Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week has been an eye opening week for me.  We have been studying microagressions.  Microaggressions are brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental, that may be intentional or unintentionally communicated to women, to people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often time causes severe psychological distress and harm (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  This week I have remembered times when I was a victim to microagressions and I also realized that I have also been an offender.  As I thought about these instance where I have offended others I realized there were ways that I could have handled the situations better. 

I decided to share an experience from my previous school.  My previous school is located in a upper middle class area in Georgia.  The school was extremely diverse, but there were hardly any African-American families there.  When a family is interested in the school they come for a visit and get a tour of the school.  On this particular day there was an African-American family coming for the tour. As an African-American myself I always got excited to see these families because we needed more at the school and since being there I had never had a black child in my classroom.  When the tour was over I went to talk to the director about something unrelated to the tour.  As soon as I walked in she says "Mrs. Keli the Johnson family loved the school, but I don't think this is a good fit for them".  I asked her was it because of the tuition and she said no.  She then informed that the father owned several businesses and that the mother was a stay at home mom.  So why isn't this school a good fit?  Um.... Well..... It just isn't.  Pushing the issue further, I asked her did they say something to you that would lead you to believe this?  No, I have have been doing this a long time and I can tell  right away.  At this point my blood was boiling and I knew that if I did not walk out of her office at that very moment then the next thing to come out of my mouth would not be good.  I walked backed to my classroom and realized I was to upset to stay and went home.  She did not want them at the school because they were black.  I went back and forth about it and I truly believe that is the reason why the school doesn't have but a few black students.  After this happened I started to view my director differently and found it hard to come to work everyday.  I gave 200% of myself everyday to that school as well as my students and I could not continue to work for someone that did not want black students at her school.   I submitted my resignation and moved on to another center.  

This week made me look at my stereotypes about people and allowed me to see why people have them about me. It gave me a better understanding on how to deal with the many forms of discrimination. It affects people in different ways and people deal with it differently.   I am a Christian and I try to live my life according to what I think pleases God.  One of my favorite biblical passages that I try and live by is Matthew 7:1-3 “Judge not less ye be judged”. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

“Diversity is not about how we differ.  Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.”              Ola Joseph

For this assignment, we were asked to find out from three different people their definitions of culture and diversity. The three people I asked defined culture as our heritage, or beliefs, why we do things; the way you were raised, your morals and rituals; and who you are. Culture can be referred to how particular groups of people live. It is the way we live our everyday lives, which include the language we speak, the religion or spirituality we practice (or do not), and the clothing, housing, food, and rituals/holidays with which we feel most comfortable (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 55).

They defined diversity as different cultures living together and around each other in the same community; the inclusion of different people, which sets us apart from other cultures; and how we are all different.  Summing up their definitions, diversity is recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics that make a individuals culture unique.

I found this assignment fascinating as each viewed culture and diversity in similar yet different ways.  I enjoyed hearing their definitions of diversity and culture as it encouraged a great conversation.   I think their definitions help me to understand how similar and different we are as individuals.    In week two the panelists offered many different descriptions of culture and diversity.   I think all sources help me to understand the complexity of both words.  In the end it is culture and diversity that makes us who we are.   And by acknowledging our similarities and differences we embrace our culture and diversity.

References:

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

Reading the requirements and scenario for this posting was unfortunately for me frightening.  However, in our trying times in the world we live in, I must admit I, as well as my family, have thought about such a scenario and how we would handle it.

•   Phone with video and pictures of my husband, family and friends.

•   Important documents: birth certificate, social security card, and passport.  I chose these because it will prove my birth and nationality. 

•   Medical records/prescription also because my history if I was in need of medication, show my blood type, shots that I have had, and also may be able to trace my blood line to find my family.

If language was an issue I think that people would understand the value of the items that I brought because they would recognize things like identification cards, passports, and other important items like that.

Upon arrival to this new destination I am told that I can only keep one of these items. I would keep the phone because I I would have made sure that I had taken pictures of all of my important documents in case I lost the originals.

I realized that doing this assignment that I don’t think I would ever be prepared to have to abandon the place that I call home and leave my family and all my love ones behind.  I began to think about the millions of families that have to do this all the time and how hard this has to be.  When I lived in France for 8 months the worst 2 I was felt out of place all the time and every time I found an English speaking person I wanted to hug them.   I realize how important it is to know all of your information and have it saved somewhere that you can access it.