Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I detected racial microaggression this week. I over heard someone tell a baby that she was cute to be as dark as she was. The first thing I said was, "why did you say that"? Of course she did not think she did anything wrong but I explained to her that she basically told that child that darker skinned children are not as beautiful as white and light skinned children.  It bothered me to hear someone say something like this because I have experienced racial microaggression most of my life and I don't want anyone else, especially not a child, to go through this.

I realize more and more that discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes on people still exist.  It made me want to be more aware of my surroundings and what is being said along with what I said. I am just as guilty as many other people when it comes to having stereotypes. I don't think I discriminate against anyone but I will focus more of my attention towards being a better more self-aware individual.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment I contacted my aunt, my brother, and one of my co-workers. All of their definitions for culture were relatively the same: Culture is what you believe and what you are taught. Their definitions where similar as well. My aunt said it was what makes us unique. My brother said diversity is what makes the world more interesting because no two people are the same. My co-worker did not have a definition.

Some of the aspects of culture and diversity are included in their answers such as culture being ideas of what we are taught and that it makes us who we are. Also that diversity makes us unique and different from others.

I don't think other people's definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics. I have learned the meaning of the definitions on my own and have formed my own understanding of each one.

My Family Culture

A description of the three items you would choose
The three items I would definitely take would be family pictures, CD player with CD's, and a comb!

How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you
I would explain to them that the pictures are of my family and they represent memories from my past that I do not want to forget.  The CD play and CD's are for entertainment and they represent my culture and my interests. The comb is important as well because I like my hair to be neat, clean, and put together. Without a comb I would go insane.

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you
I would be devastated if I had to give up any of my items. Each item represents me and what I am about. They are a part of me and what makes me unique.  At the end of the day, if I really had to choose, I would always choose the photos because a picture is worth a thousand words and it is an eternal way to keep a memory alive.

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise,
From doing this exercise I realize how important my family and my culture are to me.  Its not everyday that you are faced with the question of "if you had to choose, what would you choose".