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

Summary

In this engaging speech, the speaker emphasizes the importance of looking beyond first impressions and embracing diversity. She shares her personal journey, from Kenya to the US, and the diverse friendships that have shaped her identity. The speaker encourages the audience to consider the 'puzzle pieces' that define them and to engage in deeper conversations to truly understand others. She also highlights the role of diversity in policy-making, advocating for the inclusion of various perspectives to create a more representative and empathetic society.

Takeaways

• 😀 First impressions are often made within 7 seconds, influencing our judgments and conclusions about others.
• 🌐 The speaker's diverse background, including growing up in Kenya and living in multiple countries, has shaped her identity.
• 🤝 Cultural diversity is crucial, and the speaker encourages understanding different cultures through shared experiences like meals and conversations.
• 🧩 The concept of a 'jigsaw puzzle' is used to illustrate the complexity of an individual's identity, composed of various elements like faith, family, heritage, and personal interests.
• 👀 External appearances do not always reflect the internal reality of a person, highlighting the importance of looking beyond surface-level judgments.
• 🔍 The speaker advocates for looking beyond superficial diversity and focusing on the diverse experiences and perspectives that individuals bring.
• 🗣️ Engaging in deep, genuine conversations is essential for truly understanding others, contrary to the shallow interactions often found in social media.
• 🏥 Health policy is a complex issue that requires understanding cultural nuances and the impact of policies on different communities.
• 🌟 The speaker's experience in the healthcare sector underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and representation in policy-making.
• 💬 Everyone has a voice that can influence policy, and sharing personal stories and experiences is vital for educating lawmakers and shaping policies.

Q & A

What is the significance of the activity where the audience is asked to look around and greet people around them?

The activity serves as an icebreaker and a way to illustrate how quickly we make judgments and form impressions about others based on their appearance and behavior within a short time frame.

How long does it take on average for people to form impressions about others?

On average, it takes about 7 seconds for people to make impressions of others.

What personal details does the speaker share about herself in the script?

The speaker shares that she was born in Kenya, grew up in a town called Nair, moved to Baltimore at the age of 10, and has lived and worked in over three countries, traveled to many more, and has a diverse group of friends.

What is the cultural event called 'Ana' mentioned in the script?

Ana is a baby welcoming ceremony in the speaker's culture.

How does the speaker describe the concept of diversity in relation to her life experiences?

The speaker describes diversity as a collection of experiences, traditions, and cultural backgrounds that shape who she is, including her faith, family, heritage, travels, favorite foods, friends, and love for philanthropy, education, and the arts.

What is the main message the speaker conveys about the importance of looking beyond superficial judgments?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of looking beyond superficial judgments and getting to know people's diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to truly understand who they are.

Why does the speaker believe that cultural understanding is crucial in policy-making?

The speaker believes that cultural understanding is crucial in policy-making because it helps lawmakers understand how certain policies or laws can disproportionately or negatively affect different communities.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate the complexity of health policy?

The speaker compares health policy to a soup, indicating that it is complex and multifaceted, with many ingredients that cannot be separated once they are combined.

What challenge does the speaker issue to the audience regarding getting to know one another?

The speaker challenges the audience to get to know one another beyond superficial interactions, to ask deeper questions, and to share personal experiences to build genuine connections.

How does the speaker describe her own identity in terms of the 'puzzle pieces' of her life?

The speaker describes her identity as a sum of various 'puzzle pieces' including her roles as a daughter, sister, Kenyan, American, black woman, lawyer, philanthropist, godmother, and friend, which collectively make her a rich individual.