What if? Network for Diversity and Inclusion
An open mind is a terrible thing to close.
Culture in Comic Form
Ethnicity makes up an important part of our culture—the “acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and generate behavior” that James Spradley talks about.
Check out this clip of popular graphic novelist Gene Yang as he talks about ethnic heritage and created identity—two main themes that run through each of this Chinese-American’s award-winning graphic novels.
Gene Yang at America.gov
“Everyone comes from some sort of cultural heritage and has something to share.”
Though Gene Yang’s medium for communication might be different from what you’re used to, his message is important to anyone in human relations. (That’s all of us.) His story and the stories he creates give us a slice of insight into how cultural identity informs the way people view their world.
Are you paying attention to these kinds of stories? Even if you won’t ever be using comics to illustrate the message, it’s important to be mindful of how people’s backgrounds inform their experience and affect their behavior. Our perceptions, expectations, modes of communication, and actions will flow straight from our experience.
Like Gene Yang says, there are pieces of us that we can’t change—like what neighborhood we grew up in or what family we were born into—but we can change the way we communicate with and relate to one another. Be mindful of your story and other people’s stories, and let new knowledge of other people’s backgrounds better equip and inform you as a member of the 21st century workforce.
Check out this clip of popular graphic novelist Gene Yang as he talks about ethnic heritage and created identity—two main themes that run through each of this Chinese-American’s award-winning graphic novels.
Gene Yang at America.gov
“Everyone comes from some sort of cultural heritage and has something to share.”
Though Gene Yang’s medium for communication might be different from what you’re used to, his message is important to anyone in human relations. (That’s all of us.) His story and the stories he creates give us a slice of insight into how cultural identity informs the way people view their world.
Are you paying attention to these kinds of stories? Even if you won’t ever be using comics to illustrate the message, it’s important to be mindful of how people’s backgrounds inform their experience and affect their behavior. Our perceptions, expectations, modes of communication, and actions will flow straight from our experience.
Like Gene Yang says, there are pieces of us that we can’t change—like what neighborhood we grew up in or what family we were born into—but we can change the way we communicate with and relate to one another. Be mindful of your story and other people’s stories, and let new knowledge of other people’s backgrounds better equip and inform you as a member of the 21st century workforce.
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