Professional Hopes and Goals

When I think of professional hopes and goals I think of where I am now and where I would like to be with my accomplishments. My biggiest fear would be not to have accomplished anything after putting forth hard work. However I do know with dedicatin, discipline, determination, and hard work I can/ will accomplish anything I put my mind to.
A hope that I have when it comes to working with family and children from diverse backgrounds is that I would be a better understanding of where they come from. Enlighten me from the stereotypes I may have of a particular background, or culture.
A goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice would be simply be to educate. Teach the children how to be more open-minded and non-bias. Enlighten them on how everyone should be treated equally and no one is better than the next.
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I would like to leave with my colleagues words and encourgement and thanks. I encourge you to always put your best foot forward in whatever you set your mind out to do. Remember what we have learned in this class these past 8 weeks and apply it to whatever educational profession we go into. I would like to thank everyone for being the supportive classmates you are. You have truly made this class and eye opener for me and interesting. I have truly learned alot and it was because of you.....

Welcoming Families From Around The World

I just got word that The Mendez family has just moved here from the Dominican Republic and they have a 4 year old that will be attending my childcare center. Among this announcement I began to get myself as well as staff and center culturally prepared so that the family and the child will fee comfortable. Upon preparation I remembered that I have taking a diversity class so I can going to put what I have learned to use. Some thing that I am going to do to prepare for this particualr family is to make one: make sure that all my staff are educated on the different countries in South America so that they will know that this family is Dominican and not Mexican, two: I will ensure that the center gives a bilingual atmosphere from english to spanish to assist with the child identifing objects to english and the center idefing the objects to spanish, three: make sure that the toys in the center is more that one race to show diversity in the objects so that the child want can have a free play mentality, four: I personally would study up on the family culture of their beliefs and culture so that I am aware of their values, beliefs, and norms, and finally five: I would have an open door policy to show that I welcome all cultures, races, diversity and etc.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Growing up as an African American in the south I must say that one will experience a lot of trial and errors known as isms. I can remember when I was about twelve years old and my father and I went to the beauty supply store to get some colored hair spray because of an event I was having at school. As I walked in the store (I  still had my school clothes on and if I remember correctly we had switch day and I had put on some baggy shorts, a cap, a t-shirt, some knee socks, and tennis) I can recall the store owner following me around in the store the entire time I was there. As I was looking for my hair spray I asked for assistance and that’s when I noticed that lady speaking in another language and pointing at me. He soon then approached me and asked me what was I looking for and I needed to hurry up and make a purchase and they didn’t want any trouble. For a second I was lost then I realize they assumed I was stealing or either trying to rob them. I immediately ran to my father’s truck and told him what happen and he came into the store raising all kind of saying but in a concerned parent way if that’s a thing. The lady then stated at my dad “You people are all the same. You are loud, you steal and you are bad for business”. Once we heard that remark we instantly reported that particular store and never went back. I would have to say that was my first time actually experiencing racial micro aggression and micro assault all at once. One of the two factors is that people who have good intentions often make racially biased comments, but are unaware of any wrong doings. (Walden, 2011).  Even as a young child I knew at that point if you didn’t dress a certain way, talk a certain way, or even act a certain way I would forever be put in some stereotypical group.

I feel that this particular indcident dimishied equilty because at such an early age and maybe because of the store owner previous experience she had make a prejudice thought and bias comment about me because I am an African American. I wasn't treated as a customer looking for a specific item to purchased. I was looked at as a "Black Girl" trying to cause trouble. Once I have this experience I felt terrible and hurt and it was sad because my dad looked at me and could tell what I was feeling and it was nothing he could do about it. I feel there was nothing I could have done differently to get great equilty maybe it was just that particular person with a bias and closed prejudice mind.