Thursday, March 20, 2014

Reminder: #Leaders4Diversity Conference

Tarleton students, you are invited to attend our first Leaders4Diversity conference!

You can sign up by coming in to the office, calling 254-968-9488, or sign up online at http://tinyurl.com/leaders4diversity

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions -- we'd love to hear from you!




We hope that you will stop by the office (TSC # 21). Also, look for us on social media. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TarletonDiversityInclusion and read along with our journeys here on the blog:  http://tarletondiversityinclusion.blogspot.com/ 
You can also see our images on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarletondiversity/ 
Or follow us on Twitter: @DiversityTSU or email us directly at Diversity@Tarleton.edu 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

San Antonio, The Heart of Texas History

The following post is from Multicultural Ambassador, Valmy, M., To read more about the Multicultural Ambassadors program go to www.tarleton.edu/diversity.  

Texas is known for its vast territories and the wealth of its soil. However, many do not know how rich the Lone Star State is in history. San Antonio is one of the key locations, if not the heart, of Texas history. Throughout this trip, I was very shocked to see that the city of San Antonio is not as highly industrialized as Dallas or Austin, but still attract a large number of tourists annually. Within a couple hours of our arrival in town, it was clear that people could not resist the beauty of the River Walk and its 3-story shopping center and countless restaurants. Then, as we started exploring down town San Antonio on the second and third day, it was clear that the engineers of the city were aware of the importance of some key elements in the composition of what makes San Antonio so unique.

The city is built around the Alamo, a sacred element of the Texas revolution against Mexico. After further analysis of the history of the Alamo, I discovered the courage of the men of the Alamo. Courage that continued to be present in Texas history with brave individuals like Sam Houston that continued to fight for causes that many had lost their lives for. Nevertheless, the wealth of San Antonio does not just revolve around the Alamo. After a terrific boat tour along the river runs through downtown San Antonio, it came to my attention that the first people who had settled along that river wanted to build things so they could be remembered many generations later. Indeed, a large percentage of the buildings around the river walk date from the late 1800s. Those buildings have seen San Antonio go through its worst and its best. The wealth of the history of San Antonio is so broad that it is quite uneasy to say that the city obtains its fame from a specific component. 

            From the history of San Antonio and an educational exhibit at the Institute of Texan Culture called “Stolen Education”, I realized that despite the fact that the Anglo colonist tried to influence its ethnocentric ideas on the traditional Mexican even into the 1950’s. The attempts failed because Mexican influence is highly noted in many ventures of San Antonio. The Mexican culture is highly seen all around; after all they see this land as part of their ancestors. The influence of the culture could be seen from many localities on the river walk to the unique Market Square. This unique culture that reflects a little piece of Mexico attracts millions tourists throughout the year. The vibe that San Antonio offers to its many visitors is very unique and I will definitely go back to visit because I feel like one can never get enough of the countless stories that are at the center of the city's fame.

Spring Break Culture Excursion -San Antonio, TX 

~Valmy M., Multicultural Ambassador 


We hope that you will stop by the office (TSC # 21). Also, look for us on social media. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TarletonDiversityInclusion and read along with our journeys here on the blog:  http://tarletondiversityinclusion.blogspot.com/ 
You can also see our images on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarletondiversity/ 
Or follow us on Twitter: @DiversityTSU or email us directly at Diversity@Tarleton.edu  

An Eye Opener

The following post is from Multicultural Ambassador,Janna Beth. To read more about the Multicultural Ambassadors program go to www.tarleton.edu/diversity.  


This trip was an eye opener. The culture is so different. We were shown all sorts of history and cool scenery. We started with the Institute of Texan Culture where I learned what it felt like to be a Hispanic student going to school in the 1950's and the discrimination they went through in that time. We also went to the Alamo and learned about all the men from many different states and countries came to help us fight and defend the Alamo. We explored through a scavenger hunt and saw so much beauty in the diversity and acceptance of every culture. Overall, I really enjoyed getting the chance to see San Antonio in a new light and learn so much more about the state I love.

God Bless and Bleed Purple! 
            
Janna Beth, Multicultural Ambassador 

Spring Break Culture Excursion -San Antonio, TX 


We hope that you will stop by the office (TSC # 21). Also, look for us on social media. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TarletonDiversityInclusion and read along with our journeys here on the blog:  http://tarletondiversityinclusion.blogspot.com/ 
You can also see our images on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarletondiversity/ 
Or follow us on Twitter: @DiversityTSU or email us directly at Diversity@Tarleton.edu  




Seeing through the perspective of others

The following post is from Multicultural Ambassador, Macklin. To read more about the Multicultural Ambassadors program go to www.tarleton.edu/diversity.  

I was pleasantly surprised by the academic environment achieved while on this trip. That being said, I really learned a lot. The thing that really struck home hardest occurred on the first day. During a conversation on the first night, it was pointed out to me how I had failed to see the perspective of some people whom are very close to me. At that very moment I realized just how blind I could be to what is around me. What a powerful lesson to let sink into the mind! While that particular moment stuck out to me, the rest of the trip was filled with powerful lessons. There was something to gain just about everywhere we went. I don't feel as though there was a missed opportunity anywhere for personal growth. I'd say the trip was a success.

~Macklin, Multicultural Ambassador 

Spring Break Culture Excursion -San Antonio, TX 


We hope that you will stop by the office (TSC # 21). Also, look for us on social media. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TarletonDiversityInclusion and read along with our journeys here on the blog:  http://tarletondiversityinclusion.blogspot.com/ 
You can also see our images on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarletondiversity/ 
Or follow us on Twitter: @DiversityTSU or email us directly at Diversity@Tarleton.edu  

Who is to blame?

The following post is from Multicultural Ambassador, Traivohn J. To read more about the Multicultural Ambassadors program go to www.tarleton.edu/diversity.  


Last week I got the opportunity to travel to San Antonio with the Multicultural Ambassadors. On the second day of the trip we went to the Alamo. I don't know about anyone else but I like to try to feel the energy of the people that once protected this great symbol of Texas history. As I was walking in the line to enter the Alamo and preparing to walk in the footsteps of those brave men and women I overheard a conversation between a young Anglo boy and his parents. He couldn't have been any older than 7 but he could describe the events of the Alamo as if he had been there to witness it. As a Texan and an American I was proud, but as a African American I felt ashamed. I was proud of how familiar the young boy was with his history but I know young children of color who don't know their history. My question is who takes the blame. Does it rest on the schools? History books do offer a look at the history of people of color but that can easily be missed if a student were to blink at the wrong time. Does the blame rest on us? We may have not been brought up knowing our history, but I feel that we are more aware than our younger brothers and sisters yet we do not always take the time to educate them. My question for you is who does the blame ultimately sit with and what can be done to make sure that the generation after us knows their history?


Spring Break Culture Excursion -San Antonio, TX 
~Traivohn J., Multicultural Ambassador 


We hope that you will stop by the office (TSC # 21). Also, look for us on social media. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TarletonDiversityInclusion and read along with our journeys here on the blog:  http://tarletondiversityinclusion.blogspot.com/ 
You can also see our images on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarletondiversity/ 
Or follow us on Twitter: @DiversityTSU or email us directly at Diversity@Tarleton.edu