Practicing Awareness of Microaggression

This week's material and readings opened my eyes on the topic of microaggression. According to the video that was shown, Dr. Sue made it a point to define a microaggression as being an insult, comment, insinuation that was usually stereotypical or racial in nature towards another individual or group of people made unconsciously (Laureate Education, 2011). I found this definition to be slightly contradictory because I did not believe that a person could unconsciously make a stereotypical or racist remark towards another group of people. However, as I really thought about what the term meant, I realize that throughout my life I had been a victim many times and maybe even a perpetrator of microaggression. One incident I can remember (among many), is being in elementary school, and a group of white kids telling me that I could not interact with their group. I went to a school that was predominantly white with only a few blacks within the classroom, and because I talked a little bit more “proper” (as stated to me by the black kids within my class), kids at that time believed that I was not black enough to be within their group, and white kids acted as if I could not hang out their group. I believe that in this context the microaggression that was used was a microassault. According to Dr. Sue was a microassault and was one that is meant to hurt a person (Laureate Education, 2011). Those kids at that Elementary school did not mean to cause great harm, but they did mean to insult me at the time of the verbal injury.

This week’s information caused me to be keener about my observation of different stereotypes. According to one of the readings, you could be a person who was constantly looking for the equal opportunities for people, and yet still have many different “hidden” biases lurking around inside yourself that you never thought you had (Teaching Tolerance, 2011). This could be something as large as an attitude or belief, or as small as a facial expression when it comes to harnessing hidden stereotypes (Teaching Tolerance, 2011). I never thought that this would be something to pay more attention to when discussing the topic of unconscious stereotyping, but it is something relative within each one of us within this society. When we can stop looking only for the large OVERT signs of prejudice and stereotyping, I think that we will see the picture more clearly.

Sources:

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Teaching Tolerance. (n.d.). Test yourself for hidden bias. Retrieved May 25, 2011, from

             http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourseld-hidden-bias. 

This week's material and media covered the meaning of culture and the labels that are sometimes placed upon people when discussing culture and diversity. According to the definition that was given by Miss Gonzalez-Mena, culture consists of many different areas, including, (but not limited to): religion, tradition, and most importantly perception (Laureate Education, 2011). I think that this week for the assignment perception was the key aspect of the responses that were being presented--when asked about the definition of culture and diversity.

This week's assignment called for our class to contact three close friends or family in order to assess their definition of culture and diversity. The three individuals that I decided to contact were my mother, my youngest sister, and my husband. Though I consider all to be my family, we do have differing viewpoints on culture and diversity (more so in regards to religion and traditions). When asked about their views on culture, ironically, there was a common factor in each response: "family." For all three of the people who I asked a question concerning culture-- family traditions and upbringing were the common denominators. Each one of my loved ones responded that they believe that culture where the things that were learned when growing up that made you into who you were in today's time. A very interesting fact that was also mentioned within the media for this week, was that each one of the people who I asked also responded that they believed that culture was how each individual person saw it be, which in essence translates into perception. Not only did I think that this was extremely enlightening, but also found it interesting that my three loved ones also believed culture to include perception and an individualistic view of traditions and upbringing.

When asked about the question of diversity, the women who I asked, my mother and sister, seem to have the perception that diversity included different types of people from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and regions of the world. However, when I ask my husband, he seems to believe that diversity included just a different way of thinking and seeing the world.  Technically nothing was omitted from the definitions that were stated within the materials for week 3, however, the common keyword within the answers that I was given was the word “different.”

I believe that this exercise allowed me to view how my loved ones were actually reviewing what we were learning in real time. It caused me to stop and think about the fact that some people relate the words culture and diversity to mean physical people, and some people relate the definition to mean a different perception or way of looking at a situation. I personally had never separated the two thoughts, but after speaking to my loved ones I believe that I've learned to appreciate that each person has their own definition of what they believe these two extremely powerful concepts to consist of in the society we live within today.

References:

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Culture and diversity [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

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 decided to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

 In this case scenario, the items that I would take to represent our family culture are:
Kinara, Small Sack of garden seeds, and the Book of the Dead would be the items I would take with me to the new country. When asked about what these items meant, or their significance--I would tell people that each one of these items is held near and dear to our family. The Kinara represents our families celebration and tradition of breaking free from Christmas, to celebrate Kwanzaa; a tradition that we started about 5 years ago. Through research and seeking out knowledge and truth, we found that the principles of Kwanzaa better embodied our heritage and cultural goal. The garden survival seeds are extremely important because since 2011 our family has immensely struggled to get back to the "land" and become more sustainable through farming and gardening. We also have taken necessary steps prep our selves for numerous scenarios that could take place, and the importance of planting the seed for survival. The Book of the Dead is the last item but is one that represents the original Nubian Spirituality and knowledge. Once seeking as a devout "Christian" for the truth, our deep research led us here and to other texts such as these. Books such as these keep us grounded in our belief that all roads will lead back to the source and foundation, you must only seek...
If I was told upon arrival that I could only keep one item, I must say that it would be the seeds. I say that because the other two items--though extremely important--are more embedded in our hearts and spirits to the point where needing them physically is not required. The seeds can serve many purposes, as far as, sustainability is concerned, but can also open a door for barter and trade within your new territory. This exercise helped me to see that those items that serve as a totem to knowledge and understanding are now written within me and cannot be shaken. Not needing an item to signify my culture is my takeaway, because, at this point, my family culture is written on my heart and mind. I know now, what my family stands for, and what path I must take...that is a feeling that cannot be shaken.