What is Culture?

I asked a group of friends the following two questions: what is your definition of culture?  What is your definition of diversity?
The array of responses I received are as followed:

1. "Culture is the shared attitude, morals, values etc that characterize a group

2. Diversity is the coming together of different cultures/different groups of people coming together as one" (Personal Communication, July 17) (Gaelle Paraison)

 

1. "Culture is a socialization of a group of people. Meaning, norms created amongst a group of folks. For instance, in a work environment the culture is set by the work ethic, regulations and happiness. Overall culture is the human achievement regarded collectively. 2. Diversity is the ethnic, geographical and experiences. Meaning a range or variety of people and things in any environment." (Personal Communication, July 17) (Annmarie Payne)

1.)   "Culture is the unique heritage that one inherits and usually acquires from one’s family, community and general environment that manifests itself in numerous ways ranging from speech, food and  attire to past times, traditions and world perspective.
2.)    Ideally, diversity is the coexistence of differences in a space of mutual respect.  Cultural diversity can be a type of diversity where a venue is given for different cultures to intermingle and have a space for dialogue and discovery." (Personal Commnication, July 17) (Emanuel Gunn)

1)  "My definition of culture are the traditions, beliefs, ideas that a family unit create.  It defines what is most important in regards to family values, religion, family dynamics, etc... Specialized way of living for individual families
2)  My definition of diversity is simply individuality.  Being able to be different in own right and being respected for what makes a person unique, their appearance, religion choice, life choice, family values, etc..." (Personal Commnication, July 17) (Altie Jordan)

1)  "Culture- Your heritage or something you identify with and can make yourself apart of

2)  Diversity- an array of options, differences or things that make one unique; the opposite of uniformity" (Personal communication, July 18) (Nicole Cherry)

1)  Culture are non-legally enforced norms that reflect the values and principles of a particular environment or group and can inform the way people carry themselves, interact with others and possibly further the goals of the group.

2) Diversity is the representation of a range of different subgroups - not just racial or ethnic subgroups as it is most often thought to reference - but anything from religion, income, geographic residence or origin, age, ideas, educational background, languages spoken, interests, species, etc.  (Personal Communication, July 18) (Akua Hill)

1) Culture is similarities shared by people in a certain affinity group. 

2) I prefer multiculturalism over diversity because it emphasizes the multidimensional facets of each of our lives while diversity tends to emphasize the difference in race, gender, and sexual orientation. (Personal communication, July 18) (Courtney Williams)

The arrays of answers I received demonstrated the quality of intellectuals with which I interact.  Every single response defined culture beyond the surface.  They understood that culture entailed more than just the clothes, food, and values but that it involved and included one's environment and interactions. While there were different answers for both culture and diversity, each response depicted a deep understanding of two complex ideas and proved once again that culture plays a part in the way we define and interpret things.  This is shown in the way all of the responses were different even though they conveyed the same idea.

I am very proud of those I call friends.  Their level of thinking has elevated mine throughout the years and am very grateful for the ways in which they contribute to my personal culture.