The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

1.Memory of Prejudice: I have two mixed children and have dealt my share of people showing racial comments at me and my children. When I had my daughter I was only 19. My parents were very upset because I wasn’t married and I had stepped out of my faith and race. My mom has 7 siblings and my dad has 12 siblings all of which are in there 60’s and up . My family is really huge and not one person is of another race. I walked into my family reunion almost 10 years ago today and the whole room was silent. Over 400 people were staring at me and my mixed baby girl. My dad which was about 74 at the time had to stand up and give the speech of we love Rachel and if you can’t accept our grandchild you can’t accept any of us either. This child is our family and you have the chose to accept us all or none of us at all. Needless to say it took a couple of years for the family to get used to having an African American child in it. They all love both of my children now. My parents have dealt with a lot from people their own age. One lady stopped my mom in the store and said you must have a lot of love to adopt a Niger baby. I was so upset and mom was so calm and said I didn’t adopt any child I love my grand baby and held her close. She said, “ I am going to pray for you tonight. God don’t like ugly.”  

2. How did it diminish equity:People with little understanding of diversity. 

3. What feelings did this bring up for you: Both of these situations were tough for me because this is my children we are talking about. The first situation where the whole family gave us the nasty look really hurt because how can you turn your nose up at family? I think that it has gotten better of the past ten years. My whole family accepts my children for who they are now.

4. What would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity: I feel that with time people will get more comfortable with this biracial children. I know that there are tons of children in school right now that are of multiple races. I think that the more this becomes a norm the more that people will be able to understand that people are different and we need to accept everyone as they are. 

Microaggression

Personally I experience microaggression on a daily basis. I am the Secretary of my home owners association and I am constantly being under minded because of my age. I am 27 years old I bought my home when I was 22. Some of the people on the board feel that because of my age I don’t have the integrity for this magnitude of work. For instance when it comes to my opinion or validity of things I am questioned without being questioned. Someone cut down 15 acres of common ground trees without permission and we even asked them to stop and they told us to but out. Now the home owners association is expected to clean up their mess, which will cost 15,000 dollars out of HOA money. I have worked for lawyers and private investigators for the past 10 years off and on for the summer each year. I do know a little about lawyers and paperwork. Not to mention that I have a bachelor’s degree. Well I spoke up and said before we spend this amount of money on something that is not even our fault; I feel that we should talk to a lawyer and perhaps our insurance company as well. The President of the HOA responds, “Why do all you young people always think you know everything, how could you possibly think you could offer anything besides costing us more money?” Well yes I was a little upset because I was working for the lawyer at the time and had already spoke to him and had been told we had a case. My lawyer was willing to do it for a reduced fee seeing as to how I would have been doing almost all of the paperwork. Really upsets me to think that age has a factor in knowledge to some people.  

I think that this assignment helped me to realize that it is really easy to say things in a way that you don't mean to hurt people's feelings but manage to do so.

I feel that as a teacher it is very important to know about microaggressions because it will help you acknowledge how you say things to people. It is so easy to say something to a parent and not mean to throw accusations or be mean about something and do so anyways. It really will help you be more aware of things that you say and do to people.  

Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

Part 1: This week we were asked to ask three people two questions:

Prospect 1: African American, Male, 28 years old,

Prospect 2: Caucasian, Female, 29 years old, 

Prospect 3: Caucasian, Female, 44 years old, 

What is your Definition of culture?

1.      Your background and everything that makes you who you are.

2.      How you express yourself through religion and your personal practices.

3.      A way of life passed down from generation to generation.

What is your Definition of Diversity?

1.      Accepting other people’s differences regardless of their race/origin.

2.      Having a different make of things.

3.      Global acceptance of differences among groups of people.

Part 2:

1.      Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples?

·        The aspect of culture and diversity that I have studied within this course showed within my prospects answers. I feel that people tend to lean towards aspects in which they know best. The way people were raised, their education, or the types of people in which they associate their selves with.

2.       Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

·        I feel that on aspect that has been omitted are behavior and/or personalities such as abilities. I feel that people tend to have more to them than what can visibly be seen.

3.      In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

·        When I looked at how other people viewed diversity and culture it made me realize that everyone has their own definition and way of looking at things. I know that because I have studied diversity how I perceive diversity and culture is totally different than how someone that doesn’t.

My family culture

My family Culture:

 If I were only allowed to take three things with me to another Country with a different culture I would take my money (cash, debit, and credit), My IPAD (it consist of all my pictures, journals, Siri, and keeps me straight and then I would have to pray to God it can be charged and have Wi-Fi somewhere), and last of all my iPhone, ( my cell phone is my life link.) I know an iPad and an iPhone interchange so it would almost be ridiculous to have them both but they both offer special things to me. My phone links me to all of my friends, keeps me in touch, and organizes my life. I know my iPad does almost the same thing but to me it offers more. My iPad holds my journal, Siri, pictures, and my favorite games.

If upon arrival I was told that I could only keep one thing it would most likely be my IPhone because I could transfer money, keep in contact with friends and family, and still see all of my family through pictures.   

I have learned through this exercise that I take everything for granted and feel  a little bit spoiled.