cultural diversity

The first week of cultural diversity

I came in not knowing what was going to happen. From the start I loved the way the teachers interreacted with each other and us.

I have always been a very noisy child, always was asking questions. With my course I learned a lot about different practices and with this minor I think I am right at home again. When I saw the books lying down on the table I was already intrigued and started to get excited. The subjects where all things I had heard of or was interested in. I also felt a sense of guilt, because I felt that I haven’t been reading. I used to love to read, I still do actually, but throughout the day I realized how much my vocabulary could have benefited from reading more than I have. This realization kept being reinforced throughout that Wednesday and Thursday.

I read a bit about the course on wdka, but I could not make out what I to expect from the course. Like I said at the check out I was pleasantly surprised and excited for the rest of the course. When I got home I had to tell others. But I couldn’t explain into words how glad I was, I tried to explain what we did, but it was the kind of thing that you just have to experience and be interested in to understand and also get excited about.
I really believe I attracted this course into my life, I really needed this type of theory, discussions and lectures to get into my groove again. TO meet people and get recommendations to what books I could start with. When we went to Amsterdam I was so glad, I had been saying how much I want to explore more of that city. I saw Amsterdam trough different eyes really, I hadn’t been to the places we went yet and I was so stimulated to see more. The black archives were so interesting to me, and made me want to again start to read, dive into the history of black people in Africa, America and Europa, maybe even Asia. I love history and I love listening to stories, I guess I love grand narratives and little narratives.

When we went to visit the Tropenmuseum I couldn’t believe the size of it and the choice of exhibition. The history of slavery and the Netherlands one was very nice to see because it is something I have been waiting to see in a museum. I felt like it was a good start, a good way to start telling the story but I am sure that they can improve and expand further. The fashion one I like as well, showing how fashion is being used and created in Africa.

The lectures about Muslim cool, were also very interesting to me. The way they talked about different cultures within the Islam and how those were being used or viewed in popular cultural, and the different opinions and discussions that derived from the lectures. I did have questions about if some Islamic people would take offense of seeing some images being used by rappers that were not Muslim. A classmate answered this with “we want our religion to be spread and talked about, if we want people to learn we cannot be upset about it being exposed to I wider audience”. That was a valid point in my eyes, but I can still imagine some people seeing it differently. The lectures were a very fitting end to the day.

I feel like a sponge just taking in all that I possibly can. I feel like I have a bit of knowledge about a lot of things, but not a lot about specific things. And I feel like a have a lot to learn, I hope to learn how to express my views and thoughts better, expend my vocabulary.

The little reflection below was written the first week of this minor, reading it back I can see how I did not know what to say about this introduction I was very excited about the whole thing is think I used the word excited about 20 times and did not feel like words could communicate what it meant to me. I just wanted to experience it all inside of me, by truly listening.

I did not feel then or feel now that this minor was something that opened me up to a whole new world, because these subjects were always part of my interest or way of thinking I just did not imbody the little knowledge I already had. So it did not open up a new world but it did made the world more colorful, it handed me tools, it gave me words it gave me motivation to start again to start over even. It made me feel like I was surrounded with teachers that understood my views and wanted to make sure that they are heard not only mine but that of all their students. And the rest of the students, I felt so comfortable with them, I admired the level of open-mindedness and vulnerability. It has been amazing to see everyone’s journey.

I met people I never thought I would meet during this journey, I reconnected with what I find important and with what I want to do after graduating. So much happened writing this I do not know where to begin I guess I’ll just tell a bit of everything that has stuck with me. What has stuck must have been to most impactful and therefor important things to me.
I want to start with all the guest presentations in class, the former students and professionals that came to share their work. I could recognize myself in the stories they told, whatever it be about spirituality, sexuality, race, identity etc. the way they told their journey or the reasons behind their projects was so recognizable because I and I think the rest of the class deal with exactly the same things.

The second thing that stuck was black Pete, the things that happened this year around the protest against this black face figure, that in combination with this minor made that I felt it extra hard. the treats of this society became even more real, and talking about it with each other and feeling the emotions around it even more so. It made me feel like being on Facebook and sharing articles and video’s writing essays about the issue was not enough anymore. I feel like I should join the kick out zwarte piet protests and I will.

Now let’s talk about the academic essay. At first I could not figure out what subject I wanted to tackle, and I was hesitant to make my subject about Cape Verde. Because I felt I should talk about other things than just that one country all the time. But I could not escape talking about it, sharing the story about my grandmother and me in the class made it stay on my mind as something to start writing from. Eventually after talking to Jan I decided to write an academic essay about trauma and the effects it has on people. I wanted to be able to tell Rottterdam that these Cape Verdeans (or any other people effected by slavery or colonization) needed to be understood, needed to be heard and respected. The struggle they have been through made them what they are today, all the problems that have manifested came from somewhere. During my research I realized why I never really dived into the history of Cape Verde like I deep down wanted to. It is very weird for someone that loves history to not dive into that of their country of origin, or not? I thought so at least. Anyways, I realized that I was overwhelmed, overwhelmed with fear that I was not going to find enough and be disappointed. Every other population was safe for me, because I guess I did not care as much as I did about finding out about a part of my history (that is how I feel about it at least). But this time I did it, I have officially started to learn more about Cape Verdean population in Rotterdam and the rest of the diaspora. From here I can continue my research.

Writing the essay itself went smoothly once I started, I procrastinated writing it at first I think that what I stated above, was a big factor in that. But once I started I was able to compile the arguments I wanted to make fairly easily. Even though I was not totally confident in if what I wrote made sense. After feedback from Teana and Jan I was able to improve the essay, and now I hope for the best.

Now for the decolonization project. This project has been the most smooth sailing group project I have done to date. Working together with Jessica, Juliette and Lieve has been smooth sailing, our vision came together nicely in the end. I have been very vocal, hands on, passionate, critical and excited about the way we communicate through our project with the words and visuals we used. I felt taken seriously as well as taking my group members seriously. We considered each other’s wishes and worked together as a team through the whole thing. And are all very proud of the result. We can call ourselves a collective with our own platform to bring awareness.

And last but not least the ‘All power to the people symposium’. Those two days were more than inspiring, I met and heard people that gave me hope. Again I felt like had found people that share my views and values, that feeling is so essential it is so important for your sanity. I cannot begin to tell It all It was just awesome, I don’t have words enough. I came in contact with revolutionaries, I talked and exchanged contacts with people from the Rijksmuseum and the Black Archives. This benefited my group project as well as me. I feel like the rest of the class would have enjoyed it as well, and that they did miss something great. What does two days gave me again tools, insights and guidelines to what to do when you want to tackle big issues. It reminded me that I should question read and archive more.
I have also become more critical of the people I allow in my space, because of this minor. I have had my fair share of ignorant remarks and even arguments that are prime examples of issues as white fragility and again just pure ignorance and close mindedness. I would love to share them, but it would be too much. And even for that I am grateful because I believe it is pushing me to go on to better and bigger things.

I said earlier that I was reminded to what I wanted to do in life. For now I have decided I want to be archiving and sharing narratives in my own way, this minor, project, symposium have really taught me how important stories are and how we should tell them. I intend on doing just that.

To be continued…