Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggression

Example 1

This week was our last week of school.  During this week we had a pre-k graduation and awards day for the school.  I had to watch the door during the awards day to ensure that parents were going through the office to check children out and not through the classroom halls.  As I was standing there another faculty member approached me and said, "that family (which was white) has been stalking me and they really give me the creeps.  Everyone of them is married to a black person". This microaggression was not directed at me and just happened casual conversation.  I was a little surprised because the person saying this was is suppose to be one setting an example.  I felt uneasy because I began to think about the children of these families, and what interaction had taken place if any between this person on staff and this family or any other biracial family. 

Example 2 
I was speaking with some (black) co-workers about the topic for this week "microaggression", and what it means.  The reminded me of a time that another teacher was talking with a Hispanic family.  She She aid to them, "you get food stamps don't you, you are a minority".  I know because my daughter was dating a Mexican and I know you can.  Once again shock for me.  I have known many people that require public assistance that are from different races and classes.

Example 3
I have always lived in the inner city where it is predominately black.  I am white and I catch a lot of slack for living there. Talking with another coworker we were discussing some shootings that happened near them over the weekend.  She turned to me and said, "I guess that would be pretty normal for you, you're pretty use to it with where you live".   I have become fairly numb to these comments so I usually just say, "ya pretty much".  Thinking about it with this weeks comments in mind brought things to a whole new light for me.   It's really not ok,  I like where I live and it's really not that bad.

Perceptions of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people...

As I mentioned in example three.  I always replied to comments of this type with ya I guess or something to that effect, but looking at microaggression these are hurtful words.  Sometimes I think we do become numb to some of these comments because we do hear them so regularly sometimes.  I listen more closely knowing the effect I could have on someone with my words.  These have been made more clear to me and therefore more noticeable when heard.  I think people use these more than I first realized unknowingly maybe or maybe just without care.  

Persepectives on Diveristy & Culture

 The four people I talked with this week about culture and diversity were of different ethnicity, race, class, religion, age, and gender. 
Below is a list of the people I spoke with and their definitions

Parker age 19 and male -
* Culture - the history, tradition, and overall way of life for a specific group of people
* Diversity - differences in physical appearances, and ethnicity
Pam - Pentecostal 
* Culture - What you are taught from your ancestors and not necessarily where your from (your environment)
* Diversity - all race, creed, color, religion
April - Black, Female
* Culture - any group of people's language, art, music, religious, belief, clothing (dress), & traditions/values
* Diversity - an understanding that society is made of various cultural, ehtnic, racial,  & religious groups that create one global community
Gwinn -  Native Americann
* Culture - Our native language, our food, our way of living, and our native regalia
* Diveristy - (no response)

Reflection

• The aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in my class on diversity and culture that are included in these examples are that of culture comes from our experiences in life and our traditions not necessarily the environment in which we are raised or grow up.  Dr. Janet Gonzalez-Mena talks about culture and diversity being a set of unconscious rues that govern everything we do.  As Parker stated it's the overall way of life for a specific group of people.  Yet what Pam states is that it is what we are taught and not necessarily what is learned from our environment.   
• Through these definitions some aspects of culture and diversity were omitted such as that some children are not raised with their family as Dr. Gonzalez-Mena stated.  They are with caregivers outside of the home which may in turn allow them to develop the culture of someone else versus their own family culture.  Gwinn and April's definition of culture lend to the definition of "surface culture" more so than to culture from what where we are taught, experience, and how we are raised.  
• In thinking about these definitions listed above of culture and diversity they influenced my own thinking about these topics was challenged.  I have gained a great about of knowledge on what culture is just in the past two weeks.  I can see that culture is a complex make up of everything that we are and everything that we do.  Diversity is a benefit as Dr. Gonzalez-Mena points out to us.  Their definitions were very general in terms of what culture and diversity means.  They did not give specific examples of their own cultures and diversity but rather a general definitions.  

As I have mentioned before I live in such a diverse area with a wide variety of people.  The cultural differences of families really stand out around me.  I am sure mine does to them as well.  Our celebrations are different, our holidays, and even our daily lives of what we see as acceptable behavior is a challenge to us all.  It has especially become a challenge to children.

 

My Family Culture

Scenario -- A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of the United States.  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 hose 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.

Chosen Items

1) Family Recipe Book

My grandmother was a cook, home economist, and teacher.  She was my sunshine and taught me everything I know today including the importance of education and teaching.  Along with many other women in our family she had wonderful recipes from both the north and the south that remind me of my American family traditions and holidays.  Many recipes were passed down from her mother and grandmother.

2) Bible 

This was a bible given to me when I was confirmed.  I am a Christian and it is important to me to remember this and share m faith wherever I go.  My bible is a reminder of God's promises to me and to stay strong and secure in my faith.  The bible is all the instruction needed to get through whatever life throws my way.  For instance, the fall of the United States infrastructure.

3) Wedding Album

My family, friends, and church as witnesses supporting my husband and I in joining together in holy matrimony in their presence before God.  A reminder that marriage is important and that we are one together not separate.  That we share vows together that one is not better than the other or more powerful.  That marriage is between two people and a lasting love covenant until we are parted by death.

Oh me, oh my what's that they say.  To this foreign land, in which I may stand, I may only have one...

If this were to be the case I would feel a sense of unfairness and unjust.  I am not use this and would be sadden with this decision process.   I would cry or more or less throw a fit.  I hold all of these above items as a part of my family belongings, that can be passed down for generations.  I would cry and be simple heart broken.   Each thing is different done having to do with the other.  If I lost one I would feel like a part of me had been lost and destroyed.

Insights

As a result of thinking about this through this exercise. I have gained a better since of my culture and what I truly hold dear to me.  I had not thought about these things in the past.  Of course, I have thought if I was trapped on a desert island what would I take.  I have to admit none of the above were on that list.  I thought of this like the scenario sets up, what if I did not know where I was going or if I would ever return.  I am quite a home body and don't take changes very well.  This would be very difficult for me.  I had a disaster at my house a year ago in April and lost many pried family possessions.  I can not imagine going through this.  I do however, realize that many families do experience this and have to leave everything.  My family culture and cultural differences are importance to me such as my faith, religions, food, and marriage.  The diversity within these things contain likenesses and differences that I want to be able to express freely.