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Diversity Journey
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Diversity Awareness Journey
When I was a child, I had no real concept of race. I think my ignorance was bliss at such a young age. My parents ran a ministry at our church that was focused on inner city, minority families, so I was around various cultures, languages, and skin colors from infancy. Yet I had no understanding of the "otherness" that these aspects of identity created. I even had an African American baby doll, along with my other dolls. -
Colorblind
In grade school I was again surrounded by various races and cultures including Asian, Middle Eastern, and Hispanic children. Some of my closest friends were Asian and Hispanic. I was aware that they were different and even experienced some of their differences when I went to their homes to play. However, I was not aware of any of my "white privelege" or their cultural struggles. -
First Racism Encounter
I cannot recall exactly how old I was, but I have a distinct memory of the first time I encountered racism. My parents were friends with a couple who was an African American wife and a Caucasian American husband. I knew their kids, as well, and we'd been to their house many times. But one day my mom mentioned that people at our church didn't believe in mixed-race marriages like theirs. I was appalled that people would be so ridiculous. Why should we only marry those who look like us? -
Cultural Taboo
When I was about 8 years old, I was at a friend's house watching Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman on TV. One of the characters on the episode we were watching was gay. I heard one of the other characters mention this fact, but I had no idea what it meant. My friends didn't explain what "gay" meant in detail, but I did pick up that it certainly wasn't socially acceptable. I was too young to realize that this was just one more example of how my lifestyle was the bar for "normal." -
The Big Move
In the summer of 2000, my family moved from the D.C. area to rural Mebane, N.C. Besides being racially and culturally diverse, D.C. was also over populated. Coming to N.C. was certainly a culture shock, in many ways. I had never been an outsider before, and I had no idea tha racism was so prevalent in the South. Though I still lived a privileged life, I was marginalized since I had not grown up there my entire life, like the rest of my classmates. -
Sexual Diversity
After moving to N.C., my parents allowed me to take horse back riding lessons, which had always been my dream. However, my instructors were a lesbian couple, Toni and Ruth. Toni fit the typical "butch" stereotype of lesbians, while Ruth seemed more "normal" to my 13 year old mind. I remember thinking about how they were different than me, and secretly judging them for their lifestyle. -
Poverty Hits Close to Home
One spring my youth group at the Summit Church in Durham decided to host a community festival of sorts in the poorer part of the city. We went door to door to invite people and tell them about the event. I was only 15 years old, and I remember walking those streets and seeing tarps for windows, houses barely standing. I had no idea that people in the US lived in so much poverty. It shook me out of my privileged sheltered life. -
Feeling Like a Minority
After graduating high school, I was able to travel on singing team for a year, and part of our travels included India! I don't believe I have ever been that outnumbered racially and culturally in my life. On top of that, I was a woman, which meant I could only speak to children or other women, for the most part. Though I was treated very well as a guest, it was the first time I felt truly "other." Walking the streets and into the mall, I sincerely felt like an animal being watched at the zoo. -
Cultural Diversity
While on a missions trip to Chicago, our group went through Rogers Park, right outside of the city. We visited many different neighborhoods of varrying levels of poverty and diversity. However, this neighboorhood felt like I was transported to a foreign country. Our mostly white" group was vastly outnumbered by people of Latin, Middle Eastern, and Asian ethnicities. There were very few signs in English; I felt out of place, but struck by the amount of cultures represented in one zipcode. -
SES Reminder
Every year my family particpates in Christmas Cheer in order to show generosity to families who cannot afford to get gifts. It's always such a joy for us to buy gifts for needy kids and contribute to their happiness on Christmas morning. In 2011, we helped out a single Hispanic mom who was living with her 3 kids, her sister, and 2 nephews.They lived in a tiny, run down trailer, but they were still a happy, loving family. They reminded me, once again, that my experiences are not the "norm."
