Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

No one is born racist. Racism is taught. Through both explicit and implicit messages, society teaches ideas, attitudes and assumptions about race that are not true (Margles & Margles, 2010). As the Margles mention in the article racism is taught. I truly believe it. However, this might not be the case, but this is a little Hispanic child in another Head Start class where I teach that does not like the response to anyone who are white. In his class there are two teachers a white lady and a Hispanic lady. The little boy does not speak English nor Spanish well, be you can tell he is trying to learn both languages because he repeats whatever you. In the mornings we are all on the playground together. Me being sure a nice and caring teacher I try to learn all the kids name and speak to them. Because usually I am the next teacher they will see when entering Pre-K. Well this particular day this kid tried to come into my classroom. When I told him he could not come in. He hold on to my leg and almost started to cry. My center manager was out there and tried to grab him to tell him to go play and that he could not go into the classroom. He refused to let go. So the center manager called the Hispanic teacher over to get him. Once she told him to go play he did. The center manager is white and his lead teacher is white. When I asked her do he response to her in the classroom she said no. She said that she do not know what it is about him. He listen to the other teacher but not me. It could be because he speak both little English and Spanish.

This is the only case I have seen this week of micro aggressions, however, that's probably not the case, it could be language and comprehensive because he does not speak English or Spanish well. From this observation, if this is the case, I feel like the parents have something to do with it. But I do not know the parents and have not really communicated to with them to know.

From this week observation experiences this week affect my perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people by getting to know and understand them more. It might not be that they are prejudice but simply do not understand or comprehend what is been said. On the other hand, the parents or family members could be telling him things that make him dislike the whites.

Reference

 Margles, S., & Margles, R. M. (2010). Inverting racism's distortions. Our Schools/Our Selves, 19(3), 137--149. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=51372248&site=ehost-live&scope=site

   

 

 

 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this week blog we were to ask at least three different people their understanding of diversity and culture.  So I called two friends and a family member. Here is their definition of diversity and culture:

1st friend: Her definition of diversity is according to multiple people in the classroom such Hispanic,  American, Koran, Russian.  She label things in her class in their language and try to learn at least three words in their language. 

Her definition of culture is the quality within you.  Who you are.  What you believe.  For example, African raise their child differently by not letting them watch TV and putting education first. 

2^nd friend:  Her definition of diversity is multiple of amount or number of choices.  A lot of different things you can choose just a number of things.

Her definition of culture is your up bring, heritage, and family bonds.

3^rd family member:  Her definition of culture is people, families, parties, food, and clothes.

Her definition of diversity of is separately, different, and color, race, belief.   

 

The answers I received are somethings I have learned in this course such as, heritage, color, beliefs, language, food, and clothes. 

I think my friends and my one family member hit all the aspect of culture and diversity.  They define both words well enough to have an understanding of the words. 

Viewing my friends and family member definition of diversity and culture has not influence my own thinking on these topics.  My personal definition diversity and culture reflect their definition. 

My Family Culture

For this week assignment we are to consider that we are moving to another country and can not return until we are told to.  We can only bring 3 small items that are important to us.  However, I can not think of three things that are very important to me.  The first thing I will bring is a the Bible. I would bring the Bible to keep faith and to help me get through the days in the new country.  The second thing I would bring is the a photo album.  Even though my family is with me I would still like to think about and see what we left behind, just for memories.  The last thing I can not think of.  I have nothing else that is as important.  I have nothing in my family that has been passed down or means lot.  I am not a materialist person, so bring anything that is material would probably be a waste.  As long as I have my family with me I will survive with them.  They mean the world to me and I am sure that we will make it together in this new country as long as we stand by each other.  However, the last thing I would probably bring will be my cell phone. So I can stay in contact with ours in my life such as my friends and other people.  Maybe they could help us escape for this new country. 

This picture is of all the grandkids of my mother and father. (7 grandkids)

These are my three kids. (3 years old and twins are 1)