The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

I loved the movie Hidden Figures.  It showed how African Americans were targets of bias, prejudice, and oppression, how African American women contributed to the success of NASA, and how they were not recognized for their contributions. 

At the beginning of the movie Katherine (Taraji Henson), Mary (Janelle Monae) and Dorothy (Octavia Spencer) were having car trouble.  The car was on the side of the road and a white, male police officer pulled over. They were immediately nervous and didn’t want to go to jail.  The officer got out of the car holding his baton, walking as if he knew he had power over them.  Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy kept their heads down until they were spoken to.  Knowing how police officers were allowed to treat African Americans, the women treated him with respect and answered his questions with a yes sir or no sir.  He asked them questions such as

·         Are you getting sassy with me?

·         Where they were going?

They informed him that they worked at NASA.  His response was, “I had no idea they hired”.  Dorothy interjected and said “Women.  They have a few of us working there, sir.”  After finding out what they did and the services they provided for America, he changed his attitude.  He assumed the Russians were watching Americans, and begin asking questions about the staff at NASA.  After seeing the ladies' employment badges, the officer offered to help them and gave them a police escort to NASA so they would not be late.    

In the movie, the women were prejudged by not only the whites, but the black men as well.  It was as if no one could see a black woman being smart enough to be an engineer or mathematician.

Watching the movie for the first time, I became emotional for several reasons.

• Mad - because the way the blacks were treated by whites, I had never heard anyone give any of these women credit for their efforts until this movie  
• Annoyed - because although this was based on a true story, some people still go through these situations even today; especially the police officer.  
• Proud - because a black woman made a difference in the world; the movie shows that we as women are just as or sometimes better than men in different areas
• Happy - this was a person that many young girls and black can look up to  

I am appreciative to the writers and everyone that had a part in the film.  They opened up the doors for people to discuss different bias and prejudices of people.  Although these events all happened in the past, I feel as if we can learn from it.  Acknowledging that our ancestors went through troubling times and may have done some bad things would be the first of many suggestions.  You can't be sorry for what someone else had done, but acknowledging that it was done is a start.   We can all grow by changing our minds and focusing on the future and learning from the past.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I have been told that it is so important to learn from older people, but I have also realized the importance of them learning from my generation as well.  My great-grandmother, an 82 year old African American woman, was raised in a time where racism and segregation were not hidden.  She went through the back doors to buildings, was only permitted to drink from certain fountains, and was not treated with respect.  She had grown up with a white supremacy  mentality and passed it along to her children.

While in college, I would take on the responsibility of taking my great-grandmother grocery shopping to FoodLand.  The entire trip would take anywhere from 3-5 hours for about 20-30 grocery items.  She walked very slow and refused to use a cane.  She was very particular about her quality of food.  Grandma would examine and reexamine packages, dates, and name brands of products.  Last but not least, she would also stop and talk to several employees about the food.  During the grocery excursion, it was imperative that you remain close to her just in case she has you to go and grab and item she forgot. 

After a long voyage through FoodLand, it was finally time to check out.  I loaded all of the groceries onto the belt for the young lady to ring up.  Grandma watched every item to make sure she wasn't getting charged twice.  She looked over in my direction to see the Caucasian bag boy starting to bag the groceries.  She immediately made him stop and said, "Alisha go and bag those groceries.  He shouldn't be doing that for us."

Wide eyed, I looked at my grandmother and said in a very calm voice, "This is his job grandma.  He is supposed to do this for everyone. He gets paid for this."
"Not for us.  Now go and do what I said!" This is when she gave me the grandma "look".       

After the young boy insisted on bagging her groceries, she calmed down about the situation, and allowed him to do it.  I was still livid.  Because I would never want to disrespect my grandmother, the car ride home remained quiet.  I was humiliated, angry, ashamed, and astonished that she would say or think that whites are too good to bag groceries for blacks.  My mother had taught me that being black was beautiful.  Grandma was trying to tell me that being white was better.

 

I wanted to tell my grandmother that we have overcome, but looking at the news, politics, and other forms of media makes me doubt that we have.  Discrimination, prejudice, sexism, racism, are all negatives thoughts that continue to grow over time.  We have the power and education to put an end to the hatred, but everyone has to work together.  I guess that is the problem.  The thought of working together is intimidating. ...

FYI..... absolutely none of these pictures are me and grandma :)

What is Culture and Diversity

Asking several people about culture and diversity:
- 2 African American Male (43 and 32)
- 2 African American Females (39, and 52)



these are some of the answers I got:

Culture:
Everything
How you act
How you were raised
Your process of thinking
Where you were from
What you like and dislike
Your values/morals
Your belief system

Diversity:
Your race
Your gender
Your sexual preference
Embracing and respecting another person's background, culture, and their way of thinking


The majority of the answers that I received have been listed in a portion of our reading assignments.  The major omission that I realized (in diversity and culture)  is the role or identity that a person has.  After reading this week's assignment I can see how a role/identity is assigned to a person.  Even throughout my childhood, I can see how I was assigned or assumed roles subconsciously.  It is something that naturally happens.  This is a direct affect of culture and the impact that it has on a person's thought process.

After reading about culture and diversity and hearing other people's definition, I realize how why definition has changed through education.  I have been enlightened by my reading and conversations with other classmates.  This class has changed my outlook on a variety of topics involved within culture and how to acknowledge and respect others.

Thanks Walden

My Family Culture

If I had to choose the three most important things that represented my culture, I would have to definitely choose my bible, our family photo album, and my wedding rings.  The Bible is a book that will always give me encouragement, direction, and wisdom.  My family album would help me to remember the family that was lost or that I had never gotten to meet.  It would also allow me share our family history with my future generations.  My wedding rings is something that represents the unity between me and my husband, and something that represents one of the best days of my life.

I would feel torn and awful if I were to have to loose any of the three items.  They each give me something different.  The bible is a great resource and helps me to make wise decisions.  The album would give me physical proof of great memories and loved ones.  The rings represent a portion of who and what I am.  I would really have a hard time trying to decipher between which item would be most important.

I was looking through my house to figure out what I would take if this scenario would ever come true.  It was hard for me to make a decision.  I appreciate and love my home and family.  Deciding on what is most important is extremely difficult.  I have learned that I am not a materialist person through this exercise.  Although I would be deeply saddened, I love my family more than the material things.  Bad things happen, but the healing process is what determines what type of person you truly are.    

When I think of Research.....

 Going into this research class, I was originally in a panic.  The first assignment was to choose a research topic.  I was like OMG!! How in the world was I going to complete this magnitude of research in 8 weeks and keep my sanity?  I was in a panic, but it turned out that we were doing a simulation! (Thank God!!)   

I decided to focus on Montessori preschool versus traditional preschool for my simulation.  I had asked many educators and parents the differences, but most of them thought the quality of education was the same.  I could not find anyone that was opposed to either option.  So, I wanted to see if there was a significant difference between the two styles of teaching.  Which style was more effective when the students took their kindergarten entrance exams?  Which child developed more cognitively and psychologically?   I felt as if this information would be important and impactful to the field of education.  Educators and parents need to know which style is more effective.  Why the style is more effective?  Lastly, when can you really begin to see the results? 

The results would be beneficial to educators, parents, and students.  The results would impact children the most.  They have no control over where and how they get their education.  This would also give parents another opportunity to build upon a great foundation for their child’s education.  I believe that knowledge is power.  We just have to gain knowledge then exercise our power.

 That is also why I am happy that I gained so much knowledge through my research class.  I didn’t allow the fear of the unknown to ruin my experience.  Working in an educational hospital, I am around research very frequently.  I now have a deeper understanding of the terminology and regulations for each trial.  I have also spoken to several physicians that have taken very similar classes.  I have grown to respect and appreciate research and the time it takes to make it valid.  Although, my perception of the field of early childhood education has not changed, research is now something I respect and could possibly enjoy.     

Research Around the World

I decided to look into the Early Childhood Australia (ECA) website.  It seemed to be interesting, especially since I have reached out to a few educators there.  The website is very interesting and informative regarding the issues and resources for Australia.  ECA offers great resources (for a price).  They have a Research in Practice Series that highlights the research topics through the journal.  Some of their research topics include:

•  Helping children with difficult things 
• STEM
• Building supportive relationship
• Connecting with babies
• Creativity of young children.    
• Gifted and talented: Inclusion and exclusion

I would have liked to read a little further into the subjects, but you have to pay for the journal to gain access.  Fortunately, I was able to see the parent resources section that spoke about separation anxiety, sleeping, children’s health and nutrition, and transitions to school.  The site lets parents know that separation anxiety is normal and short lived.  Most children, 6 months and older, show signs including crying, tantrums, clinginess, but this is different from child to child.  Childhood obesity also seems to be an issue in Australia.  They have a variety of information regarding physical activity and nutrition on the site. 

Some interesting facts I found while snooping around….

• At 2-3 years, 41% of young children still wake up 1-2 times per night (sometimes more)
• Night walking aka Sleep Walking can start as early as 6 months to 4 years old and is common.  If is persist after 7 or eight, a physician may need to be consulted
• It’s recommended for a child to have their bed in their parents’ rooms until about 12 months. 

 ECA also offers a leadership program for teachers, experienced directors, consultants, and aspiring leaders.  The program will give you a certificate upon completion.  It’s an online program that gives a person access to professional development materials and other professionals within the field.  

Resources 

Early Childhood Australia (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/