Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

The people I asked about there definition of culture and diversity consisted of family members and friends.

African American Male-29- Special Education Teacher

1. Culture - It not only consist of there race and heritage its about where they come from. That includes there morals, values, and belief systems.
2. Diversity- Appreciating differences between people. If we were all the same it would be a boring world.

 White Male - 63- Retired

1. Culture - Represents peoples different lives and the way they live them.
2. Diversity - Means cultural differences

African American Female- 31 - License Practical Nurse

1. Culture - Lifestyles, how you are living
2. Diversity - The difference of the culture.

African American Male- 34 - Analyst

1. Culture - Different ways of living life. Different beliefs but advancement, respect and authority among a certain popultion.
2. Diversity - Unlimited ways amongst different groups of people to prosper and govern one another.

White Female- 33- Student

1. Culture - Is a way of similiar language and lifestyle shared by a group of people.
2. Diversity- I quess a mixture of cultures and ideas.

African American Female - 22 - Customer Service

1. Culture- Is the people who raise you and the traditions they pass down.
2. Diversity- The differences between cultures that people use to keep different groups seperated.


The aspects of culture and diversity that we have studied so far in this course are surface culture, deep culture and the dominant culture. Many of the people that I inerviewed had many of the same ideas of what culture and diversity were. I have learned that their are many different features of culture. Culture is a broad set of different life styles and characteristics. In the answers I recieved concerning culture was mostly surface culture. One example of surface culture was "life styles and how you are living."  Not many of the answers reflected deep culture. How ever one person did mention it. They reflected the nature of deep culture by stating the following "It not only consist of there heritage and race it about where they came from. That includes there morals, values, and belief systems. The following is a good of example of dominant culture "the difference between cultures, that people use to keep different groups seperated. Even though when I asked she had this answer as diversity. All examples of different types of culture were covered.

My concept of diversity includes acceptance and respect of people. Diversity is recognizing and acknowleding the existence of people with varying ways of life. One of the definition that was given was " appreciating differences between people, if we were all the same it would be a boring world." All of the definition seem to hint around what we have been learning that diversity is. Even people in a same cultural group will still have diversity. No person is the same.

The ways that all of the people's definitions of culture and diversity have influenced my own thinking is that people from different walks of life have different mind set as too what culture and diversity means. I feel that their definitions comes from what they have encountered in their lives. I feel it would not hurt for all to take a diversity course. As an early childhood educator I am very happy to be taking this course.  It will better equip me to be more sensitive in the way I see people's differences. 

My Family Cultures

A catastrophe has taken place and we as surviving citizens had to be evacuated. We were only allowed to take a change of clothing and three small items. The first item I would take is my bible, the second item would be a photo album of my family, friends and places our family have visited on vacations. Thinking of my husband I would bring a coin his aunt gave him when we visited her.

As I met people in the refugee camp I would reveal my bible. Letting them know that my bible has given me comfort during many trials and tribulation in my life. Also that the bible has brought my family much comfort in difficult times. Becoming friends with the people in the camp will give me the opportunity to show them my photo album. Informing them that even though my immediate family is here, we still need to remember the family members and friends we have left behind. The photo album would also be an heirloom for our children. It will bring to their recollection the family vacations we have taken and the people they may be missing. The coin my husband aunt gave to him is precious to him. My husband has been through much in his childhood. Living with his aunt is one of the most stable times in his childhood. It is a treasure to me because it is one to him.

All of these items are very dear to me. It would be a difficult choice which item I would keep with me. Thinking over the sentimental value of each item I would keep the photo album in my possession. The reason I would have to release my bible is because verses in the bible tells us to hide the word in your heart and mind. I have read the bible so many times that it is planted in my heart and minds. The coin would be left behind because it will probably not mean much to my children once their dad have passed on.

An insight I have gained in this exercise is that I have all family members at heart. As I grow older I think about my spouse and myself and the last part of our lives, but at the same time I am hoping my children are all set up and have pleasueable reflections of their childhood. Even though my children are all grown and have families of their own I will always have their best interest at heart.I want to leave our children with great memories.