Communication and Culture

• Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?
• Like with everything I had to analyze my behavior when I am in a setting with multiple cultures present.  The answer is Yes I do change my behavior when I am in a culturally diverse environment.  The truth is when I am amongst other African Americans, I am most comfortable and feel the most understood.  I find that I don't have to search for the proper or unoffensive terminology.  I can use common African American colloquialisms, and they are understood.  I don't have to explain my opinion because others have similar views or experiences as myself.  I find that when I am with people from another culture, I am more cautious with my words, I never want to come off offensive.  Especially with members of the dominant culture, I am aware of my aggression or behaviors that may seem aggressive.  I am aware of my grammar and articulation.  It has been my experience that when I am more relaxed and myself, I come off to other people as abrasive.  How I am perceived by others is moderately important to me so if I can ensure that my persona is regarded as pleasant and enjoyable, I would be more comfortable.  I would like to be unapologetically me. However, the negative stereotypes that exist for African American people and women can sometimes overshadow my actual personality and character.  I feel that I am always fighting against negative stereotypes that people place on me. Therefore, I make adjustments to avoid having to feel defensive.  Especially when I know that the exchange is temporary.  
• Recently I watched a youtube video of black people of all shades answering questions about how comfortable they are as black people.  As they were answering the questions, I answered the same questions.  I found out some interesting things about myself as a woman and as a black woman. I am going to share that video below.  

Communication Skills: Language, Nonverbal, Listening

This week I was tasked with watching a television show without sound and try to gain an understanding of their relationships.  That was a bit difficult, but I chose a show from my husband’s DVR list called The Big Bang.  I usually find it difficult to sit through an entire episode of this show.  Until the now I had not watched a single episode all the way through.  Watching it without sound was very telling.  The body language of all the cast made it seem that they do not like each other.  They roll their eyes at one another regularly and it is evident that some characters are submissive to other characters.  It was apparent that Sheldon, Penny, and Bernadette are the dominant characters in the group.  The others do not often stand tall around them or turn away when they are speaking. 

Watching it with the sound on only validated my suspicions.  The three characters as mentioned above are self-serving and believe that they are doing the others a favor for being dominant.  They fold their arms and make dismissive hand gestures when others speak.  They make sounds that also diminish the value of other words.  Before watching with the sound on I could not determine what the plot was about.  I assumed that Sheldon, Bernadette, and Penny all wanted things their way.  And they are used to getting things their way.  In many scenes, they were the ones standing and speaking while the other characters were seated. In the end, Bernadette showed dominance over Penny by standing while Penny was sitting. However, later in the episode, Penny was standing while speaking and showing dominance over an entire room of people. 

I think that I would already know the relationships and interactions of a show that I would normally watch.  I probably would be able to follow the plot of the show without sound because I am aware of the relationship dynamics and prior history between them.  Watching The Big Bang Theory, I had no clue who the characters were or their names and their relationships between each character. Because they are usually in groups, it was difficult to see who was married besides Sheldon and Amy who had many scenes with them alone. 

Although this is not a show that I would anticipate watching again, It showed me how communication and relationships can be illustrated through body movement and placement.  Nonverbal communication methods are as loud and noticeable as verbal communication if one is focused on listening to both. 

competent communication

This week, I was tasked with identifying someone that I felt was a competent communicator.  For those that know me and my family, I come from a verbal and vocal family.  There is no shortage of opinions.  However, I have an older cousin who sticks out for this particular blog post. 

My cousin April Watts.  My entire life she has never shied away from being who God made her.  She has always expressed her opinion and let no one stifle her voice.  Now in her adult life, she is a Radio personality in the Baltimore/Maryland area.  She has a large following on social media as well.  She is always ready to tackle tough topics and challenge social concepts and ideas.  Although the topics are sensitive, she finds an articulate way to express her opinion while providing a platform for an engaging dialog about hour social constructs, social and political injustices as well as pop culture topics.  She has a talent for giving a voice to the voiceless and standing for the underprivileged and the oppressed.  She is forefront on the discussion of social responsibility and true change.  Do I think she is a competent communicator?  I would say she is the most competent communicator that I know.  I am going to link some of her work so that you can listen and understand for yourself.

The Danger Report: April Watts Talks to Aeceis Clary, Sister of One of R.Kelly’s Alleged Sex Slaves