Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I was surfing the internet looking for a job one day, and I came across an add for a law office. I called them because I sent my resume over. They guy was so nice we talked for over 30 minutes. After such a great conversation I was asked to come I've ASAP to meet everyone else. I was so excited that they were so interested in me I rushed right over. When I arrived and told them who I was the man looked at me kind of strange. He asked me if I was the same person he just talked to. After enough convincing we finally went into the conference room with the others. The mood went from happy to disappointed very fast. Here I was the only black person in the room with 8 white men and women. I felt very uncomfortable because they were all just staring at me and not engaging at all. One of the men turned to me with no greeting and told me unfortunately I am not qualified for the position. Even though my credentials at first was all they were looking for. This was very hard for me to take in because I was so sure I landed a great position. I guess by the seeing my name on my resume was hard for them to tell my ethnic background. Now when you fill out applications they ask for your ethnicity, and often times I am reluctant to answer because of my previous experience.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Since taking this course I have learned that diversity is very broad. It not only deals with culture and race. The week I had a conversation with one of my coworkers who is from Japan, and she was showing me how to write in Japanese. It was so interesting because I learned that their sentences are straight lines going down, and they read from right to left. I would write something in English and she would write the same sentence but in Japanese. It was very interesting, and different. What was confusing to me was natural to her. She said growing up they taught them to do Japanese and English reading and writing. It wasn’t confusing to them at all.

Another one of my coworkers is a seven day Adventist and her day has to end early on Friday. She has to be home early, and have the house cleaned and food cooked before sundown so she can go into worship. With her religion Friday after sunset you have to be with your family not interruptions and fellowship amongst each other. Then on Saturday they go to church appose to Sundays like many. They still worship god and have a bible, but they just believe their Sabbath day is Saturday not Sunday.

I have a sister that lives in Georgia and she is practicing Buddhism. One of her friends started to attend the meeting and shared her information with my sister, and it sounded interesting to her. With Buddhism it teaches you different chants for you to recite to help you change your mood. They feel that praying does not help you its your internal self that will help you get through things. Instead of them praying they chant; chanting helps to calm the spirit and soul.

It is always interesting to me to speak with others to see how they live their lives. It is so many religions and cultures that is what makes us all so different and unique. This week I learned that people I work with day to day we can learn so much from each other, and this will help us to have a better understanding of the world around us. Just having conversation about diverstiy, can give you so much insight on someones life. There was so much more we could have covered realting to diversity.

My Family Culture

If I was told I had to grab three items before moving to the next country I think I would grab pictures of my family, my electronic devises, and my ID. I would choose pictures of my family, because if we are moving and never returning we can always look back on old pictures to reflex on the good times we had. I would have my electronic devises because the internet is always a good tool to have. Being in a new country, I could always use the internet to find my way around the town and even to help with translating words. Last but not least my ID. I never leave the house without having identification on me, because you never know when it is needed. If anything happens you will know who I am and where I came from. If I had to keep one and loose the others, I would want to keep the family photos. All of the other items can be replaced but photos can’t. Unless you have them backed up, but if you don’t those moments are one in a life time.

Truthful all that I just named is not that important to me. I don’t think there is anything that I would need other than my family. Material things are not important to me my family is. So if I was unable to grab anything I would be ok, as long as my family was with me.