LOVE TO TEACH 2 TO 4

The term " microaggression " was used by Columbia professor Derald Sue to refer to "brief an d commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people." Thinking back now that I am becoming educated on microaggression, I can think back to an episode that happened back in 2002.  I was working in an office environment ,  in the technology department.  One of the staff members was a Muslim man,  He dressed in traditional garb.  Daily he would as me in there was a conference room that he could go in to pray quietly and I would always find one for him.   One day an other staff member seeing him praying and says to him "your people should not be praying at work".   Your people should stay to yourselves"  I will never forget the look in this mans face.  Especially for that time  to be a Muslim...

While Speaking with my friend  is from Egypt and has lived here in America and in Egypt.  we have been friends since  college.  Since then she has moved between countries a few times.  In her home they speak Egyptian and are of Muslim  religion.   While  she  dresses more American her mother dresses in more traditional modest  clothing including   covering her face and hair.   While my friend has given that part of her culture up to dress more according and accepted  by the dominant American Culture.  While she is in Egypt she dresses according to Egyptian culture.  Here is America  her family is middle class family.  In Egypt her parents were the upper class  and on the top of the economic scale.    Still following her religious traditions was always hard when they cultures were not understood or accepted in the  1990's  ...

The items I would take as if I was a refugee, would be my children's pictures, my grandmother's Ellis Island Papers, and my father's Army Medals.      The importance of the photos is so my children would have references for their memories, and family friends, and events in their lives, The importance of the Ellis Island paper is to show how my family came to be American, how they got here,   the trials and tribulations of their journey, and to embrace they have a heritage they came from The importance of the Army medals is to show how my father fought for this country so people have rights to defend their place here. IF I had to choose one Item to keep it would be the photos.  There are stories behind each photo and events that helped my children become who they are.   The photos help spark memories will encourage the passing for the family traditions we have embraced. Letting go of some of the items in my life is like l...