Practicing Awareness of Microagression

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

My mother in law watches CNN and other news shows every day all day long. Most of the time, she doesn’t even understand what is being said. She just always relates it to racial. While I will admit some of the news shows and views are very racial, the things in which he will comment on are not always racial. For example, anytime the republicans don’t support an issue or law in which Obama is trying to enact. That must mean that they are all racist. Not all white people are racist nor or all republicans racist. Just because they don’t support something that Obama supports doesn’t make them racist.

 

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people.

. I don’t allow my children to go to her house very often because I don’t want my children growing up with this kind of attitude. I have very good friends of different political views, that doesn’t make them racist and nor have I ever thought they are racist. All people are different, raised differently and think differently. My opinion is going to be different the next persons. However, that doesn’t mean that I think any differently of them. This is important in stereotyping people. We must embrace and support each other’s differences.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I spoke with my best friend, who is Baptist in her religion. She believes culture is what we are as people and diversity is limited to our community. She thinks culture is what we have learned from our parents about what not to do and what to do. She defines diversity as the different types of people and races that lives in your community.

I spoke with my great-aunt who is 72. My aunt defines culture and diversity as it relates to race only. She doesn’t classify or see any differences as far as race, class, religion or any of classification is concerned. She feels that culture is your race. As a race, we are all united and classified under that one race. All blacks do this….. All white people do this…… all Hispanic people do this……

I also spoke with my uncle who lives a High class life in Washington DC- My uncle has been very fortunate. He is single, educated and has a very good job in Washington. He lives in a posh area of Washington and owns a high price home and drives high priced cars. He states that culture is what we surround and immerse ourselves in. That yes, we grow up in a particular culture and learn certain values from our family. However, once we are on our own, it is up to us to enhance our knowledge and create new cultural values within ourselves. Diversity is anything that is different. Diversity is not just race but can be foods, communities, cars, homes and etc. Diverse means a lot of different things to choose from or ways to look at things.

I think my friend’s definition was more along the lines of cultural diversity. Values and other ideas that we learn from our family is very cultural. Many of the learned behaviors or lessons learned have been passed down through generations.

I feel as though dominate culture was omitted. Dominant culture was a word that was new to me as well. Therefore, I didn’t think anyone would mention this as I spoke to them.

From hearing from other people, this just supported what I already knew. There are going to be many different definitions of culture and diversity. People are diverse in their culture; therefore, people are going to be diverse in the definitions and answers that they give based on their cultural experiences.

My Family Culture

·         Blog: My Family Culture

Imagine the following:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

The three items I would choose would be a

Ipad- so that I can always keep in contact and communicate with my husband, children, and other family members since the items are small things, my kids and husband are not included to bring. On the ipad, I can skype my family and stay abreast of other worldly news and issues.

The bible- I was raised on the bible and reading the word on a daily basis. I know that it will be my faith and spirituality that will bring me through the catastrophe. The bible will strengthen my mind and give me hope.

My glasses- Since I obviously can’t see without them.        

If I was told I could only keep one item, I would choose my IPad. My family is my heart and I would really like to keep in contact with them. Through my iPad I can read bible verses to keep my faith and mind strong.

This list helps me to prioritize and to determine what is important to me. My family of course is of utter importance but first and foremost is my relationship with God. In which, I still intend to keep. Because through him, I can do and make it through anything. I was exposed to my religion at an early age as a part of my family cultural upbringing. My religion and my faith in God has through everything remained steadfast. I always have my faith and trust in the Lord. I know that he will bring me through any catastrophe.