Practicing Awareness of Microagressions

As a sales associate at Bath and Body Works, I have the opportunity to meet and greet many people some nice and other not so nice. In reflecting for the assignment of an example of Microagression I can recall a time I was at the register ringing a customers purchase and a man came up near the woman I was ringing up and she immediately grabbed hold to her purse and proceeded to look over her shoulder at the man. The man began shaking his head as if he was in disbelief and looked to me for validation that the woman was clearly overreacting and being dramatic. In watching the display unfold in front of me I felt angered by what happened to the man. I remember thinking she didn't know him, nor did she have a reason to grab hold of her bag tightly and preceded to look over her shoulder.  This was a reminder of how cruel people can be to each other; and maybe the woman felt threatened, we will never know however I can conclude that the man who I rang up next noted to me she made him feel beneath her by her grabbing for her purse to pull it in closer to her; and that he was a small business owner of a hat store in the mall and was just trying to drop off some coupons. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Ria
age: 24
" Culture is a combination of your religous and moral beliefs and your traditions".
"Diversity, is the inclusion of all people regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation or disability. The inclusion of all people regardless of difference".

Lakeshia
age:24
" Diversity is understanding that each individual is unique and recognizing our individual differences."
"Culture is your morals and values"

Izula
age: 24
"It's like looking at a box of crayons and seeing how culturally diverse the box is with all the different colors". "The individuals we serve, the various disabilities, are representative of the children in the classes"


In listening to my friends give their responses I was able to reflect on how each of them stated someone important which ties into what culture and diversity truly encompass. It's one's individual uniqueness and how he or she is able to foster that into something greater, whether it be in style with fashion, or distinction in cooking that makes us who we are. Derman, Sparks,& Edwards (2010) Gender roles, language of cultural backgrounds are what make up dynamics of a person existence.

My Family Culture

In the event I was relocated into another area in which I was not familiar with and placed me out of my comfort zone items that I hold near and dear to my heart consists of my bible, picture album, and my grandmothers recipes. These items hold significant importance to me and my culture because the bible is where I can seek solis, guidance, and comfort. My family has always stressed the importance of knowing where and how to seek what you need form it, whether it be for healing such as  Isaiah 41:10 " Fear  thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with he right hand of my righteousness. My picture album contains many of my most fondest memories of times in my life which range from childhood performances, and or relatives. I enjoy being able to reflect back those times and experiences through flipping through a couple of pictures. Parveen Sharma once said "Good photographs are taken not with the camera. Good photographs are taken with Mind, Soul, Eyes, and Imagination where Eyes like a shutter, Mind like a lens, Imagination like an object and Soul like a canvas.” Lastly, one thing that is very important to me are my grandmothers recipes, she has passed them down from her mother and her mother before her, I can remember the experiences of being a child and helping Nana prepare the meals, the family would agree the food was so delicious and make comments that "She put her foot in it" which means she cooked very well. The recipes are extremely important to me now because Nana is no longer with us and her memory holds strong within the recipes she prepared for us out of love. 

In the event of me having to leave two of the three items behind I would not bring my album, and grandmothers recipes, its challenging to leave these items behind however there imbed into my head and in remising with my siblings would help me to remember images of family members and ingredients for the dishes.