Three Cultural Experiences

        For my intercultural engagement competency, I have been attending diversity events throughout my semester this year. It has been very interesting to learn more about different cultures and the history behind them. Recently, I attended a trip with a few other honors students to the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The exhibits that we were exploring were The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz, Our Home: Native Minnesota, and Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow. I had signed up to go on this trip eager to see what it would be like. I am from an area just outside of Saint Paul, but I have never been to the Minnesota History Center. I was excited because I didn’t know what to expect but the exhibits were intriguing to me.

       When we got there the first exhibit that I explored was “Our Home: Native Minnesota.” It had so many artifacts that I read about. One that stood out right when I walked in was the star quilt made by Gwen Westerman, a professor here at MSU. She is part of the Dakota tribe. It was a way she could stitch together and connect her family through each point and honor each other’s births. I thought it was a unique tradition in the tribe and it was a way of showing honor to each other. I learned about the details of how the Ojibwe and Dakota were able to coexist and help one other. One takeaway from this alliance they created was that even though they were two different tribes, with different traditions and beliefs, they were able to set those aside, in hopes to benefit each other. I hope our world can realize that by setting your own beliefs aside and understanding others’ beliefs and values, the world can be a better place.

        The next exhibit I looked at was the Age of Jim Crow laws. It was terrible to see what black Americans faced at a time when segregation was enforced in all aspects of their life. All playgrounds, drinking fountains, schools, and public transportation were all segregated.  I was so inspired when I saw the timelines and how much fight and grit it took for the world to change. I learned about the fight for freedom and equity. I had learned a lot about this history in my high school AP United States History class, but this was much more in-depth. There were exhibits on Ida B Wells and Dred Scott.  Something that stuck with me after this experience was the resilience of these leaders. By Wells publishing her newspaper, lynchings were investigated, and it started to bring light to the problems. She had to move to the North because she was receiving threats in the South. She was doing anything she could to fight for equality. It was so hard to see the hurt that people experience with constant injustice. The progress of the fight for equity that has been made, and much more to come, showed me what determination really means.

        Lastly, I looked at the Charles Schulz exhibit. I grew up reading comics all of the time. It was nice to dive deep into how it became. Schulz was inspired by other comics and began writing. He was the only one who would hand-print all of his comics and wouldn’t let anyone else do the drawings. It was inspiring to me because he loved to do everything on his own and he loved his job. He was able to show different parts of himself in each character. The way I perceived this was that it was his way of journaling. The character Lucy, who is bossy and opinionated, would maybe make a scene in the comic the week that Schulz himself was feeling opinionated. I thought it was a way of getting his feelings out but through a comic. I thought this was a smart way of coping with hardships in life and I had been curious about how his life was completely transformed from this comic strip.

        Being able to see these events displayed in a detailed setting was captivating. I now feel I know so much more about the history behind these exhibits. The leaders in the history of the Jim Crow laws showed me what it took to see change. I learned the sacrifices people had to make for the benefit of others. The selflessness was so inspiring and seeing how diverse cultures, such as the Ojibwe and Dakota were able to understand how they could work together to benefit one another. There are so many different cultures and backgrounds in the world today and looking at these past stories is important to reflect on. It shows that if these groups can sacrifice their life for others, we should too. There is so much change that still needs to happen to reach equality and inclusivity and these were just the first steps. 

        Applying the knowledge that I have gained from this experience; I can work on changing every day. I am surrounded by different backgrounds each day and being curious about where people come from and what makes them who they are is something that I want to do. I want to be more involved in the campus and find where I can actively increase equality at MNSU. I can be more aware of the hardships people have faced and show that because I am interested in their upbringing. My own philosophy has evolved by asking more questions and being curious. I have broadened my perspective on cultural differences. Understanding life through different lenses helps me grow. The Maverick Diversity Institute is a great way to be more involved with diversity on Campus. I have signed up for their email chain and I receive emails when they are holding an event. It is my first step into being more involved on campus with diversity and culture.

        As another cultural event I attended, it was indeed hosted by the Maverick Diversity Institute. They have started a skill-based workshop series to support equity on campus. These events help in hopes of improving campus climate, teaching students to actively engage, respect, and collaborate with different cultures and become better leaders.

The first workshop of this series that I attended was about curiosity and empathy. There were two speakers who came in to talk about how we can recognize differences and commonalities, how to be curious, and empathize with peers about their backgrounds.

        Before the event, I was kind of nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I was unsure if we were going to have to interact with each other or if we were just there to listen. I sat down at a table with no one I knew or recognized but immediately someone asked me “What’s your name?” and I felt at ease. It was nice to talk to new people.  The first speaker started with an icebreaker. She asked us all, “How do you prepare rice?”. Growing up, we just had boxed rice which was easy to make. In college, I just use minute rice. Most of my table talked before me about how they prepared rice. They had multiple steps to their process and prepared it in a completely different way. One girl talked about how she has sometimes made “hamburger rice”. It was so interesting, and she described it as it was just all the ingredients on a hamburger but in a rice bowl. I thought it was very interesting and I loved hearing about different backgrounds and what they grew up eating. When it was my turn, I was nervous because I had never really prepared rice in the way they had. I shared that I usually just have minute rice, but everyone listened, and I didn’t feel judged at all. It was refreshing and I didn’t feel embarrassed.

         The speakers went on to talk about how important our childhood upbringing is because it reflects our background. They talked about how dolls are very important and how involving diverse dolls at a young age will help increase curiosity about different cultures. I thought that this was very interesting. The speakers also challenged us to not be afraid to ask peers about their backgrounds. Just because someone is from a different culture or background, shouldn’t stop our curiosity. Being curious grows our empathy for others. I learned that when we understand what makes someone their selves, we can understand and connect on a deeper level.

         Empathy is so important. I learned that it improves relationships and emotional intelligence. Curiosity and empathy go hand in hand. By asking those hard questions, fueled by curiosity, you will understand so much more. Once you understand, you develop empathy. Being aware of your surroundings is so important. I can apply this to my life every day by asking myself questions such as, “How would they feel in this situation?” or “How can I make this situation more comfortable for them?”. By acting on these questions I can create a better community around me. I learned that asking difficult questions is vital to growing. I am very excited about growing the community around me and understanding what makes each human special!

         For my final cultural event, I attended another event held by the Maverick Diversity Institute. It was an Equity and Engagement event that included a small lecture and presentation. I was looking forward to attending because I am naturally curious and I want to learn how I can implement inclusivity in my daily life. To start the meeting everyone was asked to write down their definition of inclusivity. Everyone had very similar definitions with an overlying theme of acknowledging cultural differences. Inclusion is a culture, not an action. When an environment lacks inclusivity, there needs to be a culture shift. Everyone should feel heard and feel like they are able to make meaningful contributions. I think sometimes I struggle with voicing my opinion. In a group setting, when I don’t know anyone, I sometimes feel a lack of inclusivity. There is sometimes one dominant speaker that does not allow space for others to share their diverse perspectives. It is important to listen and incorporate voices and provide opportunities for others’ input. After having a short discussion about what diversity means and how it affects us, we were asked to shout out words that are needed for inclusivity. One word that stood out to me was “curiosity”. We have the power to create change. One person can change the environment around them, and that just starts with asking questions. Be curious about your peers from different backgrounds. I know I can do a better job at this. I am in many classes with people from all over the world and all different backgrounds. In this presentation, it was highlighted to “see something, do something”. As I move into my future, I look forward to having an open mind and to ask questions of my peers. I am naturally curious about our differences, and it will help create deeper connections with one another.  I will listen actively, respect differences, educate myself, and challenge my biases. I plan to do this by becoming more involved on campus through the Maverick Diversity Institute. I have their email chain which I am updated when they host events. I plan to do my own research on cultural differences so I can educate myself.

        Overall, empathy and inclusion go hand in hand. Empathy lays the foundation of inclusion. Empathy has the power to change culture and foster the understanding and acceptance of other differences. When we understand who someone is and what makes them unique, we become deeply connected. Inclusion builds on this by embracing differences and creating environments where people feel valued and respected. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn about empathy and inclusion through this series and it has helped me realize that just one person can make a huge difference. See something, do something!