Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Much of what we have studied was reflected in the answers I got from the three people that I interviewed.  Each person had a hard time at first defining culture and diversity, but their answers reflect what we have discussed in class.  The only added dimension was two people discussed history as being an aspect of culture.  When I think of history I think of America’s history regarding the pilgrims and Christopher Columbus and I would say that these aspects are a contributor to the culture in America.  I then began to think of my own history with my family coming from Guyana.  Guyana for a long time was a British colony.  I have a culture that incorporates ways of living from England.  I never thought of this before. I need to look more into the culture in England to find out more about my family.   One person that I interviewed described diversity as being able to go from the projects to the White house.  I found that to be very interesting comment.  I interviewed a couple from India and their definition of diversity was different kind of practices and cultures, different viewpoints and ideas.  I thought that was the best answer I got for the definition of diversity.

What was omitted was social identities.  No one I interviewed mentioned the different social groups that each of us belong to and how they shape and define each of us.

In listening to other peoples’ definition of culture and diversity it has made realize that culture and diversity is a hard thing to capture for most people.  Each person struggled to find the words to define culture and diversity.  They said that I know what it is but it is kind of difficult finding the right words to define it.  When I finished talking with everyone I did not feel as bad, because I have a difficult time expressing culture and even more difficult time identifying what is the dominant culture.  Each person that I talked with mentioned the foods that they eat and traditions that are followed; which in my opinion is a surface viewpoint of culture.  I have learned that a surface viewpoint can be detrimental in trying to relate to another person because we end up making assumptions that may not be true.