Sunday I visited an incredible organization just outside of Jinja called Arise Talents Uganda. The founder, Dickson, and volunteers teach kids from families who are struggling financially how to dance, paint, sing and weave to show them a way to make a living. I love spending time with them because they are SO full of energy, joy and spirit. You can’t walk into the compound without being bombarded with at least fifteen hugs. It’s awesome! After the kids tried to teach me how to paint a giraffe (didn’t go so well), they pulled me inside the classroom and began asking questions about my family and life in America like: “Do people rear animals in America?” “Do you have bananas in America?” and “Does everyone go to church in America?” After each question, they would all giggle nervously as if they were embarrassed by their questions. I remember walking out of their gates being blown away by the initiative and bravery with which they asked these questions. It was clear from the giggling that they knew that I was kind of caught off guard by their questions, but they asked anyway.
Today I took some inspiration from my Arise friends and asked a Ugandan a question that was somewhat uncomfortable for me to ask: “What are your feelings about using the term ‘developing nation’ to describe Uganda?” Having taken anthropology classes, I was wary of posing the question because I know that terms like “third-world,” developing country,” “global south” can carry a degree of political baggage and therefore can be perceived as offensive. But I was genuinely curious and realized that sometimes it’s okay to risk possibly offending someone by asking a question IF you’re doing so with good intentions and in a considerate way. We ended up having a great conversation and he explained that he doesn’t mind “developing nation” because he knows that Uganda has a lot of progress to make, but history shows that a better overall standard of living is possible over time.
Challenge: think of a question that you're genuinely interested in the answer to for someone who comes from a different background, culture or lifestyle. Determine the most considerate way to ask and do it with an open mind.
Today I took some inspiration from my Arise friends and asked a Ugandan a question that was somewhat uncomfortable for me to ask: “What are your feelings about using the term ‘developing nation’ to describe Uganda?” Having taken anthropology classes, I was wary of posing the question because I know that terms like “third-world,” developing country,” “global south” can carry a degree of political baggage and therefore can be perceived as offensive. But I was genuinely curious and realized that sometimes it’s okay to risk possibly offending someone by asking a question IF you’re doing so with good intentions and in a considerate way. We ended up having a great conversation and he explained that he doesn’t mind “developing nation” because he knows that Uganda has a lot of progress to make, but history shows that a better overall standard of living is possible over time.
Challenge: think of a question that you're genuinely interested in the answer to for someone who comes from a different background, culture or lifestyle. Determine the most considerate way to ask and do it with an open mind.
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