Micro aggressions

Practicing Awareness of Micro aggressions

Growing up as a little girl there was an old saying that sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me. As years passed by I learned that this statement was not true because words can sometimes hurt even more than the stone that hits you. I have two wonderful grandsons who received a scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious private schools in Eastern North Carolina. The school has around 750 students which around 720 are white students and around 30 students are black. My grandsons are two of the black students that make up the 30 students.  My daughter called me upset because her best friend asked her why would she send her children to an all-white school wasn’t public school good enough for them. My daughter became so upset about the statement. I explained to my daughter that everyone was not going to be happy about her sending the boys to a basically all white school but this was a great opportunity for them and that they would be alright.

The micro aggression that was spoken to my daughter hurt because instead of her friend looking at the boys as having the opportunity to attend this school she viewed it as our family think we are better than others. No I do not feel we are better than other but I do believe we are just as good as others and we have a right to educate our children where ever we chose. There are so many that would love to attend this school but it was my grandchildren that received the scholarship and for this opportunity I am grateful.

 

Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I chose to interview 4 Caucasian college interns working towards their master’s degree in Health and Physical Education. I chose these 4 because they have been assigned to observe In School Suspension. At first when I asked the question they pretty much just looked at me with a blank stare for a few seconds as though they wanted to make sure that they gave the right answer.

After deep thought these were their answers.

Culture

Culture is the language, thoughts, and behavior that you are brought up with within a community. (Kevin)

Diversity

What makes you different, how certain people standout from others? (Heather)

What’s common and what’s different? (Jeff)

Difference and similarities between beliefs and values (Forrest)

As each question was answered the future teacher became more and more comfortable with each answer given. I personally found their answers to be meaningful and from the heart. I did notice that no one defined culture as a person’s race. Not sure if this was done because I am African American and they just did not feel comfortable talking about one’s race.

When I think about the answers given by the future teachers I did sense that this was a topic that each one gave much thought making sure they gave the correct answer.

 

  

My Family Culture

     This assignment really touched my heart. I could accept the catastrophe and having to move. I was glad to read that my immediate family is among those who will be evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. As I continued to read on and saw where I had to decide on three small items that I could take I immediately knew that I would take my bible because it represented what I believed in. Since I did not know what country I would be going to I was not sure there would be a copy of the bible I could read. The second item that I wanted to take was my passport/birth certificate. Although I might not ever have the opportunity to leave the country I still wanted to have my proof of citizenship just in case I did get the chance to go back home one day. My third item I had to think about and I finally decided that I would take family pictures. My reason for the pictures is to keep the memories of my family in my mind. These pictures are my family, they way we dress, where we lived at, what we eat, our hairstyles, and our life. Through these pictures I might be able to share with other cultures our way of living.

     Learning that I would only be able to keep one personal item upon arrival was a shocker. Deciding which two items to let was a decision that was somewhat hard because I knew that I would be letting go my identity and my history. I decided to keep the Bible because this would be my source of strength to encourage me as I faced the challenges that were before me.  Prior to leaving I had recorded in the Bible all of my family’s information, date of birth, full names, family tree, birth place, marriages, and family deaths. My decision would be to give up my passport and family pictures.  I knew that giving up the passport could also mean that I may never have a chance to leave the country but my faith would give me the strength to believe if my Higher Power delivered once he would be able to deliver me. The memories of my family would last a life time so I could just close my eyes and think of them and all the good and bad times we shared together.

     As I think back over the assignment I realize that my religious background plays a very important part in my life. I am very aware that there will be cultural differences as I leave one country to go to another but I firmly that my beliefs, my family, and being culturally diverse and learning to adjust  will allow me to survive in the environment that I will be in.