Diversity and Culture

I asked three of my friends and family members to tell me their definition of Culture and DIVERSITY.

Their definition of culture

May (Black female, family member, 30, housewife and student) --Where you live, your lifestyle and families’ way of life.

Ford (Black male, childhood friend, 32, unemployed, single, college educated) Culture is inherited behavior based on a person’s upbringing and current surroundings. Their heritage, background, and lifestyle choices make up their culture. For example there is Black culture and within Black culture there is Hip Hop Culture. 

Samson (Mixed male, Best Friend, 35, teacher, college student, divorced twice)—Culture is like an unorganized group affiliation that loosely governs how people are. Black culture in America is defined by being descendant of Africans; speaking a certain way and acting a certain way. Culture is usually none exclusive so one person can belong to several cultures. I relate to African American culture, urban culture, hip hop, Muslim culture and so on.

Their definition of diversity

May--Differences within culture.

Ford— Diversity is more than just racial. Diversity in itself can have many forms.

Samson—Diversity is a variety of cultures. For examples on a college campus jocks, geeks, gamers, religious, student sub grouped by class or major, this makes a college campus culturally diverse.

Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples? Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?  In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

They discussed many things that I learned about diversity. They showed a good understanding about culture and diversity. The only this I would omit is Samson saying “Black culture in America is defined by being descendant of Africans” Culture is not defined my descendant. That is ethnicity. A white person can be a part of Black culture.  Hearing the views of my family and friends just confirmed my own beliefs about culture and diversity.  I am curious to know what they believe race and ethnicity are also.