Embracing Diversity Research Paper

History and our current social culture indicate that many people display a lack of acceptance of those who are unalike than they. If people are not born with prejudices, this is must be payable to various, often subconscious, origins such as religion, personal experiences, and societal conditioning. For some, their form of uniqueness may cause them to become subjugated, or at times, even endangered by various other groups of peoples. Hilary Clinton is quoted as saying that “what we have to do... is to find a way to celebrate our diversity…”. The necessary shift in our society is not an uncomplicated one, but a highly personal and reflective process for all those who venture through it. The process of embracing diversity requires four general …show more content…
Todd suggests “social justice education might consider ways of dealing with the concept of difference outside terms of oppression in order to respond ethically to the range of lived experiences of oppression” (2003, p. 3). Among others, those oppressed are identified as a minority ethnicity, race, or culture, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, or religion. The variances of oppression range from subconscious micro-aggressions to blatant bigotry.
Racial micro-aggressions are brief, commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color. Perpetrators are often unaware that they engage in such communications when they interact with racial/ethnic minorities”. It is essential that we reflect and consider whether we are perpetrators ourselves, be it consciously or subconsciously. (Sue et al., 2007, p. …show more content…
181). The same definition is true for all forms of intolerance. Racism, or any other form of narrow-mindedness, blatant or unknown, only results in creating victims. The noticeable victim is one who is experiencing the injustice. However, the perpetrator also often becomes a victim; a victim of “carrying such a heavy burden of grief and anguish” (Tutu, 1999, p. 109). Educators possess a profound direct and indirect influence over countless lives. We are obligated to educate all and instill an appreciation for all those we share our communities with. In order to do this, educators must first reflect on their personal views and attitudes toward diversity. Once we have developed an attitude of celebration toward various types of peoples, students will be allowed immeasurable possibilities to learn from and appreciate the uniqueness of all