Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Oleksiy Lavanstivitch is a white immigrant who is originally from the Ukraine, he speaks Russian, and moved to Canada in his teenage years:  Oleksiy defines culture as different foods, languages, customs, and beliefs. 

Oleksiy’s definition of diversity “is how people are different from you.”  Oleksiy says that “he would base diversity more on race.” 

Erica James is African American and was born and raised in Brooklyn NY.  Erica went to high school at Brooklyn Tech.  Erica said that her school was mostly filled with Asians.  Erica says, “Culture to her is religion, beliefs, food, customs, and ancestry.” 

Erica says that, “diversity is race related to her, people’s skill levels, the way they dress, talk, interact with each other all falls under diversity to her.”

Ebi Lee is an African immigrant from Nigeria.  Ebi moved to the United States in her early 20’s.  Ebi says, “Culture to her is language, foods, and clothing.”

Ebi says, “That diversity to her is how everyone is different even when it comes to people from the same place.”  For example in Nigeria they have people who are from different tribes and they speak different languages, and have many different family customs.

Oleksiy, Ebi, and Erica mentioned many of the examples and answers that were addressed in the resources from this week’s assignment.  I like that Erica brought up ancestry.  A lot of the customs, music, food, clothes, and traditions get passed down from our ancestors.  Ancestry makes me think of artifacts, pictures, and family treasures that are passed down through generation to generation.

My Family Culture

My Family Culture"3 Things"

  

We get so use to our life as we know it.  If I had to face a major catastrophe and could only bring three items to my new world, it would be; a picture album, iPad, and credit cards.  I would have the photo album as a memory of my friends and immediate family during happier times.  I believe that this is what would keep my spirits up.  These memories would give me the strength to know that we will see happy times again.  A photo album would be a great reminder of the life as I knew it.  It would be a great way to tell my story to others too!

My phone or iPad would be a helpful tool to have.  These little tools hold so much information.  I would have access to the internet.  I could use my iPad/phone to job search, keep up with current affairs, and it would be a great resource gate to my old life.  I would also have access to all my contacts in hopes of reconnecting with some people one day.  I would bring a credit card.  I would try to immediately pull all cash off my card.  I am sure money will make being in a foreign land a lot easier.

I would keep my iPad if I was told that I could only keep one item.  My iPad would be my greatest resource to the life that I would be leaving behind, and the new way that I would be beginning.  My iPad would still have pictures, contacts, banking information, means to getting a new job and finding a place to stay.

I realized that I love memories.  I like to reflect on where I have been, where I am at in that moment, and where I strive to be.  Considering that I would choose my iPad is a great reflection on my world’s reality.  I do think that there is a lack family culture when it comes to my family.  My family’s culture aligns with the United States dominant culture.  Our ancestry goes back to times of slavery.  In those days your last name, customs, and beliefs were those of your masters; which in today’s society would be considered the dominant culture.  My ascribed categories are the best display of my diversity.