Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week was a fabulous learning week because I learned something so fascinating about microaggressions and how prominent they are in my everyday life. I recently moved to a new neighborhood in February after the birth of my second child. After being raised in the city for most of my life, and even starting my family in a less than safe neighborhood I always wanted to move to the suburbs in a single family home community like you always see on TV. Being the pisces that I am (the big dreamer) I would drive through newly built communities and just think of what it would be like if I could just live there. Well my dream finally has come true and my husband and I decided to go for the gusto and get the house that I always wanted. We moved to a beautiful community with tot lots, a beautiful community center, walking trails, and an over sized community pool all within our development. My son is starting kindergarten in September so I am always walking through the community and taking him to the playgrounds as well as the pool to get acquainted with the neighbors and get him meeting some friends. Well the other day my husband and I took the boys to the pool. We meant some great neighbors and had a few interesting conversations. (I will be honest there are only a few black families within this community and we are one of them so I guess our presence sometimes can be surprising to the neighbors.) One of the ladies in the pool asked us how long we lived there and were we moved from. She wanted to know where we worked. How long have we been at our jobs? How did we hear about the community? And even asked us if we ever think about moving back to the city. I answered her questions and I really do not think she meant any harm by her micro insults, she did not even realize her questions were slightly offensive, but she was really curious to know how can we afford this living. I also talked to a family that asked so many questions about the city and wanted to know what it is like to live near so much action in the inner city. I participated in the small talk and did not take offense to the many comments or assumptions that my husband and I cannot afford the community and it almost seems as if some of those neighbors may be expecting us to move out sooner than later.

I sometimes get stares and evil looks and even some people just don’t speak. I feel saddened by some of the reactions and even worry about my son in school but if I had it to do all over I would not change one single thing because I want my children to grow up in a safe environment and will face micro aggressions all day if I have to, to give them a better life than I had growing up. I think racism is so ridiculous because people should just accept people for who they are and not what they are. We all come from different cultures and backgrounds but we should appreciate our differences and desire to learn from them rather than hate and resent them.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

My Husband:

 Culture is what we are made up of, our heritage, our beliefs and traditions that we may have been accustomed to. Diversity is to be different and to be accepted for your differences.

My Mother:

Culture is something that defines you. It is your foundation and it starts with your religion in many instances. Culture is your way of life.  Diversity is being accepted for your differences, Understanding someone’s uniqueness.

Parent in my child care setting: (Different nationality)

Culture is values and behaviors that represent your depth. It is something that is shared with your family and may be your common ground. It can be something that is not respected by others. Diversity is being respected.  It can also be the acceptance of cultures.

There were a few terms mentioned that were similar to terms that were used in our class to define culture. Terms such beliefs, traditions, your religion and even things that define you . My mother said that culture” is your foundation and it starts with your religion”. I think was a very good way to explain how culture is the basis of who we are and our religion can speak volumes of that. Diversity was explained as accepting ones differences and this is so true in explaining the depth of diversity. It allows us to be individuals without being judged.

I think that one very important part of culture and diversity that was not touched on was the ingredient of race and gender and the fact that there is a dominant culture and how we are expected to follow an expectation. But to be completely honest before taking this class I did not ever think about the theory of the dominant culture and how important it is in our society of classes and fitting in.

I have now grown a better understanding of culture and diversity on a whole by taking this class but now I am gaining an even better understanding of the two elements and how they affect who we are as professionals in the world of early learning. We are responsible for teaching the children and we must be sure to allow them and teach them how to represent their culture and display its importance. It defines us and if that is not taught at an early age then it may be lost throughout adulthood.

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

 

This assignment was extremely difficult and it made me think about what is important to me. I have many things that I would initially want to take to start my new journey in a new place. But if I could only choose three items I would have to say the first things and most important thing would be family photos of my children, my parents, my husband and most important my brother since he passed away 10 years ago.

It is really unbelievable how I would feel so lost without my computer, iPod, phone and other items of convenience, these items would be a major lost if I could not have them, I would feel so incomplete. So of course I would want to bring one electronic item which would be my iPad because I have many family videos, photos, personal books, letters that I have written, my journal, and many other important things are on that device. But in thinking of things that would be significant to my family’s culture I would take the American flag (that we hang outside of our house) with me since our country was destroyed. I have many family members that are in the military and they fight for our country every day. If our country no longer existed that would be a hard pill to swallow for myself and many people of my family.

If I had to leave behind two items and only take one I would be devastated but I would have to say I would take my family portraits because one picture speaks a million words. We all know that technology does not last forever and what about if the iPad decided not to work then I would lose everything. But I can always have the family picture and they can last forever.

This assignment was a great reflection exercise because it made me realize I do not really have any family air looms and many people that I spoke to feel the same way. I feel that if this was an assignment about 50 years ago I think more people would have significant family items to talk about.