Question #3 - Racial/Ethnic Groups

I believe that there are many valuable ways to expand your knowledge about other racial/ethnic groups. First, as I often do when I lack knowledge in a particular subject area, I would try to read about different racial/ethnic groups in order to gain an understanding of the individual history, practices, and overall identity related to each group. Second, directly participating in both everyday experiences (i.e. religious services, playground interactions) and cultural celebrations of various racial/ethnic groups can provide you with integral first-hand experience. The final, and perhaps most necessary, way to expand your knowledge base about other racial/ethnic groups is to ask many, varied questions of members of these groups themselves. Similar to participating in different racial/ethnic group events, gaining first-hand knowledge directly from members of these communities is both an invaluable and critical experience in expanding your racial/ethnic knowledge base.

One fresh-in-my-mind experience in which I exhibited bias against another ethnic group occurred during my undergraduate years at Hofstra University. During my tenure at Hofstra, I was an active member in Hillel, the primary organization for Jewish life on campus. One evening, during a Shabbat (Sabbath) service my junior year, an Asian American girl walked into the room prior to the start of the evening's service. She stayed for the entire service and the meal following. However, because she was rather quiet during the service itself (and because of her physical appearance) I assumed she was not Jewish and was simply participating as part of a class assignment. Only later did I find out that this girl was the product of an Asian American father and a Caucasian, Jewish mother and was eager to become a member of our organization. She ended up being an active, valuable member of Hillel during her college years, as well as a friend.