birth certificate, a mirror, a comb, calendar of events, cards, lip gloss, fan, mail and even candy, deodorant etc.  I choose to get my laptop because then I can still do my homework and the fulfill my duties for my job.  Finally, I thought over and over of exactly what I wanted my last item to be and the only thing that I could think of is the bible.  My religion is very important to me and I need to be able to read it under any circumstance. 

            Now, that I have discovered three items, I am asked to reduce it to the most important one item.  I can always buy another bible and a laptop.  However, my purse is the item that I would keep.  Actually, it is not even the actual purse, but more of the items that is within the purse. 

            This assignment was tough because it took forever for me to narrow down which items were more important than others and why.  I did consider other items like family photos and my vehicle.  It forced me to be unselfish and really consider what is important to me.  I discovered that I am very concerned about my success and prosperity within the Lord.  After doing this assignment, I am very excited about what my future holds.