My Favorite Communicators

I grew up during a time in my culture that it was a tradition to think that “children were better off seen and not heard”; however, my grandmother did not believe in instilling that tradition with her family. She taught our family that communication, support and togetherness would help our families succeed in majority of our endeavors. My home was a family home where my grandparents, parents, siblings, uncle, aunts, cousins and extended family members lived together and it took a lot of teamwork to learn to respect each other;  communication was the key.  

I loved the way our family took on efforts to complete tasks as a group. It provided ample times for use to talk with each other or interact with each other without using words; however, messages between us were commuted. Something as simple as cleaning the house was fascinating and engaging. We got up early on Saturday mornings to loud playing music to motivate us to accomplish our tasks. We sang and danced while one group cooked breakfast and the others cleaned every room in the house. It was so much fun. I still remember most of those songs and I continue that tradition with my family today. Then we would sit and eat together. All the children eat in the den and the adult at the dining room table.

My family believed in expressing themselves and showing emotions. I grew up in a home where it was ok to ask question and talk when adults were talking. There were several times in the day that they would sit in the dining area or den and talk about what was going on at school, in the community and with their personal life and they would include all of us regardless of the age. There was never a dumb question but occasionally we would get laughed at or teased; however, our question never went unanswered. My family believed in giving hugs, kisses and words of that expressed love.  It was a challenge to leave for school without giving hugs, kisses, or high fives to start our day. There were times that I wanted it and needed the encouragement and times that I didn’t but I gave it because it may be a day that they needed it to have a great day.

 All of this happened because my grandmother understands the value of communication and she wanted to help us learn how to exchange thoughts and ideals to enhance our lives and the lives of others. I continued that tradition with my family and it helps me and them understand each other’s feelings and understanding. It also helps me as an Educator when I listen to the children and their families. I come to them with an open mind; ready to collaborate with them to complete a goal.

Professional Hopes and Goals

I hope that I can make such a positive and beneficial effect on the lives of the children and families from diverse backgrounds that they will embrace who they are and have the confidence and knowledge to be proud of their diversity.

My goal is to be a successful advocate that help others understand that it is imperative that we educate our early childhood children about whom they are and how diversity is a part of them. I will reveal the inequities that exist and provide alternative solutions that will promote equity to all the children and families. And I will encourage children to learn how to interact with other with the intention of giving them respect and interacting with them to build on social justice.

I would like to thank everyone for sharing their culture with me. I have a better understanding that in our differences that we all have the desire to be more united. I feel that unity by the statements and shared desires of my colleagues and I concur that we can make a change and a difference in the world we live in if we start by intergrading awareness of diversity with our children and families. We have the power to motive, encourage, and implant a desire to work together in the minds of our children especially if they are taught to embrace diversity both their and others.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

 

 

Mexico

The origin of the family I choose is from Mexico. The five ways that I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards them is keep open communication with the family, support family native language, be aware of family culture and beliefs, provide resources to help family meet their goals, and involve them in make decisions about their child’s education.     

I will ensure that the family and child will be able to communicate with someone in the class from their native language. It is important to help the family and child to be able to continue to use their home language while they learn English in their effort to become dual-learners. I will learn how to greet them in their language to show that communicating with them in vital to providing the child with the best education they can receive. I will schedule home visits and parent conferences to ensure that they are able to share information or concerns with me in a private and nurturing environment.   

I will ask the family about their beliefs and culture. I will learn as much possible to ensure that I am respectful of their beliefs and culture. I will hang pictures of diversity that reflect the people and places from their previous country. I will be aware of any food restrictions or allergic reaction that the child has. I will ask for their advice on how I can implement what is important to the family into the classroom. I will put familiar objects in the class so that it will feel comfortable and I will encourage the child and family to share customs during show and tell.

I will support family by providing contacts with resources within their community that can meet personal needs. There are some many resources that can aid the family in adjusting to the changes that they have endured in the new country. I will build a solid partnership with the family that will encourage them to be active and involve in the direction of their child’s education. I will be inviting and approachable to guarantee that the family, regardless of the type of family it is, will be at ease discussing concerns or make suggestion.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

I have been exposed to all types of bias, prejudice and oppression because I am an African American woman. In my move to San Antonio, I have been exposed to a new environment and the Hispanic culture. Even thought there are many mixed cultures here, I stand out more because I am Black and I look Black. When my husband and I go places, we get strange looks because we are both African American. It is common to see blacks coupled with any other race but their own; yet, there are Mexicans couples and White couples and it is ok. It is so obvious that when we see other black couples they tend to make sure we greet each other. I don’t really understand it and why it is not expected that African American’s couples would exist.

 I have also noticed that it is important to the Hispanics community that you to be aware of their culture, types of foods and beliefs; I too believe that it is important. I promote and teach families the need to hold on to your culture and language. Unfortunately, I do not get the same type of respect and have to sometime make people aware of the biases that they are presenting towards me. I am a very strong, out spoken person that respects other and demands the same gratitude or I merely remove myself from the circumstances.

I love who I am; the history of my people, the religion that I believe in and I want others to pronounce their enthusiasm. We have to be careful not to force want we believe on others and respect their choices. 

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

 



My grandma shared a story about an experience that she encountered. Before my grandfather went off the serve our country, He purchased my grandmother a brand new car. He wanted to ensure that she would be able to do what she needed to do for her and their three children on her own. Months after he had been gone my grandmother decided to apply for a few positions while the children were at school. This would give her something to do and it would give her a little extra cash for gas and other things. She managed to land a part time job as a cook. That was fine with her because she could get the kids to school, work and be on time to pick them up.

Only one week into the job one of her Caucasian co –workers saw her getting out of the car. She jokingly replied; “They must really like your cooking”. Soon after rumors was flying about my grandmother’s car.  Finally the owner came to her and asked her about the car and where did she get it from. Then he suggested that it was causing a ruckus among the other employers; he concluded by asking her to park her car a few blocks away from them and walk to work like the other workers that catch the bus. He implied that; “that kind of car (for a woman of color) makes people feel like she is better than them. And we didn’t want that.” This of course was a time when it was known that the White race was the better race and blacks were just beginning to be allowed to gain some “equal rights”.

My grandmother found a safe place she could leave the car and walked blocks to work every day. Even after others began to show their cars at work she continued her routine. She conveyed; “My husband was proud to be able to go off to serve this country. He wanted to be able to provide his children with some of the freedom and equality that he was not able to have as a child. He wanted this car to be a symbol of overcoming the stigmas that they had”. She never shared with my grandfather what had occurred though their letters because she did not what to discourage him. He died serving his country and never knew how she still had to adjust her life to protect their children.

This happened many many years before I was born and now in my adulthood we are still experiencing similar issues of so called equality. My grandmother used her experience to teach her children to not judge people by their possessions or appearance because you do not know the sacrifice that have been made for them to be where they are at that time. I see discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes daily in the interactions of others; however, I have learned to use it for motivation and enlighten. I laugh at their ignorance and model appropriate interaction with the people around me. I will not allow that to consume me or determine how I will live or be.

What we are dealing with is beyond the color of our skin.  It is a heart issue; it is deep within. Until we began to self evaluate ourselves and realize that we all have individual attributes that are greater than another’s in various areas and the ability to combine them, we will never do the great things that can truly accomplished as an people, and a nation, as a Whole.             

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

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I asked four people ages ranging from 9 to 46 what is Diversity and Culture. Here are their responses:

 

From a 9 year old SeQuoira Almond’s perspective, she replied, “Diversity? What’s that? I ain’t never heard of that. We haven’t talked about that at school or at home “.

 

From a 25 year old Antoinette Geter’s perspective, she replied that, “Diversity is a group of people with different beliefs, culture and religions. Culture is your surrounds, your family’s beliefs and traditions”.

 

From a 21 years old Jeremy Dillard’s perspective, he replied that, “Diversity is something that makes you standout or what makes you special in your own way. Culture is your history, background and things you experience growing up”.

 

From a 46 year old Antonio Harris’ perspective, he replied that, “Diversity? I don’t know what it is or how to explain it” What is it? It’s a difference in something. Culture is your up bringing.”

 

After asking this question, I realized that people don’t really address the beauty in diversity. Some may have an Ideal but they don’t apply themselves to try to learn more about it; where some others young and old don’t even know what the word means. It makes me understand why people are so offensive when it come to talking about race, culture and genders because they think they are being judged or they are afraid that they do not know as much as they think that should about themselves as an individual and themselves as a part of a group or culture.

 

It was interesting that the young adults did have an ideal of what they meant. They are actively involved with influential interactions and relationships that are being established between people of various race, cultures, religions and beliefs. They are familiar with some of the aspects of diversity and culture.

 

There is so much we all can learn from each other if we just learn to communicate and share. They world is filled with knowledge of traditions that could help save other cultures that may be facing that same issues. Diversity is boundless and cannot be characterized for any one solitary area. It is wide.

My Family Culture

It is difficult to imagine having to choose only three things to take with me after having to leave a country where my way of living was comfortable. I would have to say that the first thing I would have to take is my family photo album so that I can have something to remind me of the connection that my family and I have. The second item would be my bible so that I will have the foundation of my beliefs with me so that I could continue to read and live by what I have been raised to believe. I would also use the bible to teach my family what have been taught through the bible about our religion in the new country. The last item I would take would be my is my phone, lap top or Ipad so that I will be able to keep up with the technology that I have learned to need in order to keep up with the continual advancements in the technological world.

If I had to choose one from my list, I would definitely keep my family photo album. With great reluctant, I would give up the bible and the phone, laptop or the Ipad. It would be impossible to replace pictures of family and event of the past; however, I live my beliefs every day and can teach it from memory and the technological items are always revolving to something advance and can be replaced. It is uncomplicated to decide what to leave behind when you have to choose against something that you are passionate about.

Again his exercise has confirmed my pervious statement that I am family and family is me. I can move from one side of the world to the other and adjust but being separated from my family would feel like a catastrophe to me. I can build a new home and learn how to exist in my new home. I can learn to understand and respect the ways of my new home while I introduce to them our ways. I know like everything else it will take time and dedication before I truly feel like it is my home but I will get there. But my family is not easily replaced so I will take every means necessary to keep us together and bonded like welded steel.