Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I was unable to get out this week out so I will share a microaggression I recalled. Daily before I begin work I attend a shift meeting. There was one particular day when we had to hold the meeting in a different area from where we commonly have the meetings. Another Black or African American female officer and I arrived at the meeting at the same time. There were no more available seats because the area where we were having the meeting was the assigned work area for the other employees. We had no problem with that the meeting generally last 15 minutes or so and we could go to our own offices. On this day one of the Caucasian male officer stated to the two of us that "we could just sit right there." He was pointing at the floor. Instantly I reacted to what he said. We engaged into a verbal confrontation that resulted in him getting offended. The problem here is this guy always making racial comments one way or another. This particular day he directed his comments toward me and I was not going to easily let it go. The microaggression took place when he invited us to sit on the floor. I am not sure if he made the comment because he was implying that we were women and we could set on the floor. Or if it was because we were black women we could set on the floor maybe a combination of both. The one thing that was certain it was his intention that we unworthy to sit in his company. I was enraged by his insults and the situation. During the verbally altercation I was able to get my point across. However it left him feel in- adequate in front of Black or African American and Caucasian men.  My comments back to him did not address his race but I did attack his manhood. I am not proud of the things I said to him but it was necessary at the time.

                                         

As a police officer I work in a male dominant field. Therefore, I constantly observe implications that imply that men or superior to women. In addition, there are references to Caucasians being smarter than Blacks or African American. It is upsetting and disappointing to me that in 2012 racism and stereotypes are still alive and well. I really wish if a person had to be judged it would be based on their qualifications. I personally feel that race and gender should not be criteria to determine the best person for the job. Qualification is more important to me than race and gender. It is proven that women can perform male dominant roles and men and can fulfill positions that are viewed fitting for women.    

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

The response I received from multiple response of what culture dealt with from the people contacted in reference to this exercise. I was told that culture deals with race, religion, food and the way we do things.  The responses regarding diversity were it deals with gender, religion, economics and a mixture of races together doing the same thing.

The aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course that are included were race, religion, food, gender and economics. The examples are a group of Black or African American people. People that follow Baptist religious practices. Fried chicken is a food that is common in the Mississippi culture.

The aspects that were omitted values extended family relationship, work, holidays, sexual orientation, education, healthcare, language and so forth. Examples:  Families observing the traditional holidays such as Christmas and carrying out the common task associate with this holiday. Like purchasing gifts for family members and preparing feast. Children placed in a public or private school educational setting.  Heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual in the same in environment represent diversity.

The people definition I received influenced my own thinking about these topics in that I realized that many people really do not consider all the components related to culture and diversity.  They do not realize that culture and diversity includes every aspect of the way we live and what we do. Personally, I feel that we have taken for granted the things we do and disregarded them as culture. Leaving us to often misconstruing the true meaning of culture and diversity. However through this assignment I was able to identify in our culture we have more fried chicken fast food chains than any other business in our community. Upon discovering this I was amazed but this is an example of taking things for granted. I never realized it however it is true and it has been that way all the time. 

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Culture and Diversity [DVD]. Perspectives on Diversity and Equity. Baltimore, MD:

My Family Culture

The items that I would take with me if I had to be relocated to another country at the spare of the moment are my photo album, bible, and blanket. I selected these items because the photo album holds the memories from past important events in my life as well as my family and other people I care about.  The family bible has key events listed it. I chose the blanket because it is customary every time my family and I go out of town someone makes sure we have a blanket.  I feel that if I could only keep one of the three items I would be devastated to have to choose between the photo album and the bible. I would give up the blanket in hope of obtaining another one in the future.  Ironically, through this exercise I realize that in my family culture we actually take a blanket and pillow on every trip. (I really have not figured out why.)   Until, I had to consider what I would take with me in this exercise I would not have thought very much about the blanket being a part of our culture. Back in 1993 (before I had children) I lost my mother to a house fire and from that experience I realize how important pictures are to family and the bible.  Many pictures and things were destroyed. The few things I was able to savage still smell like smoke today. The benefit to the smoke smell pictures is that my children were given the opportunity to see what their grandmother looked like. Explaining that sequence of events without those few little picture would have been more challenging.