Micro aggression

Just this week I had an exchange with a stranger, who approached me, to ask me about my 4 year old daughter.  She is adopted and biracial.  She mentioned how cute she was and asked if she was mine.  I said yes and she said, "adopted"?  After replying that she was indeed adopted the woman made a statement that was intended to praise my "good deed" of adopting as well as to discriminate against the african american race.  Her comments illuded that my daughter would be better off with me, because "they" can't seem to take care of their kids.  Unknown to this woman, who intended to sing my praise, I value my daughters heritage.  I celebrate who she is and recognize that without her biological parents she wouldn't be here.  Unfotunate circumstance and poor choices can happen to anyone and categorizing it by race was very dimeening. 

With each exchange similar to the above mentioned I feel more and more irritated.  My faith in God helps create my view of others.  In God's eyes we are all created for a purpose and He doesn't see us as a certain color or status. 

Culture and DIversity

Culture-
1.  The richness of a people group.  The deep rooted places and traditions of a place.
2.  A group of people's way of seeing and interpreting the world.
3.  The ethnicity of social groups.


Diversity-
1.  Differences between people..  What seperates people from one another.
2.  Having different types of people making up a larger group.
3.  Different qualities in people.


There are some similarities in what we have studied and the above given definitions.  There is deep roots in culture, far past food, music or race.  We too have found that a people group's culture affects how they see and interpret the world.

One thing not mentioned is social identities.  How culture and diversity are represented in a persons identity, unique to them.  Culture and diversity is created by the many groups that make up our social identities.

As I looked at the definitions I was given I realized that there is a surface understanding found in each definition.  As we continue to better understand our own social identities we will move past the surface understanding of other's culture and diversity.  This is a great opportunity for us to become fully aware of our own surroundings and how each of us interact with the world.

My Family Culture

If I was evacuated to another country I would take:

1.  Bible...this represents my faith and the core of my beliefs
2.  Photo album representing the history of my life thus far
3.  Some U.S. credential that represents my identity.

Trying to communicate the meaning behind my items I would first attempt with verbal language and gestures.  My emotions and actions could carry some of the feelings and meanings behind the items. 

If made to choose only one item I would, without doubt, keep my Bible.  It is the source of strength and faith that I would need at a time such as that.

Blending cultures can require us to adapt in a way that forces us to leave behind important parts of our lives.  This exercise encourages me to work harder to show value to each family's culture and differences.  Working to include their culture can support their attempts to maintain their own heritage, beliefs and traditions.