Multiculturalism
My
daughter Nalyssa and one of her best friends Precious are the beautiful girls
in this photo. They have been great friends since they were in pre-school and
are both 12 years old now.
I
grew up in a small town and in a poor neighborhood where there was racial
profiling. My parents are both Hispanic and they grew up in the same small
town. They were discriminated against in many ways growing up. They were forced
to go to a different school along with other Hispanic children apart from all
the white children. The stories my parents tell me about their childhood make
me sad and also proud of how they raised me to love everyone despite their
differences. One of the stories my mom told me that involved discrimination was an experience she had when she was the age of my
daughter who is 12 years old. My mom went to buy ice cream with her friend at a
local pharmacy and they were told they could not eat their ice cream in the
provided tables inside where only the white children were allowed. They were told go
outside to eat their ice cream. I cannot imagine how this discrimination must have felt
for her and her friend. They probably felt inferior just because of their race.
I know that there is still racism in this present day, but I am thankful that I
did not have to experience it to the extent my parents did. I am also thankful
that my children go to school with that has a great diversity of race and
culture.
According to M. Karson, "Multiculturalism teaches us that we exclude others not just through overt racism, sexism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism, but also unconsciously when we do not take special steps to welcome those who differ from our local norms" (pg. 1).
Multiculturalism
describes multiple perspectives.
2 Great truths Multiculturalism reminds us of:
1) We are all the same
2) We are all different.
Reference:
What Multiculturalism Gets Right. (2013, December 2). Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/feeling-our-way/201312/what-multiculturalism-gets-right
Cindy, I really enjoyed reading this blog. I loved how you incorporated a lot of your life including your daughter and your parents. Its very sad to think of what your mom had to expense but I love what you added at the end of the post! Good job.
ReplyDeleteHeidi,
DeleteThank you for your comment on my blog. I also enjoyed reading your blog!
When you mention in your blog that you feel proud, when you say, “..proud of how they raised me to love everyone despite their differences,” not only I could understand what you meant, but I could see the gratitude in the smile that draws your daughter and her friend in their faces. The smile does not have a different color, just like the heart full of gratitude that they carry inside.
ReplyDeleteYou have created a multicultural framework for your family so that generations like your daughter and her friend can sit at the table, look at each other and thank God that what differences have made is to create unity in their lives. Cindy, this is a good example that makes me reflect.
Javier,
DeleteThank you for you comment and kind words. I agree with your statement about the photo I posted of my daughter and her friend. Thank you for adding your thoughts.
That is a really great story, Cindy. I love how you say multiculturalism brings people together. Just because people are different, does not mean that they cannot get along. I think that more people should view cultures, and races, like this because the world could be a way better place.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Rowdy! I agree with you that this world would be a better place if everyone respected each others differences. :)
DeleteCindy, I really liked reading your story and your other posts as well. I enjoyed how personal it was and how your family and those things are so close to you. Your daughter is a wonderful reflection of you and what your parents taught you. I wish that our world was more loving towards everyone and that discrimination was eradicated.
ReplyDeleteRachel,
DeleteThank you for your comment. I also wish our world was more loving and that discrimination was eradicated. I believe it can get better. It all starts with what we teach our children and the foundation we create for them.
I loved reading from a family point of view. You provided great and impactful examples of racism. It warmed my heart to hear you say, "my parents raised me to love everyone despite differences." That is the perfect example of loving others. Yes everyone has their differences but that shouldn't prohibit interaction, friendships, and love.
ReplyDeleteTaryn,
DeleteThank you for your comment on my blog and your kind words.
Great post, I especially like the part about the 2 things that Multiculturalism tells us. That we are all the same, but that we are also all different. That is so true!
ReplyDeleteI love your two points on what multiculturalism is, we are all different and we are all the same, it is so true, we are all human and matter the same, but at the same time we are each different because of our personalities and other things about ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog and it is great how open minded and accepting you are. It is very important to realize the positives around diversity and allow it to lead us to success rather than hatred and violence. Your two points about multiculturalism as well were spot on and I could not have said it better myself. Great writing!
ReplyDelete