Experience With Diversity

My personal experience with diversity was an event that stuck with me in a profound way occurred a few years ago. I once considered myself aware of the differences in people having worked for a company that was committed to diversity because I had attended classes and training to better understand the differences among people. As a foster parent I have helped and mentored many families. One family has remained close in my heart for the last 17 years. When the children returned home I stayed involved and when the mom had more children I still stayed involved because I recognized there were issues within the family. My spouse is African American and the this mom and her 5 sons were as well. I am white. This was an experience in diversity learning as I …show more content…
She was so hateful and did not even think that in a court room there are certain respects that are given to court officers and people of authority. Even the judge remarked that she was not helping her friend. I left not really liking the person and thinking that it might be because she was a Muslim. I was upset that I felt this way and because I truly want to understand other religions and culture. I have since that day attempted to read more on the different religions . I am so interested in taking a class on world religions because to understand people you have to understand their beliefs. I have watched some documentaries on different religions and specially the Muslim religion. I have spoken to people who are part of the Muslim faith, people who are part of the Jewish faith and I even have gotten to know a colleague who is a Pagan. What this experience has taught me is that I lived a very limited life growing up in a rural area I do not know anything about other cultures. I have try to ask questions about the cultures around me and to read as much as I can. I now do not think that all Muslim’s are the militant types and that as in many stereotypes the behavior of a few does not