EDUC 6165-2

This blog will take on a new dimension as I investigate and share what happens in a variety of child development areas in the field. My understanding of child development, as well as yours, will expand and deepen as personal experiences are compared to what is discovered through understanding diversity and identity. Newly acquired knowledge with information about child development from learning about this issue will add so much to “flavor” my own prior knowledge, as do new spices in food. This journey this should be exciting!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture


 I Owe it to Mom on Diversity and Culture


 

 I want to dedicate this blog post to my Mom. Culture from her perspective was a living thing. She saw that culture and diversity meant embracing the family and heritage that God had surrounded you with; from the sounds and rhythms,  the dress, food, love , worship; to her culture encompassed all and so much more. Diversity for her meant love of all persons from every background.  She had many friends from varying ages and ethnicities. She also befriended and embraced individuals that had physical and mental disabilities. She lived well, and loved well and would have been 73 years old today. She was the first one to love me and told this little brown girl that she was “her doll baby”.

I Happy Birthday Lillie!

Of course in many ways, my mother’s perspective on diversity and culture affected and influenced me.  I find that I am not afraid or repelled by cultures that are different from mine.  I am curious and find myself searching out the culture in a way to become familiar with it. I am not afraid to ask questions of one’s culture, and I think that if persons would show curiosity rather than rage, fear or mistrust what a better world we would have!
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1 comment:

  1. Deepa JosephNovember 18, 2012 at 3:09 AM

    Hi Sheila,
    We owe it all to our parents for making us what we are today!! They deserve it. It was their values, their principles, their beliefs that they instilled in us right from our very young days that has shaped our lives, our thoughts and our perceptions. All children experience some degree of cultural discontinuity. But I believe, the gap between the home culture and culture of the group depends on the relationship that they share with their parents. I too had my share of cultural discontinuity when it came to coloring hair or wearing ornaments (the conservative Christian group that I belong to does not encourage wearing ornaments). But my respect for my parent’s values and traditions has helped me continue in their beliefs and not be an outsider in my own community.

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