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.

When I Think of Research...

I have a deeper respect for those who do research. I use to say that they can make suggestion but can they implement it. I have learned through this study of research and my personal simulation that conducting research requires a lot of work. The researcher has to do a lot of preparation before beginning the study. They have to get their hands dirty by getting involved looking at every aspect of the study and present it so that it may help other to have a better understanding of the subject. To me it’s like getting ready to start a new year with a new group of children and families. You have to gather all the tools to accomplish the goals you have set for your children while keeping in mind that you will have to modify you plans and tools to best fit the needs of the children. You have to teach so that the children will comprehend and learn what you have intended and more or you have to revamp your plans and create new ones. In research I have learned that sometimes research has to be combined and modified in order to meet the need to validate the study.

In my difficult and frustrating simulation, I learned that putting my thoughts of how I might conduct my research, the participants that I will have and the assessment tools I will use in writing was harder than I could ever imagine. I needed to be specific and clear enough for others to follow with great details on how I will implement the study. I knew how I wanted do my study but following research guidelines and methods made it complex. One of my problems I faced dealt with ethics. My study addressed children managing fear at home compared to at school. I had to ensure that children would not be put in any harm or risks beyond the norm. So I have to be honest that when we study issues of children dealing with fear, child abuse or any aggressive behavior study it is a possibility and lines may be crossed. So I had to try to find ways to prevent this possibility in the study. I am not sure that I did that and would be afraid to study it for real.

Research Around the World

I explored the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA portal. In my investigation of this portal I found a research lead by a student name Abeba Habtom in Eritrea Africa about the importance of parent involvement. I have a lot of passion for this subject and I see firsthand what a difference parent involvement and enrichment can make in the life and education of children. The study began at the University of in 1974 and is restudied under Habtom in 2004; however, its findings is just as significant today if not more than it was during that time. The study was named; “Improving the Quality of Childcare Through Parenting Enrichment and Training of Trainers: The Eritrean Model”. Abeba Habtom wanted to advocate; “the importance of the Parenting Enrichment initiative to the Eritrea Integrated Early Childhood Development Project and the country at large” (Abeba Habtom, 2004). Research that helps others understand the vitality of interaction between children and adults is so valuable and its effect is even more spectacular with lifelong effects.

I observed from exploring these portals and websites that for year’s researchers through their study have been trying to help make people aware of the need that children have to gain proper support and to improve their ability to learn and integrate into the world. Study gives us guidance and knowledge so that we can improve our present practices. I never viewed research in the manor that I have learn to appreciate it in today; even though, the whole process of research is still not as clear to me as I would like.

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

The Highscope Foundation has dedicated years of research towards active learning and how it affects early childhood children and in their learning ability. My child had difficulties at an early age of being able to concentrate, comprehend and show real proof that he was learning in a directive structured environment. The Headstart program that I enrolled him in only followed certain components of the Highscope curriculum and findings from their research. Many educators had doubts and the research was fairly new; however I began to see so much growth in my child that I started practicing it at home alone with Highscope steps to conflict resolution. I never thought my child would be able to learn the things he was learning without the aid of medication.

Today I see evidence of great progress that Highscope research and techniques had made on the children I serve. The children are learning so much because I implement Highscope proven research in my class that through play and active learning children advance more than they did when I taught from my non-interest motivated lesson plans and teacher controlled experiences. I realized now that researching their hypothesis had to include exposing children in both environments in order to validate their beliefs. Research may cause some negative inconvenience to children but the results can cause great influences on children for the rest of their lives.
http://www.highscope.org/

Your Personal Research Journey

“How do young children learn, grow and develop?” Is the topic I chose select. This is a subject during my quest to obtain my masters that has been enlightened to my pervious knowledge of how I thought children learn. It has been electrifying to learn how everything is connected and how children need a balance in their life early so that they will be able to fight the obstacles they will face. Finding subtopics is not had for this subject because it takes so many factors to help children learn, grow and develop but figuring out which method of research to use is going to be my challenge.
Deductive research methodology seems to look easy; however, the hypothesis is not going to easy to write. I am not sure if I will become to truly understand research enough to become a researcher; nevertheless, I will give it my best. Which method of research seems to interest you the most?