Cultural Diversity: The Sum of Our Parts | Hilda Mwangi | TEDxUCSD

TEDx Talks
14 Jun 201714:37
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe speaker, Hill Wongo, initiates an interactive session highlighting the importance of first impressions, taking about 7 seconds to form. She shares her diverse background, emphasizing the need to look beyond surface-level judgments. Wongo encourages deeper conversations to understand people's true identities, advocating for cultural diversity in workplaces and policy-making. She stresses the impact of sharing personal experiences and perspectives in shaping inclusive policies and fostering a sense of community.

Takeaways
  • 👋 The speaker emphasizes the importance of first impressions, noting that it takes about 7 seconds to form an impression of someone.
  • 🌐 The speaker's diverse background, including growing up in Kenya and moving to Baltimore, has shaped her identity and perspective.
  • 🤝 She highlights the value of cultural diversity, sharing personal experiences with friends from various backgrounds and traditions.
  • 🧩 The concept of life as a jigsaw puzzle is introduced, where different aspects of one's life represent the pieces that make up their identity.
  • 👀 The speaker discusses the limitations of superficial observations, urging the audience to look beyond appearances to understand the depth of a person's experiences.
  • 🔍 The importance of deep conversations and genuine connections is stressed, as opposed to superficial interactions on social media.
  • 🌈 The speaker calls for a deeper understanding of diversity, advocating for recognizing the unique experiences and backgrounds that individuals bring.
  • 🏛 In the context of policy-making, the speaker points out the need for cultural sensitivity and understanding to inform effective legislation.
  • 🗣️ The audience is encouraged to use their voices and share their experiences to contribute to policy discussions and societal understanding.
  • 🌟 The speaker's personal identity is a rich tapestry of roles and experiences, which she believes enriches her life and influences her actions.
  • 🔑 The final takeaway is an open question to the audience, prompting them to reflect on who they are and the unique puzzle pieces that define them.
Q & A

  • What is the significance of the '7-second rule' mentioned in the script?

    -The '7-second rule' refers to the average time it takes for people to form first impressions about others, highlighting the importance of initial judgments in social interactions.

  • Why did the speaker ask the audience to look around and greet each other at the beginning of the speech?

    -The speaker initiated this activity to create a warm and interactive atmosphere, and to emphasize the point that people quickly make judgments about each other based on appearances.

  • What personal information does the speaker reveal about herself in the script?

    -The speaker shares that she was born in Kenya, grew up in a town called Ner, moved to Baltimore at the age of 10, and has lived and worked in over three countries. She also mentions her diverse group of friends and her involvement in various cultural experiences.

  • What is the concept of 'Ana' mentioned in the script?

    -'Ana' is a term from the speaker's culture referring to a baby welcoming ceremony, which was used as an example to illustrate the diversity of experiences and traditions among her friends.

  • How does the speaker describe her life as a 'jigsaw puzzle'?

    -The speaker uses the metaphor of a jigsaw puzzle to represent the various aspects of her life that make up her identity, including her faith, family, heritage, travels, favorite foods, friends, godson, and love for philanthropy, education, and the arts.

  • What is the main message the speaker wants to convey about diversity?

    -The speaker emphasizes the importance of looking beyond superficial traits and understanding the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that individuals bring to enrich any community or workplace.

  • Why does the speaker mention Serena Williams and her role at Survey Monkey?

    -Serena Williams is cited as an example of a high-profile individual actively involved in promoting diversity, specifically in the tech industry, to illustrate the pervasiveness and importance of diversity initiatives.

  • What is the speaker's background in policy-making, and how does it relate to the topic of diversity?

    -The speaker has a background in policy-making and has observed that cultural considerations often play a significant role in health policy, affecting diverse communities differently and necessitating a deeper understanding of these communities' needs.

  • How does the speaker's experience working for a healthcare nonprofit influence her perspective on representation and empathy?

    -The speaker's experience working with minority communities taught her the importance of understanding and empathizing with different cultures, even if she is not from those communities herself, to effectively represent and advocate for them.

  • What is the speaker's challenge to the audience regarding their interactions with others?

    -The speaker challenges the audience to engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with people around them, to pry respectfully and genuinely into each other's experiences, and to foster connections that go beyond superficial judgments.

  • How does the speaker define her identity in terms of the 'puzzle pieces' of her life?

    -The speaker defines her identity by the various roles and aspects of her life, such as being a daughter, sister, Kenyan, American, black woman, lawyer, philanthropist, godmother, and friend, which together form a rich and complete picture of who she is.

Outlines
00:00
👋 The Power of First Impressions

The speaker begins by engaging the audience in an interactive exercise, asking them to observe and greet those around them. This serves to illustrate the concept of first impressions, which are made within an average of 7 seconds. The speaker uses this to transition into a discussion about personal judgments and the superficial nature of initial perceptions. She then shares her own background, having been born in Kenya and growing up in the US, emphasizing the importance of cultural diversity and personal experiences in shaping identity. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the superficiality of first judgments, urging the audience to consider the deeper, unseen aspects of individuals.

05:30
🌈 Embracing Diversity Beyond Appearances

The second paragraph delves into the topic of diversity, challenging the audience to look beyond superficial appearances and consider the deeper, diverse backgrounds of individuals. The speaker discusses the prevalence of diversity initiatives in corporations and the importance of hiring people with varied life experiences and perspectives. She emphasizes the need for genuine conversations and connections to truly understand one another, rather than relying on quick judgments or social media interactions. The speaker also touches on her policy-making background and the importance of considering cultural perspectives in policy discussions, particularly in healthcare, where cultural factors can significantly impact policy outcomes.

10:31
🗣️ The Importance of Voice and Representation

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses the importance of using one's voice to represent diverse experiences and perspectives. She shares her personal journey of learning about different cultures through her work in healthcare and the value of empathy and understanding in representation. The speaker encourages the audience to engage with the diversity around them, to share their stories, and to listen to others, as this collective sharing can lead to a richer understanding of the world. She concludes by reflecting on her own identity as a sum of various roles and experiences, and she invites the audience to consider their own 'puzzle pieces' that make up their unique identities.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡First Impressions
First impressions refer to the initial judgments made about someone or something within the first few seconds of encountering them. In the video, the speaker uses the concept to highlight how quickly we form opinions about others, often based on superficial traits like appearance. The script mentions that 'we take on average about 7 seconds to make impressions to others,' emphasizing the rapidity with which we assess and categorize people.
💡Cultural Diversity
Cultural diversity encompasses the variety of human societies or cultures in regards to race, ethnicity, gender, age, and different types of social groups. The speaker discusses her own experiences with cultural diversity, mentioning her diverse group of friends and how they have taught each other about their traditions. The video script also touches on the importance of recognizing and valuing cultural diversity in various aspects of life, including the workplace and social interactions.
💡Perspective
Perspective refers to a particular attitude, way of regarding something, or a point of view. The video uses the concept of perspective to illustrate how different people can interpret the same situation differently, as shown in the anecdote about the dress that some people saw as black and blue, while others saw white and gold. This highlights the subjective nature of perception and the importance of understanding different viewpoints.
💡Identity
Identity is the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. In the script, the speaker talks about the various elements that make up her identity, such as her faith, family, heritage, and travels. The concept of identity is central to the video's theme, as it encourages the audience to consider the complexity of individual identities and to look beyond superficial judgments.
💡Diversity Champions
Diversity Champions are individuals or roles within organizations that are dedicated to promoting and increasing diversity. The speaker mentions 'diversity Champions, diversity officers,' indicating the growing recognition of the importance of diverse representation in various sectors, including the tech industry and corporate environments.
💡Adversity
Adversity refers to a state or instance of serious or persistent opposition. The video script discusses the importance of understanding the adversities that individuals have faced as part of their life experiences, which contribute to their true identity. It suggests that these experiences should be considered when forming a complete picture of a person, beyond mere external appearances.
💡Philanthropy
Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. The speaker mentions her love for philanthropy as one of the pieces of her life's puzzle, indicating her commitment to helping others and contributing to society in a meaningful way.
💡Policy-making
Policy-making refers to the process of creating and implementing policies, often within a governmental or organizational context. The speaker comes from a policy-making background and discusses the importance of cultural considerations in policy decisions, particularly in health policy, where cultural factors can significantly influence the impact and reception of policies.
💡Health Policy
Health policy involves decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society. The video script uses health policy as an example to illustrate the complexity of policy-making and the importance of understanding the cultural and individual factors that can affect the success or failure of a policy.
💡Voice
Voice in this context refers to the power or right to express one's opinions or beliefs. The speaker encourages the audience to use their voices to share their experiences and perspectives, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in shaping policies and societal norms. The video script suggests that by sharing our stories, we can contribute to a more informed and inclusive policy-making process.
💡Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. The video script discusses the importance of empathy in understanding and representing different cultures and communities, even if one is not directly from those backgrounds. Empathy is presented as a crucial component in building connections and fostering a more inclusive society.
Highlights

The importance of first impressions and how they are formed within 7 seconds.

The speaker's background, born in Kenya and raised in a small town, moving to Baltimore at age 10.

The speaker's experience living and working in multiple countries and the influence on their identity.

The value of diverse friendships and learning about different cultures through shared experiences.

The concept of cultural diversity and its significance in the speaker's life.

The idea of life as a jigsaw puzzle, with various elements making up one's identity.

The challenge to look beyond superficial judgments and to understand the deeper aspects of a person's life.

The role of perspective in perception, illustrated by the 'black and blue or white and gold dress' optical illusion.

The prevalence of diversity initiatives in corporations and the importance of hiring for diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

The need to go beyond surface-level diversity and understand the life experiences that shape a person's identity.

The impact of quick judgments and the loss of deep conversations in modern society.

The speaker's challenge to engage in meaningful conversations to foster understanding and connections.

The speaker's policy-making background and the realization of the limited role of culture in policy discussions.

The importance of sharing personal experiences and stories to influence and educate policy makers.

The analogy of health policy as a soup, with multiple ingredients that cannot be separated once combined.

The speaker's experience working with Hispanic and Latino communities and the lessons learned about cultural empathy and representation.

The call to action for individuals to use their unique voices and perspectives to contribute to policy discussions.

The final reflection on the speaker's multifaceted identity and the encouragement for others to consider their own 'puzzle pieces'.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
First ImpressionsCultural DiversityIdentityPolicy-MakingInclusivityHuman PerspectiveSocial InteractionDiversity ChampionsHealthcare PolicyPersonal NarrativesEmpathy