Cultural Diversity Conceptual Model: Minority Identity Development

Introduction: The Butler by Lee Daniels, is a movie loosely based on the truth regarding the extraordinary story of an African American man named Eugene Allen, amid the Civil Rights Movement. Allen was employed as a domestic servant or butler at the White House during a time when cultural diversity was not accepted. Allen is portrayed by a fictitious Cecil Gaines (actor Forest Whitaker). Cecil grew up during a tumultuous time in the 1920s in Macon, Georgia, and was the son of a sharecropper. As a child, and after observing his father being shot and killed for expressing his distaste to the overseer of the cotton field for having sexual relations with his wife, Cecil learned the importance of remaining silent when necessary. That memory continuously …show more content…
According to Atkins et at., the model of Minority Identity Development consists of five stages, which are Conformity, Dissonance, Resistance/Emersion, Introspection, and Integrative Awareness. Conformity refers to the point when African Americans do not resist discriminatory practices or behavior, refuse to acknowledge that these practices exist, and might even welcome them as the norm. Dissonance occurs when a minority feels perplexed as they cope with the realization of the system of oppression. Discord with oneself and people of different minority groups, the same minority group, as well as the dominant group emerges. Next, Resistance/Emersion is the stage of appreciation for oneself and the same minority group, a diminished mindset against the controlling group, and conflict between feelings of compassion and culturocentric sensitivity for other minority groups. Additionally, Introspection is comprised of concern for oneself as well as those of the same minority group. The advanced stage of Introspection occurs when minorities try to comprehend the complexities related to racial oppression and its limitations. Lastly, Integrative Awareness materializes when minorities maintain favorable perspectives regarding oneself, different minority groups, and the same minority group. However, the view of …show more content…
It influences the decisions made by average citizens and businesses alike. Consequently, the media is an enormous contributor to violence and juvenile delinquency. Advertisers dictate their idea of health and beauty, which leads to obsessions with body image and health issues such as anorexia. Media in the form of movies, encourages poor habits and immoral behavior. However, the media offers educational benefits, communication to take place in various forms, and an insight to the events occurring around the world. In closing, I am compelled to concede that I revel in this technological advancement known as the internet. As a college student, the ability to easily and instantaneously access library materials is