Welcoming Families from Around the World

                                                     

Prompt

       You are working in an early childhood setting of your choice—a hospital, a child care center, a social service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. You want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that to support families who have immigrated you need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

                                                                    Nicaragua

      When welcoming a new student from Nicaragua into my classroom environment I will first prepare by looking up greetings and small conversational phrases in their mother language, Spanish (Nicaragua.com n.d). I will prepare my students for their new classmates by teaching them small words in the Spanish language, such as hola amigo, so they can practice greeting their new classmates with a familiar language. I will look up books about Nicaragua and introduce these stories to my students and make sure to keep these storybooks along with other Nicaragua toys and artifacts around for all the students to be familiar with and get accustomed to a new culture. It is important to make sure that all identities and cultures are being presented in the classroom so that no one feels alienated or left out of the group (Derman-Sparks and Edwards). The type of conversations I will have with my students and families to make sure our new family member feels welcomed and accepted into the classroom environment will be consisting of the importance of accepting and loving all of our differences. We all have a family culture that consists of various traditions, customs, and beliefs. These differences are what makes us unique and what makes life interesting and fascinating. 

    I am not expecting to have a fluent conversation with the family in the Spanish language however I will be open-minded and try my best to listen and ask questions about how they are feeling about their child embarking on this new journey under my care. I will ask co-teachers and leadership members for help if I feel disconnected from the language barrier or various cultural differences that we may encounter. In this course, I have learned that it is ok to ask questions and ask for help when needed especially if this help will strengthen a relationship between a family and the educator (Laureate Education 2011). 

https://www.getepic.com/book/35821975/meet-our-new-student-from-nicaragua

https://www.amazon.com/Nicaragua-Children-world-Ronnie-Cummins/dp/0836802217

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Family cultures: Dynamic interactions [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Nicauragua.com. n.d. Language in Nicaragua, Spanish, Espanol, Culture. nicaragua.com/culture/languages/

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/mickey-mouse-monopoly/

Personal Experiences with 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.

  

  I grew up loving everything Disney and being heavily influenced by Disney stories, movies, and shows. My favorite Disney movie is the Lion King. I love lions and the songs in the movie are so lively, energetic and fun. Not to mention the beautiful animation seen throughout the film. I grew up not thinking much of what the animals would be like if they were humans and didn't ponder with that thought until middle school when my class was shown the documentary Mickey Mouse Monolopy. This documentary is about all the subliminal underline messages that were presented in Disney movies and shows. One that stood out to me and I still see impacts of it today with some of the children I teach is the hyenas whom are allies of Scar are perceived to be seen as people of color. They are shown as low class, loud, darker than the lions such as Simba and Mufasa and are seen to be the bad guys of the movie. A woman in the documentary said that her three-year-old child saw a group of young African American children playing and related them to the hyenas in the movie (sites at Penn State n.d.). I never perceived or was able to put two in two together of the hyenas represented people of my race.

    Last year while playing with toy animals in my preschool classroom a four-year old boy pretended to be Scar and said that I was one of the hyenas because I was Black. I explained to him that the Lion King is a movie about animals and are not representations of humans. The animal world is very different than the human world. Black people aren't the bad guys. I don't believe he fully grasped what I was saying but it opened my eyes to the way children perceive various ideas through media entertainment. 

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

    The media and children's broadcasting plays a heavy influence on society's views of different cultures and identities. Although not everyone had the same reaction or perception of the hyenas representing people of color these two incidents that happen at two different time periods the early 2000's and then the 2020 decade show that this is a reoccurring issue of the way media depeicts different people and the effects it has on young minds. “No one is born racist. Racism is taught. Through both explicit and implicit messages, society teaches ideas, attitudes and assumptions about race that are not true” (Margles S. & Margles R.M. 2010).

    

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

    It is very disheartening to find out the impact and negative bias that can be produced by some of your favorite childhood memories and entertainment. I still love the Lion King but it does make me question intentions of the creators in some of the creations and decision making of coming up with characters personality traits. I remember my mom telling me how she and my father perceived Scar to be a homosexual in the movie because of some of his stereotypical personality traits. This also makes me question why is it that some people put certain cues and adaptations together and why others don't have those same connections particularly young children. I understand when we get older and are taught and experience various stereotypes and biases of others but how and what causes a young mind to jump to these conclusions and make these connections. 

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

    I believe the conversation that happens after these incidents is the key to growth and progress with inclusion, acception, and tolerance to diversity. I am now learning new ways to discuss topics like these with my students, families, and co-workers. It is important to not let things slide or turn a blind eye because in order to grow and decrease biases particularly with the next generation is to communicate about why we have these perceptions and ideas on people who are different than us. 

Reference

Margles, S., and Margles, R.M. (2010). Inverting racism’s distortions. Our Schools/Our Selves, 19(3), 137-149.

Sites at Penn State. n.d. The Lion King: The Sneaky & Devious Hyenas. https://sites.psu.edu/mediaconglomerates/sample-page/

Experiences Involving Microaggressions

                                                                                 Microaggressions

       

Microaggressions: 

-"Brief everyday indignities"

-"May be verbal, behavioral, or environmental"

-"Are communicated intentionally or unintentionally"

-"Contains an insulting message"

-"Often causes severe psychological stress and harm"

            -Dr. Sue 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

                                                        

                                            Microaggressions I have observed this week

"I'm sorry, but, I knew there was going to be trouble when I saw him walk into the store and when he started speaking it just proved my point." (This took place at a superstore and the Black female employee who said this quote was speaking about a White guy with a torn-up shirt who was talking very loudly)

"Damn Mexicans can't do anything right. Always goofing around on the job." (This was said by a White  supervisor about construction workers who were people of color)

"He/she whoever they are. I can never keep up with all these changing gender things that are occurring these days. " (This was said by an older Black female who was talking about a colleague at her daughter's school)

                            Microaggressions I have personally been a victim of or witness of in the past

"Where are you from?" I reply from Philly PA. They respond with, "No, like where are you originally from?" (This has been asked numerous times to me from all different races, ethnicities, and genders)

"Ugh, I did so bad on that last exam." Said one of my Asian American friends. A White peer and our class giggles and says, "What did you get an A- the Asian F."

"Oh no." said my White male significant other. "What wrong?" I reply. "There's an old Asian lady in the car in front of us."

                                          My Thoughts and Feelings on Microaggressions

What I have learned

Long term these microaggressions can leave permanent scars on the marginalized parties being affected by them. (Dr. Sue 2011). Although sometimes the people saying these microaggressions don't realize the harm they are causing with their statements and questions it is important that we all educate ourselves on recognizing what microaggressions are and how much of a big effect they have on people. While viewing these examples of microaggressions I felt feelings of guilt, empathy towards the minorities being affected with these microaggressions, and frustration both at myself and the people saying these microaggressions.

The frustration and guilt come from me both having biased opinions and thoughts during first impressions of people and not being able to speak up for the person who is being attacked with the microaggression. 

Now that I have learned more about the impacts and effects of microaggressions and how damaging biases and stereotypes are in society. I have become more aware and in tune with my own biases and perceptions, I have grown to learn over the course of my life based on family, peers, and social influences. I now question myself and truly think before speaking of if my words and feelings are true to those that I have based on a conversation with this person I am encountering or those which are formed by biased thoughts and perceptions that I have seen and heard by others.