Week 8 :: Professional Hopes and Goals

• One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds 

I hope to really just get to know the families on a very personal level. I feel when that happens you have a deeper respect and love for them and them for you. I think all teachers and families should be closer than they are now. I am not saying become best friends with them but really bond with them and find out their day to day ways of being. What makes them happy. What are their goals as a family here in a strange or unfamiliar place?

• One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice 

I would like for the field to stop categorizing mixed race people into black or white. I would love to see a change that comes when we teach children that there is no such thing as a "black" way and a "white" way to do things. For example, there is no such ting as a "black way of speaking." This perpetuates stereotypes and focuses on the one-drop rule that is antiquated and discriminatory.

• A brief note of thanks to your colleagues:

I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to read and comment on my posts in the discussion as well as here on  my blog. I know I might have rambled on a lot about how I felt about race and diversity and I know my posts were not the most popular. I appreciate that we were all able to be professionals and find something constructive and supportive to say about each others' experiences. I wish you all well in your future endeavors and I know you will be making a difference out there with the children and families you touch. That makes me feel better about the state of the field already!

Week 7 :: Welcoming Families from Around the World

• The name of “your” family’s country of origin

The family who will be immigrating to our country is coming from Circassia, Russia. Happen to be from the same country as my son’s biological father’s relatives. I have always been fascinated with this part of Russia and wanted to learn more about the people and their culture. This will be the perfect opportunity.

• At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family.

1. I will look for local stores in my area or surrounding areas that might sell Russian food. There is a small enclave of Russian families in Long Beach and also Los Angeles where I can start. I hope to see if any of the customers or workers speaks the language of the Circassians and would help me learn some greetings and other helpful words.

2. I will find food and some recipes from the people I talk to in the stores and practice making a dish that would be common for them and remind them of home.

3. I will make calls to the family with an interpreter in case they do not speak English well. I will make sure to ask them about their religious beliefs, health concerns, educational concerns, and any accommodations I may need to make in order to help them feel at home when they visit.

4. I will conduct more research on that part of the country to have a better understanding about the weather and nature there so I can make my visitor’s time here as comfortable as possible.

5. I will plan outing for us to go exploring my city and some places that I like to photograph. I would love to share my world with them as well so we can all get to know each other by sharing some fun times and making memories.

• A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family:

I believe these preparations will not only help my new friends feel more at home, but show them that I am truly and genuinely invested in making sure they feel comfortable and safe while visiting and finding a place to stay. I want the children to feel secure and unafraid. I would hope that my efforts will show the family that I want to help them and that I respect their ways and beliefs.

Week 6 :: The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

To complete this assignment, ask yourself these questions:

• What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

I remember being called "nigger" by many people throughout my lifetime. I was called that when I took someone else's parking spot, after accidentally bumping into someone while walking in the mall, in anger from an ex-boyfriend, and once by a former co-worker.

• In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

In my eyes, it did not diminish my equity in the situations because that word does not have the same effect on me as it might another black or bi-racial person of color. The word is just a word to me and I understood why the persons were saying it. They felt powerless in the situation so it was them who suffered the lack of equity. They were trying to hurt me with words (which is impossible because I choose to not let words hurt me). They thought by calling me a derogatory name, they would gain the upper hand in the situation. Unfortunately for them, nothing of the sort happened. The lady did not get the parking spot. The bumped person in the mall walked away angry, and the ex-boyfriend and former co-workers still lost their battles with me and had to resort to name-calling (the most immature and unsophisticated way to end a discussion)

• What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

Again, the feelings from those incidents were not ones wherein I felt bad because someone had used a racial slur to try and hurt me. They didn't know I choose to not let words hurt so they were confused. They felt powerless still because i did not yell back or retaliate with name-calling. I felt empowered and confident when I calmly said, "I am so sorry you are so upset with me. I apologize for anything I've done to add to your discomfort." 

• What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

I suppose the other people would have to be willing to calm down and discuss their state of being at the moment in order for us to move past the anger and just agree to disagree. I would like to think that my willingness to not respond in kind would open a door for further discussion. 

Week 4 :: Practicing Awareness of Micro Aggressions

This week was a rough one at work for me. I have several co-workers who are there just for their paychecks and they prefer to gossip with each other rather than watch and care for the children in their care. One day this week, a child fell from the slide (he was climbing up instead of going down). The teacher who was by the slide did not see him climbing up nor did she see him fall. She had been on her phone texting.

I ran over to help the child and her response to me was, "He should have known better. I tell him all the time but he's obviously got a hearing problem." Her statement infuriated me. We are never ever supposed to judge or criticize a child in their presence as they have rights and like all humans deserve to be treated with respect. I picked the child up and made a mental not to talk with my co-worker later during lunch away from everyone.

When we were talking, I told her that what she said and did was not only rude and wrong, but also a prejudice against the child. The child is a new student and doesn't speak English very well. he is learning. Obviously this makes remembering rules difficult. She was not concerned with what she said. She didn't see her comments as being biased or prejudicial. She is a person whose mind I cannot change, however, I can let my Director know about her violating the child's rights as this is a violation of Title 22 under which we are licensed  So I let my Director know and now it is in her hands.