Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

A microaggression I witnessed this week occurred at the preschool I work at. It was an incident between an Asian girl and a Caucasian girl during lunch time, during which the caucasian girl asked the other girl what she was eating. However when this question was asked, it was asked with disgust. When I witnessed this, I knew I had to say something in order to make sure nobody's feelings were hurt. With this being said, I told the entire class that each of us eats different types of food in our families. And it is important to know about different cultures, although something might not look appetizing it might be very delicious. One will never know until you try it.
I would not necessarily say this observation was prejudice, stereotypical, or discrimination, I think it was a remark simply made of ignorance. Because the food that was being eaten had seaweed in it, and was "different" to the Caucasian girl in the class; she simply asked what it was. I do not believe this question was made to make the other girl feel bad, but was asked out of curiosity.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment I interviewed my 12-year old half Brother, my 10-year-old half-Sister, my Mother (100% Native American), and my Step-dad (Caucasian).

Brother:
"Culture it is stuff that relates to a race" (Moore, 2014).
"Diversity means a race that is not native to the area" (Moore, 2014).

Sister:
Culture is religion and where people are from.
Diversity is where people are from different places (countries).

Mother:
My Mom believes culture is to keep in touch with ones heritage.
My Mom believes diversity is like a melting pot. Several communities of different nationalities.

Step-Dad:
Culture is one's background (ethnicity).
Diversity is a mix between races living in a society.

Having asked four people about culture I believe my Step-Dad and Sister gave the most thorough answers. As for my Mom and Brother, they only had a general idea of what culture is. My sister said culture is religion, I believe she went in-depth with her answer. My Mom, Brother, Sister, and Step-Dad neglected to provide thorough answers and only had one opinion of what culture really was. They forgot about family culture, and what is included in culture (i.e. language, customs, ethnic background, traditions, religion, etc).
As for defining diversity, I believe my Mom and Step-Dad were on point when it came to defining diversity.
Thinking about others definitions of culture and diversity, it has given me a better understanding of how people do not typically think of or are aware of culture and diversity.

References:
Moore, A. (2014, November 15). Personal Interview.
Moore, A. (2014, November 15). Personal Interview.
Moore, M. (2014, November 15). Personal Interview.
Moore, N. (2014, November 15). Personal Interview.

My Family Culture

I am half Native American and Mexican, however am more in touch with my Native American side.

Three small items I would take along with me during this evacuation would be a dream catcher, Kokopelli figurine or stuffed animal, and a turquoise necklace. Each of these items represent my Native American culture and are common things I have in my house. In addition, I feel all of these items represent who I am.
I would explain to others that each item has a different significance. For example, the dream catcher chases bad dreams away, while the Kokopelli is a fertility deity that plays the flute, while traveling from place to place wishing positivity everywhere he goes. Lastly, Native Americans are well known for their turquoise jewelry. I absolutely love Turquoise due to the vibrant hues and variations of the rock.
If I were to narrow my belongings down and keep one personal item with me I would pick the Kokopelli figurine. Like previously mentioned, the Kokopelli is a fertility deity. He not only presides over childbirth, but also having fertile agriculture and the fertility of game animals.
For this assignment, I had to look up more information about the Kokopelli and had learned that he represents fertility in game animals and in people. In addition the Kokopelli is depicted as having a partner or with animals depending on each tribal beliefs.