Awareness of Microaggressions

A few weeks ago my husband experienced a form of microaggression right in front of my home. My husband was in the yard doing some landscaping ( which is a loved hobby of his) and staining our outdoor bench area when a police officer passed by. He looked up at the officer and waved his hand and went back to doing his work. The police officer came by 15 minutes later and told my husband that he was doing a really nice job and thought the work was beautiful. He then asked my husband how much does he charge for work like that because his wife would love it. My husband stated, "Oh I don't do this for a living, I just like to give the front of my home a makeover from time to time." The officer laughed and said, "Yea this is your home....right". My husband stood there and repeated that this was our home. The officer looked surprised and stated that he assumed that we were renting the home. I was insulted at the remark and walked away.

Through this experience I believe that the officer was not trying to discriminate in any way but he figured that an African American family owning a home in that particular neighborhood was surprising. The fact that he laughed at my husband insisting that we owned the home was the most hurtful. The funny thing about this whole ordeal was that the officer was African American himself and I think that he believed the stereotype of the culture that we live in. He made an assumption about our living situation just based on the neighborhood and the color of our skin.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment I spoke with my mother who is a licensed practical counselor, my co-worker Tara Frederick, and my friend April Flugence who is a realtor. I asked each of them specifically what their definition of culture and diversity was. My mother stated, “Culture and diversity a very unique topics and I believe that culture has to do with traditions of family as well as religion. It is the clothes that we wear, the food we eat, and the language we speak. Diversity is what makes us different from one another; it’s our own unique qualities.” My co-worker Tara explained, “Culture is a way of life….your way of life to be specific. It is your beliefs, morals, and your perceptions of the world. Diversity is the difference from one person to the next. It is different races, genders, and it helps to separate us once we have been categorized within a group.”  April stated, “Culture is understanding the roles of family members and family traditions. It is important to understand that what I may feel is normal in my family may be taboo in another. Diversity is what make us who we are, why we laugh, what makes us smile or upsets, and how we handle the world around us.”

After speaking with them I have learned through these conversations and my course readings that we all have the same base line understanding of culture and diversity but we each pulled out our own examples. Some of us realized that the basics of food and traditions while another realized that it has to do with our morals and beliefs. I believe that this exercise helped me develop a better understanding of the way we think as individuals when it comes to culture and diversity and no aspects were omitted in any way. We have to be accepting of differences and respect another person’s traditions, morals, beliefs and languages. My co-worker Tara is the most culturally different from me because I am African American and she is Native American, and I am married with a child on the way and she is a single woman with no children. Although we are different in these ways I felt more connected to her definitions of culture and diversity.

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

The three items that I would bring with me if my family and I had to evacuate would be my family album, my grandmother’s crocheted and last I would bring the families stock pot. The photo album holds pictures of the majority of my family members both present and deceased and in the back of the album is a very detailed family history tree. This album holds information about my family that I would never be able to uncover it were lost or destroyed it also helps to teach the next generation of where they come from. My grandmother’s blanket is something that I hold near and dear to me because as a child and young adult I remember her taking naps with this blanket laid across and when she passed away in 2004 it was the only item I requested from my father to have. It’s like always having a piece of her with me. Last but not least is the family’s stock pot, my family has gathered at my grandparents’ house many Sundays after church to socialize and enjoy a Sunday meal. I remember only good times when it comes to cooking and I how my grandmother still loves to cook for us on Sundays. I would want to bring that same tradition wherever we go.

If I were told that I could only keep one item from my family I would be completely hurt and devastated. Each of these items represents what my family is all about and that is unity, history and tradition. At first I did not consider myself as a person that would hold on to items because I felt that memories was all that I needed but I realized how important certain items are to me because it gives the history of my family. Through these items I would be able to teach my children and future grandchildren about their history and the importance of family.