Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

             Racial Microaggressions is something I experience on a daily basis from family members and African Americans regularly. I don’t understand where it comes from, but my father-in-law loves to call his wife and I a Mexican. It bothers me but he insists on doing so. He continues to show brief everyday indignities that can, “often cause severe psychological stress and harm” (Laureate Education, 2011) not only to me but my children. Upon asking my husband for an explanation of his father’s actions he stated, “Anyone who is African American, light-skinned with straight hair in his eyes they are Mexican” Can I not just be an African American who is light-skinned with straight hair? Inverting Racism’s Distortions states, “No one is born racist. Racism is taught. Through both expUcit and impUcit messages, society teaches ideas, attitudes, and assumptions about race that are not true” (Margles, S., & Margles, R.M, 2010). How am I to address this? I correct him every time he says, “Hey, my Mexican daughter-in-law! Do you see your Mexican mother-in-law walking slowing? Please tell her to hurry up!”

            I’ve read numerous ways this can be corrected and even took the skin-tone IAT test. I always find myself being placed in other ethnic backgrounds, but I prefer to be identified as an African American. A question on the test was asked, “How would you prefer your skin tone to be?” (IAT Corp., 2011). I answered, “I prefer it to remain the same” (IAT Corp., 2011). Now was that a bad thing? I was always taught to love yourself because if you don’t love yourself no one else will. I was also asked, “What do you consider your skin tone to be?” (IAT Corp., 2011). I didn’t have an answer for that because I see myself as Black not dark or white, so I wish Black was an option.

            Today we are living in a time where unjust treatment is present. This is something known to the African American community for generations. The death of George Floyd gave insight to other ethnicities of what African American men/women go through on a daily basis. “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are” (Benjamin Franklin, n.d.). I think this is the straw that broke the camel’s back, and all are now unaccepting of microaggressions. It, “Reflects views of inferiority/superiority and inclusions/exclusions” (Laureate Education, 2011).  

            My experiences are still the same with no change to how I felt previously. Discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes of people are still seen as African Americans being inferior to White Americans. If you can pass as being another ethnicity it’s encouraged. I pose a question to all my readers; do you ever think equality for all can be accomplished?

References

“A Quote by Benjamin Franklin.” Goodreads, Goodreads, n.d., www.goodreads.com/quotes/49575-justice-will-not-be-served-until-those-who-are-unaffected

IAT Corp, 2011. Project implicit.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

Laureate Education, 2011. Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file].  

https://class.waldenu.edu

Margles, S., & Margles, R.M. (2010). Inverting racism’s distortions. Our Schools/Ourselves, 19(3), 137-149.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I chose three women over the age of 45, from different geographical locations asking them to give their definition of culture and diversity and they were the following,

1.     Martina S.- “I am 47yrs old, African American, heterosexual, daughter, mother, and sometimes a father and provider, born and raised in Chicago, IL., and best friend. I am a cardiac patient and have been since I was 5yrs old. My definition of culture are rituals, customs, a particular belief system, food, and clothing. My definition of diversity is a group of people from many different cultures collaborating together for a common goal. For example, education, politics, protesting, socially, on many different things such as The Taste of Chicago. The Taste of Chicago are several vendors from different cultures coming together for common goals, economic, entertainment, and socialization purposes. People come from all walks of life to experience different foods and entertainment.”  

2.     Doris T.- “I’m 60yrs old, Christian, retired educator, Mom, auntie, wife, black female, ministers wife, speaker, sister, mother-in-law, friend, a decision-maker, nurse, lawyer, I’m me! Culture are different values, customs, ideas, languages, or beliefs. Each culture has different values and different points of view. All cultures are not the same. Culture and Diversity are different ethnic backgrounds and an example of that is a classroom.”

3.     Caroline H.- “My identity is Caucasian, the military, caregiver, Mother, Grandmother to be. Culture for me is the collection of traits and shares of demographics of values or beliefs. Whatever groups have in common for example, the Hispanic people have their own culture, the Caucasian, and etc. I just look at whether it be religion, and the way you celebrate different events. For me after being exposed to different demographics in the military I found that the Caucasian culture celebrates their culture, their background, their shard common traits the least. Growing up I just knew I was a white person and I just wasn’t exposed to culture. For me, diversity is listening to different demographics, different genders, and all-inclusive environments. So, if you look at people from different demographics and different perspectives and different experiences theirs more understanding. When you have a diverse group of people you can better understand. A diverse group of people can say, have you considered that from a different point of view?”

            Aspects of culture and diversity I have studied in this course was a perfect example of my mother-in-law when she said, “Culture and Diversity is different ethnic backgrounds and an example of that is a classroom.” This is a perfect example of diversity because, “the goals of anti-bias education easily adapt to the needs of children from immigrant families, provided that, as with other children, you respectfully partner with their families, incorporate the children’s home cultures, promote their home languages bilingual development, and pay attention to each child’s specific developmental issues” (Derman-Sparks, Edwards, J.O., 2010). During her interview my mother-in-law went into detail just like our book. This is why I compared the two; it gave an example as to where culture and diversity can be found and how ECE can execute goals for an anti-bias educational experience.  

            Caroline H., my next-door neighbor being raised in NC her understanding of other cultures like Hispanic or Asian was omitted in her life. She stated, “Being raised in the 70’s you were either black or white. I unintentionally grouped everyone as either black or white and I really didn’t think I was doing anything wrong, but I was discounting their entire diversity and their entire culture. As a Caucasian I was never taught anything from my European culture, it was just whatever was going on in America and we were White American. Our culture was the Fourth of July, Christmas, and whatever was going on in America.” I personally noticed that everyone I interviewed told me their age except for Caroline, she omitted that from the interview. The two African American or Black women that I interviewed included that as a part of their social identity.

            I was extremely appreciative to have the opportunity to see things from a Caucasian perspective because being African American I never thought that anyone who was Caucasian was at a deficit or omitted in any way shape or form. It was surprising for me to learn that my neighbor felt that she didn’t have much of a culture until her tenure in the Military. It was there she learned of many other cultures and their differences. I hope to have this opportunity again in the near future because it was very enlightening.

Reference

 Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J.O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

My Family Culture

            Leaving in hast to another country unknown to me being able to take only three things would be my cell phone and charger because it has a lot of pictures full of memories of the home I left behind. The last thing would be a Star of David gold chain around my neck written in Hebrew. “He will merit to bestow a bountiful gift on anyone who grasps the shield of David” (Wikipedia.org) meaning long life. In my culture, the meaning of a Star of David is a protective shield showing that God is with you.

            My children take additional Spanish speaking lessons outside of school to be more tri-lingual speaking Hebrew, Spanish, English, and eventually French. I welcome the new cultural experience because what I teach them will now come to fruition. They will get the opportunity to experience a different language firsthand.  If I had to give up two items, it would be my phone-charger and Star of David. I can always have another Star of David made for myself because I have God in my heart and buy a new charger however, I can never replace the fond memories saved on my cell phone. I can remember a Rabbi said, “Where everything like a loose-fitting garment because you don’t know when it will come off at any given time. This includes materialistic things, and even loved ones.” This exercise of family culture is a perfect example of, “Learning about culture and fairness involves two dimensions: children’s development of a positive cultural identity, and their comfortable, respectful interaction with the cultures of others. Anti-bias education supports both dimensions” (Derman-Sparks, Edwards, J.O., 2010).

            If I am awarded the opportunity to work in this new country, I would search for an Early Childhood Education program so that I can continue working in the field that I love. I would be able to teach different perspectives of diversity, equity, religion, music, food, and clothing awarding children, and I the opportunity to learn new things from each other.  

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J.O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_David

Welcome EDUC-6164

Hello class! I'm looking forward to the time we will spend together elaborating on perspectives regarding diversity and equity. Good luck to all!