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Cultural Diversity

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Who Am I?
Thinking back on some situations that my grandmother told me stories about, I would say I identify myself with being a Black American. Although she was part Indian, society recognized her as a Negro American. Being a black woman in American presents its own strikes. I represent two groups that have been oppressed and had to overcome obstacles to be treated equal. Generations of oppression and endurance for present opportunities have been passed on to me and for that I am thankful and proud to be a Black American woman. Blacks have years of history from slavery through discrimination to practically seen as a visitor in this country, fighting for a piece of the American dream. Sometimes reading about these events that were overcome brings some feelings of hostility which I have to rise above. I am a Christian and forgiveness is a large part of my faith. I have been taught not to hold grudges and to give individuals the benefit of the doubt. We cannot hold an entire majority of people at fault. There are generations of the majority that are just as appalled as I at the injustice and cruelty of black people in America. Many shared in the fight for equality and lost their lives for that cause. Of the two social categories I identify with one being a women and the other being black, I would say being black is the one that has brought the most discrimination I can identify with. I live in the south where it still exists. People are placed in two groups and that is black or white. Anything after that is looked as optional. It is very much a way of life.
I identify with oppression through my ancestors that were born in America. I do not have any information beyond that. The information I have received puts my racial group with the times of segregation. They knew what it was like to have separate bathroom and water fountains. I have heard of times with the

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