Microaggression

A microaggression that I experienced this week was while I was in my classroom.  I was running late Thursday morning due to my son being sick, and when I walked in, my TA said "O you must've been eating grits and didn't have time to finish them.  Omg that's so racist of me", she then proceeded with a chuckle.

I did not find this remark funny, and I was quickly aggravated by her remark to me.  She assumed because I am black that I eat grits.  I responded and told her yes it is racist, because I have never eaten grits a day in my life.  I was stereotyped by my race, and she made a comment that I am sure she did not mean in a negative way; but I took it negative.  This shows that we have to watch what we say to others, because unknowingly we can offend someone.

Culture and Diversity

Definition of culture:

Jay: Culture means to me the history of my family and my African-American decent.

Nicole: Culture is the beliefs and morals for a family.  It’s the things that one practice in his everyday life.

LaQuita: Culture is the type of foods we eat, the dances we do, the things that has been passed onto us by our previous family members.

Definition of diversity:

Jay: My definition of diversity is simply a multiple of races.

Nicole: I think diversity means a variety of cultures coming together to celebrate each other’s differences.

LaQuita: Diversity is the differences among a group of people.

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?

In the responses I received, a lot of things that I have studied were represented in the answers of the three people I asked.  All three had different definitions, but they all built off of one another.  I was able to see that one had the “tip of the iceberg” view and only thought of surface level aspects.  Whereas, another had a deeper understanding, and thought about the things that one does not recognize so easily.

Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

Neither of the responses I received dealt with gender, sexuality, nor socioeconomic power.  I’m not sure if these people view these traits as a part of culture and diversity, or if they did not think that these things were also a part of culture and diversity.

In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

After I reviewed the responses, I realized that before I started this program I too had a surface level of what diversity and culture meant.  I now have a deeper understanding, which in return is helping become more aware of the diversity and all the different cultures around me.

Catastrophic Event: EDUC 6164

In the case of an catastrophic event and an emergency evacuation, the three items that I would take with me are a picture of my mom and dad, a picture of the 12 disciples that was given to me by my mom when i moved out, and a family photo album.
I would bring the picture of my mom and dad, because I do not want to forget where I came from.  Considering that I would be going to a country that would be totally different than what I am accustomed to, this is very important to me.

I would bring the picture of the 12 disciples to represent, that no matter what struggles I am going through, I know that God will see me and my family through it all.

I would bring a family album.  I say this because I would want my son to know about his life and how we was raised prior to moving to a new country.  To have the moments of love captured in a photo, will allow our son to see that he was loved, and even through our current situation he would still see that he will be loved and cherished.

If I had to choose only one, I would choose a picture of my mom and dad.  As stated before, when I look at them I think about where I come from, and where I am going.  Looking at their picture in a sense would serve as a motivation to get through any situation.

I learned that my family do not have a certain family loom that has been passed down.  This made me realize that everything I was taught has stuck with me due through experience.  I would like to have had a family loom to show my son and my future children but I do not.  I am going to think on creating a family loom that can be passed down within my family.