Culturally Thinking

Suggested Activities to Experience/Encourage Diversity

1. Try to identify the origin of the food you eat regularly. For example: potatoes are original to Peru and oranges from the Arab world.

2. Do not tolerate inappropriate ethnic/racial/homophobic/sexual jokes.

3. Commit to viewing culturally diverse movies, such as #42, the Code Talkers, Red Tails, and the Story of Vernon Johns, to name a few.

4. Learn more about these minority business people:  Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Carlos Slim (2013 – second richest man on earth).

5. Actively participate in a multicultural or international community cultural event, such as a Cinco de mayo parade, quinceañera, German Fest or Polish festival.

6. Read newspapers, on-line from other countries (many have English editions) like Al Jazara, the London

7. Don’t just have MLK, Jr. Day off (1/20/2014), volunteer at a Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, or homeless shelter.

8. Try really authentic ethnic cuisine (Mediterranean, German, Korean, Thai, and Cuban).  Taco Bell is out!

9. Listen to music from other cultures. Check out the internet!

10. Shop in a predominantly Spanish speaking, Arabic, Korean, Greek, etc.

11. Go to a religious service from a tradition other than your own.

12. Volunteer at a domestic violence, nursing home or hospital or museum.

13. Learn to Salsa, Tango, merengue, step dance, clogging or River Dancing!

14. List five ways the dominant group is hurt by oppression.

15. Learn about the “model minority” myth. (Are Asians really good in math?)

16. Learn another language – try Chinese or Arabic. Perhaps Portuguese.

17. Plant a diversity or peace garden.

18. Adopt a grandparent (especially one from a Nursing home); listen to his or her stories. (Intergenerational)

19. Take your friends, family, or class to a Holocaust, African American, Native American or Arab Museum.                           (In Michigan –National Arab Museum is in Dearborn, Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, Wright Museum of African American History is in Detroit.)  Washington D.C. hosts the National Holocaust Museum and the Museum of Tolerance is in Los Angeles.

20. Learn to play a new cultural game, such as Mancala, or Mexican Loteria.

21. Have a sushi, tamales, gumbo, hummus, or enchilada making night for your friends or children.

22. Create a diversity profile of your friends and acquaintances.  (Are you inclusive?)

23. Cook a meal with a spice you don’t normally use…. Try curry, saffron, cilantro, or annatto seeds.

24. See a film featuring a Gay or Lesbian relationship.

25. Attend a service at a synagogue.

26. Talk to a homeless person.  (Really talk…)

27. Teach an adult to read, or English to a non-speaker.  Check with your local schools or libraries for these programs.

28. Go to a Native American Pow Wow. (Check your city or Chamber events calendars or university/college calendars of what’s happening).

29. Let an international student use your kitchen to cook their favorite food from home.

30. Give a multicultural book, toy, game, or doll as a gift to your child, friend’s child or a classroom. (Go on line)

31. Attend a Salsa Dance Night.

32. Travel internationally to experience diversity.

33. Plan to make an ethnic dinner every month.

34. Hold a Make –  A – Difference Week to raise funds to help the starving children.

35. Purposefully, get to know someone from an ethnic/racial/religious group that is different from your own.

36. Assess the cultural diversity of your school’s artwork, music and literature.

37. Read a book about someone outside your own group. (Helen Keller, Dr. Ben Carson ,Jim Thorp, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Black Elk).

38. Start a new tradition: an ethnic Christmas cuisine recipe cookbook, or a Christmas ornament from around the world.

39. Join a local International Community group.

40. Learn about the contributions minority groups have made to our country.

41. As a family watch a social issues movie, such as 12 years a slave, #42, Defiance, the Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

42. Give your child books that are diverse, there are wonderful lists of multicultural children’s books on line.

43. Give respect and expect respect.

Idalí Feliciano