The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

I experience bias, prejudice, and oppression very early in my life. I am an African American woman who is very fair. I feel most of the prejudices came from some of the children who I attended school with. I was called names such as “you white/black girl”, “You yellow girl”, “you mustard girl”, but what I think that want hurt me the most was that who I thought were my friends would say “ You just think you are cutie because you have long hair, green eyes, and have white skin” I remember going home and asking my mom if I was white,  she reassure me that I was not white but that I had many different  nationally  that flow through my blood.  She then explain that grandpa Long who was her father was half American Indian and half Caucasian, and that my other grandpa Guynn my father’s father was half Italian and half African Italian. After my mother explain my nationally it seem to be OK with being fair skin. I was still called names so I just punched them in the mouth. I was some what of a fighter. I guess growing up with so many brothers I learn how to rascal and fight if I had too.  

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

This incident brought up to me trying to understand racism not only with in my own race but all racism all around me. I went from an all black grade school to a majority white school. I heard how white people were not fair to people of color, and I experience some of that in high school. In high school is where I was first called the “N” word. I was so confuse because I did not want to dislike white people because my grandfather was half white. But I did because my grandfather did not clam to be white he told everyone he was a black. I ask my mother why grandpa said he was black and she said because of the way he was treated by white people and how my grandmother, mother and her brothers and sisters were treated. So I grew up not trusting Caucasian. As I grew up I did develop some friends that are Caucasian but I never looked at them as Caucasian but good friends.

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

I guess I would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity of greater equity. As I grew into an adult I know that all Caucasian are not closed minded to different cultures. I do sometimes have trust issues this is something I need to work on.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggressions occur on my job everyday. I work at a college as an online recruiter. I talk to people for a living helping to change lives. I would say that 90% of the people who I talk to are not very nice. I have been called the “N” word so many times I cannot count and I have been called a “B” un-countless times. Most of the people who we talk to are of color and or from low income households we also serve a lot of people just getting out of jail.  What I find said is some of my fellow recruiters who talk about some of our student. I find it very offensive when the cultures of different ethnic groups are made fun of including my own. When my fellow recruiters change their voices to sound like the accents of the student they just talked to on the phone. I have heard my fellow recruiters say things like “that taco needs to go to school so he can learn to speak English or “Jaquittannta did not get enough chicken to eat” because that student was not very nice on the phone with them. We also have pitch-ins on the time and things have been said from some of my white fellow recruiters like we got to have fry chicken and watermelon. I have gone face to face with them and it stops for a while but it still seeps out now and then. I think prejudice is a sign of fear and stereotyping is a sign of unintelligent people.  

                                        

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I ask the question what is your definition of Culture well as Diversity to five of my firends and I am sharing want they shared with me.

What is your definition of culture?

I believe you already know the textbook definition of the word and you are also able to review current academic literature on the subject therefore I will simply provide you with my personal view. Culture to me, encompasses the entirety of human existence from the conception of ideas to the results of our actions, and it is as old as the human species.

The reason culture is so difficult to define in one simple sentence is the fact that it describes both reality and an idealistic state of human existence often locked in our subconscious. Between what is, and what ought to be, we live and express ourselves daily. Culture is commonly understood in two distinct dispositions: Behavior and identity.

Behavior: This is learned all through life; however, it shapes a person’s behavior patterns, perceptions, and beliefs through adolescence after which time only slight modifications can be made. Geographical location, economic conditions, religion, and political variables all help to shape these behavior patterns. Movies, television, and the internet have minimized the hitherto strong influence of geographic location on behavior by exposing people to many different realities giving them a broader view of the world. Behavior is a living thing and evolves based on current affairs and what realities people are exposed to; nonetheless, people don’t lose their past to current development. This leads to the second classification of culture, identity.

Identity: I will illustrate this, using identical twins with very different tastes in Music – one classical/opera and the other heavy metal rock. Apart from probably sharing the same bed/room/home growing up, they may hang out with different groups of friends.  The good thing about exposure to media (TV, Movies, Internet, Radio, Printed news) is that people are exposed to a myriad of possible identities to choose from making it possible to have a broader perspective of life and be more accepting of foreign identities. This leads to the next question, diversity.

 What is your definition of diversity?

                Diversity is the recognition and celebration of differences. It is the ability to discover harmony through our differences.  In my opinion, diversity is by intelligent design – God in three persons (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) is one.  For the same reason the institution of marriage was established, that two different people (male and female) shall find harmony and celebrate their differences (Matt 19:5). In the academic community, social settings, and professional environments, these differences spark healthy debates that lead to better outcomes which a single school of thought, culture, or ideological disposition cannot accomplish by itself. Diversity provides a better perspective on issues.

Vincent Van Empeh

What is your definition of culture?

Culture, to me, encompasses many things from art, music, literature and how those things interact in our daily lives and how they help shape who we are.

 What is your definition of diversity?

Diversity can describe many things from crowds of people, cities, nations, to stock portfolios. Diversity is what made our country so great. We are a true melting pot of people from all races, origins, nationalities. I welcome diversity, for it is what makes us unique.

I hope this helps! I wasn’t sure if you wanted paragraphs or just brief sentences.

 Jim Anderson

Culture consists of a group of individuals whose value systems are the same and share the same beliefs.

Diversity makes me think of a group of different nationalities in one location.

Hannah Washington

Culture is the makeup of character

Diversity is the amount of opportunities 

Dee Guyse

What is your definition of culture?

 Culture is the environment and customs you were raised in. 

Different races celebrate holidays in different ways.

Example in the United States Dec 31 is recognized as the end of one year and the beginning of a new year.

The celebrations that take place range from large parties to quit small gatherings.

An Asian lady I know says they celebrate the New Year for 3 days in a row.  They have a lot of food and women have to wear either Black or Red.  Someone wearing red signifies there was a death in their family that year.

What is your definition of diversity?

 Diversity is when different races & cultures blend and work or live in a community.

My sister recently moved from Austin, Tx to a suburb of Chicago, IL the level of diversity

In the community and school is what helped her decide which community to live in.

She wants her son exposed to different cultures & races.

 Karen Outlaw

I saw that my friends pretty much think the same way I do when it comes to culture and just a little different when it comes to diversity. I belive Your culture is a product of your enviroment, and diversity is the differents in groups of people.

Alice Guynn

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

If there were a catastrophe that had almost complete devastated the infrastructure of my country and I had three small items to take with me I would take my Bible, a family photo album, and my Family Cook book.  I would take the Bible because I live by the word of the Lord and so does my family it is the larges part of my culture. I would take family photos because my family is a large part of my culture also. I would take my family cook book again because it I a big part of my families culture.  If I were told that I could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items I brought with me. I first would give back the photo album because I would have my family with me then I would give up the cook book only because I know most of the recipes. What I would not give up would be the family’s Bible. I need to read my Bible when I am having a good day so I know I am going to have to have it with me with the destination that will be going on around me.  

I though this was a fun exercise so I sent a survey to many of my friends at work just to see what they would take with them. I survey 15 people and what the first thing they would take with them out of 15, 10 said they would take there Bible, the other five said they would take their dog, toilet paper, phone, passport and wine. The second thing they would take would be, (5) said photo albums, (6) said money, and (4) said they would take their gun.  The third thing they would take were things like computers, phones, and the wee game. I found that the survey was interesting.

The insights I gained about myself, my family’s culture, and diversity was that how much it means to me. I have a very large family and we have developed our own family culture. We have a family news paper that goes out four times a year. The news paper was developed because we were all growing older and we were having problems keeping up with each other as well as our nieces and nephews. We also have several family events through out the year so that we can get together to spend time with each other such as (Family Game Day (Christmas), 4 camping trips, Aunt Rita’s Cookie Bake, Guynn 500 Race, Big Momma’s Little Girl Overnight Cooking Weekend, 4 different golf outing, Guynn’s Bowling Day Out, State Fair, Telisa’s Day to Remember Our Love Ones, Aunt Rita’s Halloween Party for the kids, Summer family cookouts, and our every two year family Cruise). Our goal is that our children know each other and to also carry on our family traditions. Aunt Rita died over 15 years and we are carrying on her traditional holiday parties and we are hoping our children will do the same.

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Guynn said...

I would like to thank all of my classmates. I have learned so much from our discussion. I have truly enjoyed this class. I am so excited to write my research paper. I pray that you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Alice

When I Think of Research...

The insights that I have gained in this class about research is that quality research is always ethical, purposeful, well designed, transparent, contextualized, credible, careful, Imaginative and equitable. Also that there are different types of research and terms such as Quantitative research which produces facts and figures, Qualitative research produces meanings and understandings, Deductive research proves or disprove a hypothesis, and Inductive research may suggest a hypothesis. I also learned there are four ways to gather data for your study 1) data triangulation: the use of a variety of data sources in a study, 2) Methodological triangulation: the use of multiple methods to study a single problem, 3) investigator triangulation: the use of several researchers, and 4) theory triangulation: the use of multiple perspectives to interpret a single set of data. And finally Equity is very important when putting together a study it state in our text that an understanding of equity involves notions of justice and fairness, it goes on to say that it moves beyond equality, as equality signals understanding of party, equivalence and making things equal, which do not necessarily equate with justice and fairness. In order to be just and fair, it is necessary to move beyond making things equal.

The ways my ideas about the nature of doing research changed when I learned more about methodological triangulation methods using three different ways to gather my data for my study help me reassure that I would get enough information to get the results I needed for my study.

What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did I learn was to make sure when planning make sure that the validity is the process of establishing the “truth” of the research outcomes, Methodological triangulation will be the method I will use to gather my data for my study and making sure that everything is ethical, purposeful, well designed, transparent, contextualized, credible, careful, Imaginative and equitable.

Some of the challenges I encountered—and in what ways did I meet them were, one I am dyslexic so I had to read over and over again to make sure I was understanding the reading. I also communicated with Dr. Davis making sure I was on the right task. Some of the challenges I think I will encounter with my study is parent participation.  

Some of the ways my perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course is that I feel with this type of research early childhood is going to be taken more serious. The more research we have the more we will be come professionals and not baby-sitters.

Research Around the World

The international web site I chose to visit was the Early Childhood Australia web site http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/ it had many topics such as Environments for Belonging, Being and Becoming, Part One: Setting the scene for learning, Part Two: Talking with families about early childhood practice, Part Three: Providing space and time for extending periods of play, and Part Four: Thinking about environments for a sustainable future. The surprising facts/insights/and new ideas about early childhood I gain form exploring this international early childhood website is that the child activists in Australia are conquering the same issues we are conquering here in the United States. My focus was on the first topic Environments for Belonging, Being, and Becoming. This video was center around three advocates discussing how the environment in which children attend school is important to the children as well as the teachers. They discussed how change is not good for the children. They felt the children feel safe when they can come to a place were they know where everything is. Their classroom is where they have a steady routine and sometimes changing their routine can sometime become uncomfortable for the children. They when on the say that we gauge children interest by change so sometime change can be good. It was suggested that change should happen slowly or even involve the children when changing their classroom. I myself have experience this same topic in my own classroom and I know that involving the children when changing the classroom around is very helpful, not only do you get the help from the children but you can use their ideals. I was nice to hear that child activists that live on the other side of the world with the same issues.